Chain Tool Recommendation
 

I never realized how important having a Chain Tool could be on a ride. Last night someone's chain popped on the ride, and thankfully one of the riders had a Chain Tool with him. He was having a hard time and mentioned he needed to get a better one. So for those of you who currently have one, and have used it, I'd like to hear your feedback.

Thanks.

For carrying on the bike I have a park tool ct-5 or have a mini tool with a chain tool. but if I have an 11 speed chain, I would have a master link in addition to the chain tool.

Same here. My Topeak Alien works OK - but my CT-5 has a lot more oomph. I have a CT3 which I will always use in the workshop, too big to carry anywhere tho.

Delicate skinny chains, or those high end uni-directional ones do not care to have pins pushed out and back in - they often snap again. I try to carry snap off joiner pins or powerlinks, but the tool is always useful in emergencies.

I have a couple different mini-tools that have a chain tool. Good enough for an emergency repair.

I also carry an 8, 9, and 10 speed Shimano replacement pin so that I can help others. For newer Shimano chains, you really don't want to reuse a pin like we did back in the days of 5 and 6 speed bikes.

The problem with the small chain tools it can be hard to get enough leverage to push a pin out.
I only have a small Park one and usually have to hold it with visegrips to get enough leverage.
Obviously a large heavy one while great for home wouldn't be feasible to carry in your tool bag.

Alternatively, there is also the folding Park CT-6.2 or CT-6.3.

Plus: Smaller than the CT-5, and no sharp points to damage other things.
Minus: Heavier than the CT-5,

lezyne makes some nice looking multi-tools with chain tools build in. I have a park MTB something or other that weighs so much I never bring it. :( it's a brick

+1 on the Lezyne. I have a stainless steel one that is just the right size.The whole tool body serves as leverage for the chain tool.

I have a Topeak Alien, Crank Bros, and Park multitools with chainbreakers. I've had need to use the Alien and Crank Bros. and not had any problems.

I shouldn't say this, but I've never broken a chain on a ride in 45 years of owning a "10 speed". I don't find it necessary to carry a tool. That said, I have a Park CT-5 that resides in my tool box at home. I've used it often enough and never had a problem with it. I had an older generic chain tool that broke the first time I tried to use it on a modern 9 speed chain to remove the extra links on a new chain. Those pins are much tougher than the old 5 speed ones.

Same here. I have never broken a chain in all my years of riding, but that does not preclude me from being prepared. I carry my Lezyne multi tool and a KMC link.

Same here. I've never broken one myself but that doesn't mean no one I've ridden with hasn't. I've made three field repairs on other rider's bikes over the years. I carry a Ritchey CT-5, a very tiny 25 gm chaintool that uses a 5 mm hex wrench to turn the screw press. It's certainly not a shop tool but fine for emergencies. I also carry Shimano replacement pins and/or a used Wippermann Connex link.

I've broken a chain once in my life so I just carry a chain break tool as part of my multi tool but I have in fact practiced with it so I know its quirks and I can use it if needed. Locally when I break down I'm most likely not in cell range or near any business, house or phone so I do want to be able to fix it no matter if its once in a blue moon. Most chain tools will work but some are quirky so my best advice is to practice and know you can use it successfully.

I have an ancient little chain tool, Cyclo or something, small enough carry, but quite effective on 5/6/7/8 speed chains. don't have anything with more gears than that so it continues to work... it would probably work with a 9 speed, but I'd not use it on a 10.

I appreciate all the feedback. Thank you all very much.

I've been very happy with all the tools (and the price) on the Nashbar Woody. Just a few weekends ago I used the chain tool for the first time on the road when a friend busted a chain in a group ride. Can't remember if he had a thinner 9sp+ chain or something older (the bike was a Tiagra-equipped Bianchi Volpe if that helps pin it down).

For those that mention master links; are you saying in addition to a chain tool you also carry a spare master link in case your master link breaks, or are you saying it is somehow possible to slap a master link on to replace a broken link?

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/M...x?ModelID=7843

From what I gather KMC chains are notoriously hard to pop a pin out of but this little thing does it easily enough. The only reason I've ever needed to use it is when I shorten a new chain but it does that admirably.

master link
 

Yes, I carry a master link. If you just break one link then hopefully the master link will get it back to exactly the right length. Even if that's not the case, with 10speed chains you'll either need a master link or a single pin because you can't easily push a pin out and then back in the way you can with a 7-9 speed chain. With a master link (I use wipperman for my shimano chain) you can just push a pin out, slip on the master link and roll. That is MUCH easier than trying to get the new pin in and they weigh virtually nothing. Using a master link also allows you to just take your chain off, clean it thoroughly with no mess and put it back in easily. It's SO much easier to clean a chain that has a master link...easier and better.

Anyone have experience removing a busted link without a chain tool, then popping in a master link?

I have a spare master link on all my bikes, but a chain tool only with the tourer (never used it).

The few busted chains I've encountered have had the outer link break. I wonder if I could pry the two plates apart with a multi-tool, then I can get the master link on by hand as normal.

I've never tried it but it seems reasonable IF you can find some way to stabilize the rest of the chain so nothing else gets bent while you pry the outer plates off from the broken end. It doesn't sound like something you could do by the side of the road.

Yep. That's exactly the Chain Tool I bought yesterday. Had to go by the bike shop and they had one on the shelf so I got it.

:)

Mine sits in my saddle bag just in case I ever need it on the road. To date I've used it a couple of times to get the feel of how it works, then a total of three times for an actual benefit. I shortened a new chain for my bike twice, and popped a link out of a friend's chain so he could replace it with a master link.