I'm replacing the chain on the '59 Raleigh Tourist I've been restoring for the past 1+ years. It has a complete chain case. How do you do it?

TSapp

You might as well start with swearing just to get yourself all warmed up!

First, you might consider whether you actually need to replace the chain. Is it stretched? Horribly corroded? Could you just lubricate it?

If you answer yes to all of those questions, then you might try these steps:

1. With your bike in a stand, remove the rear lower corner of the chaincase. It's held on with two screws.
2. Unscrew the gear cable from the indicator and loosen the axle nuts but don't pull the wheel just yet.
3. The biggest challenge is to prevent the chain from sliding into the chaincase once you pull the wheel out. Having a second pair of hands is useful at this point as someone could hold the chain while you negotiate the wheel out. If you're flying solo, you can put a screwdriver or metal bar between the chain and the rear cog, which will act as a stop as you get the wheel out.
4. Rotate the chain to find the master link/quick release; undo that and pull the chain out.
5. Installing the new chain will involve a new round of swearing as the hardest part is to feed it into the chaincase and onto the chainring. It takes time and patience, and lots of swearing.

Neal

(Assuming you have a very stable stand), you can let gravity work for you, when removing/installing the chain, with the bike nose-up and the chain disposed to fall toward the opening at the rear of the chaincase.

That's a good way to go, but remember that the front wheel/handlebars will immediately flop to one side once you raise the front end. Good idea to secure the front wheel to the downtube with a toe strap.

Neal

Just my way...

1. Put the bicycle on a stand or arrange to have the rear wheel clear of ground.
2. Remove rear chaincase inspection cover.
3. Remove front chaincase inspection cover (chainring cover). You don't need to remove the pedal, but it's neater if you do.
4. If your bicycle has rod brakes, remove both rear brake pads.
5. Unhitch gear cable. Loosen both axle nuts and chain tensioner nuts.
6. Rotate crank/wheel very slowly to locate master link over sprocket. Remove master link. Chain will fall, remove it with a hooked wire.
7. It's not a bad idea to clean the bottom of the chaincase with a solvent soaked rag and a stiff piece of wire.
8. Count the links on the old chain and cut new chain.
9. Insert a piece of stiff hooked wire from the front into the top chaincase tube until it exits at the rear. Hitch new chain on hook. Retrieve chain and remove hook. Don't put chain over chainring yet.
10. Insert hooked wire from the rear into the lower chaincase tube. Hitch chain and retrieve it. Install master link and put chain over sprocket.
11. Now, with the wheel all the way forward, the chain should be slack enough to put it on the chainring.
12. Adjust chain tension and reassemble all.

Note that you don't need to take out the wheel to replace the chain this way.

Lots of good advice (as usual). I'm game and it's way too hot to ride today, so it's off to the basement to get the job done.

TSapp

Amen!