What is the difference between these 2 chain tools?
10-28-21 | 09:40 AM
#2
Mad bike riding scientist
Joined: Nov 2004
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From: Denver, CO
Bikes: Some silver ones, a red one, a black and orange one, and a few titanium ones
It depends. Currently, a “chain plier” is a tool used to remove or install a quick link and is more correctly called a master link plier. A “chain breaker” is used to push the pin from a chain link.
Long ago, there were chain pliers made to push the pins from a chain link. They never really worked that well because the force required to remove a pin is considerable. The Park chain pliers were a little easier to use than then ones like this design
Long ago, there were chain pliers made to push the pins from a chain link. They never really worked that well because the force required to remove a pin is considerable. The Park chain pliers were a little easier to use than then ones like this design
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Stuart Black
Dreamin' of Bemidji Down the Mississippi (in part)
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
Last edited by cyccommute; 10-28-21 at 09:49 AM.
10-28-21 | 09:57 AM
#3
Zip tie Karen
Joined: Aug 2009
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From: Fair Oaks Ranch, TX
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One can readily "get by" without having a chain plier. There are work-arounds.
One can barely "get by" without a chain breaker.
Now, if you're willing to have a bike shop do all maintenance for you, then you don't need either. But if you intend on maintaining your own bike, changing or cleaning worn chains, shortening new ones to fit and the like, you need both. The last thing is a small piece of heavy gauge wire twisted into a "C", or sold like this:
^ super convenient to relieve chain tension when your shortening or re-joining chains.
One can barely "get by" without a chain breaker.
Now, if you're willing to have a bike shop do all maintenance for you, then you don't need either. But if you intend on maintaining your own bike, changing or cleaning worn chains, shortening new ones to fit and the like, you need both. The last thing is a small piece of heavy gauge wire twisted into a "C", or sold like this:
^ super convenient to relieve chain tension when your shortening or re-joining chains.
10-28-21 | 08:41 PM
#4
Old fart
Joined: Nov 2004
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From: Appleton WI
Bikes: Several, mostly not name brands.
The Park chain pliers were a little easier to use than then ones like this design
10-28-21 | 08:47 PM
#5
Old fart
Joined: Nov 2004
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From: Appleton WI
Bikes: Several, mostly not name brands.
An old spoke is the ideal source of a "heavy gauge wire" from which to fabricate this tool.
10-28-21 | 09:18 PM
#6
SE Wis
Joined: Apr 2005
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From: Milwaukee, WI
Bikes: '68 Raleigh Sprite, '02 Raleigh C500, '84 Raleigh Gran Prix, '91 Trek 400, 2013 Novara Randonee, 1990 Trek 970
10-29-21 | 05:11 PM
#7
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Bikes: 2017 Surly Cross-Check. 2020 Specialized Turbo Vado 3.0, 2002 GT Dyno Roadster, 2002 Rans Stratus, 2020 Giant Fathom 2, 2011 Trek Pure Sport
