Putting Chain Pins Back In

[trikeman]

I like to reuse old chains, if I can. Unfortunately, I always forget to not drive the pin all the way out when I am taking them apart. Anyone got any good tricks for getting a pin started again? My fingers are too big to get inside the chain tool to hold it.

[SirJoey]

Good luck with THAT one, man! The couple of times that I've accidentally done that, I just gave up & added a piece from another chain.

Maybe Brad or someone has some little trick, but I got nothing...

http://img384.imageshack.us/img384/7131/sirjoeysigmedij1.gif

[savarin]

I've done it precisely once.
I moved one side plate to the side, held the pin in a pair of needle nose pliers, taped up the chain to keep that end straight so it wouldnt flop around, aligned the pin with the hole in the corner of a small vice and got someone else to tighten the vice. It surprised me that it worked.
Took a couple of false starts till I taped up a foot of chain.

[theDude]

Yep. Tape or wire the chain in place and use a pair of tweezers or really fine needle nose pliers to hold the pin.

[trikeman]

Well.. I got er back on. I put the chain breaker tool in the vise carefully put the chain together and used a pair of curved needle nose pliers to position the pin. Then I cranked it down enough to seat it. Removed the whole thing and put it back on the bike. I am not sure I trust it, since I have read that when you take a pin all the way out you destroy the mushroom that is on the pin head and weaken it. I will probably just get a new chain when I get a chance.

[TheKid]

There are master links available for both 1/8" and 3/32" chain. Also, most chain tools have a adjustment so you don't overdo it. It's usually a little knurled screw that's hollowed out about halfway. By screwing it in a little bit, it stops the pin from going too far.

[savarin]

I am not sure I trust it, since I have read that when you take a pin all the way out you destroy the mushroom that is on the pin head and weaken it. I will probably just get a new chain when I get a chance.

I cant see that, if this were the case you have already destroyed said mushroom by pushing it through the first plate. Its the same end going through the second plate so how much more wear will occur.
Just as a matter of interest has anybody here ever snapped a chain whilst riding?
I havnt or ever seen it happen.
Well, OK it has happened to me on a Norton Commando when I dragged a sports car away from the lights but thats another story.

[trikeman]

I cant see that, if this were the case you have already destroyed said mushroom by pushing it through the first plate. Its the same end going through the second plate so how much more wear will occur.
Just as a matter of interest has anybody here ever snapped a chain whilst riding?
I havnt or ever seen it happen.
Well, OK it has happened to me on a Norton Commando when I dragged a sports car away from the lights but thats another story.

When I did my DW I made the same mistake (Doh!) on the first ride the pin pulled loose and the chain snapped off. I don't know if it was something I did, or not. I ride on a rails-to-trail bicycle trail a lot. I see 2-3 people with snapped chains a year. Most are on department store bikes, so you never know why something fell off. That is why most serious roadies carry a spare link and a chain tool.

I agree that the mushroom theory is hard to believe when you view it in light of the fact that you have to push the link back in one side, even if you do it right. It may just be one of those old bicycle myths they argue about all the time on the rec.bicycles.tech newsgroup. I suspect the biggest cause of failure is not getting the pin back in evenly on both sides (i.e. leaving it out too far on one side). Before these fancy new derailers with so many gears came out we all ran chains with master links. It was simpler then.

[SirJoey]

Some chains have the mushroomed pins, some don't. The mushroomed ones are a pain & a half to push out, if you're using one of those little cheapie chain tools like I have. They were so tight on my tad chain, that I actually broke the tool! :eek:

http://img384.imageshack.us/img384/7131/sirjoeysigmedij1.gif

[trikeman]

Shimano actually makes a replacement pin that is larger than the one you took out, if you ever have to replace it. They seem to think taking one of their chains apart requires the replacement.

I broke several of those little pot-metal chain pullers from WallyMart. Then I got smart and got a Park.

[SirJoey]

...Then I got smart and got a Park.

That's what I want. I love the Park tools. Maybe if I'm good for the rest of the year, Santa will bring me one...

http://img384.imageshack.us/img384/7131/sirjoeysigmedij1.gif

[trikeman]

That's what I want. I love the Park tools. Maybe if I'm good for the rest of the year, Santa will bring me one...

http://img384.imageshack.us/img384/7131/sirjoeysigmedij1.gif

Spin Doctor makes a decent one too, and cheaper than Park. I have one of their small ones that works well (so far).

http://www.spadout.com/p/spin-doctor-universal-chain-tool/

[n9viw]

That Spin Doctor one looks good, I use the Park pack tool myself, I love how simple it is. You can get replacement pins for it, too.

I've seen the Shimano pins, they seem to have two sides to them, or maybe one side is just for installation. Either way, you snap off the unused end when you're done. I seem to recall they're only for HG or IG chain, I don't remember exactly though. I've never used one.

I carry (or used to, have to check if it's still in the saddlebag!) a split master made for 3/32" chain, called a Powerlink, made by SRAM (http://commutebybike.com/2008/01/05/review-sram-power-link-chain/). Still have to press out the one good pin from the broken link so you have two "female" ends open, but they're really strong and mega-easy to install. I've never broken a chain on the road, WHOOPS! Now I've gone and done it, I said something! :eek:

Trikeman, I was just going to suggest the method you used, but you beat me to it! :D I tape both sides of the chain to the back jaw of a vise, so the holes where the pin goes are lined up. I close the vise slightly, and hold the pin with a pair of long needle-nose pliers. I hold the pin with one hand and slowly close the vise with the other... it takes a couple tries, but eventually it works. Guess I'm not such a long way from the days when I used to break chains with a hammer and awl! :o

[robertwb70]

I broke several of those little pot-metal chain pullers from WallyMart. Then I got smart and got a Park.

Me too...:)