How To Repair A Bike Chain

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If y'all accept a chain breaker tool, also called a chain tool, so fixing a broken bike chain is piece of cake. You can do most routine maintenance past yourself, yet, you should know that afterwards a concatenation breaks it'south best to get a new chain before long after making repairs.

1

Avert shifting the cycle while the chain is broken. Though information technology may be easier to repair or supersede the chain while it's in a lower gear, you should only shift the bike when pedaling. Shifting with a cleaved chain can cause more problems.
2

Utilize a chain breaker tool to carefully push the pin halfway out of the broken link. This tool, resembling a medieval torture device, is actually easy to use. Each link of the chain has 2 round pins in information technology which attach it to the other links. Find the broken link and notation the pin that is keeping it attached to the residual of the chain. Slowly turn your chain breaker tool so the poker pushes the pin out of the link virtually halfway. Do not push button it completely through.

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3
Pull the broken link off the pin and discard it. Remove the broken link while keeping the pin in the chain. This pin volition adhere to the open up link on the other side of the concatenation to put everything back together.^[1]
- You tin can replace this pin with a new one, if you take one on hand.
4
Fit the two ends of the chain into ane another then the holes line up. The link with the pin in it should be on the outside so that you lot tin push button it through all 4 holes (two on each link) to complete your chain.
- To become the holes to line up, put the inner plates in the outer plates of the chain.
5

Use your chain breaker tool the other fashion to button the pin through, completing the link. Before, you screwed the tool in to push the pin out of the link. At present, spiral the tool to button the link inward. Work slowly, keeping your hand on the links to ensure it is all lined upwardly.
6

Loosen up the connexion to prevent binding. Catch the concatenation on each side of your newly connected links and move it from side to side to loosen up the new connection. Information technology can also help to movement the chain tool to the other side of the articulation just made, and push the pin very slightly to free the ii outside plates of the link from the central section, preventing binding.
7

Lubricate your concatenation with cycle grease. Do non use WD-40, or any other product non made for wheel chains. Flip the cycle over and pedal it with i hand, dropping bits of lubricant onto the concatenation with the other. About 10-15 drops should exercise. Then, use a damp rag and lightly pat down the concatenation of any backlog oil. When you run a finger on the chain it should come upwardly slick, simply not covered in a puddle of lubricant.
8
Avoid using your biggest gear in the back gears, as the chain is now a link as well short. More often than not, the bike won't even allow you lot become into these gears, as the chain is not long enough to attain. Even so, the strain of trying to hit these bigger cogs will crusade some other break if you aren't conscientious.
- Endeavor to continue your chain straight between the forepart and back gears. Don't let it stretch diagonally across the gears past being all the way to the correct on the front gears and all the way to the left on the back gears at the aforementioned fourth dimension.
- This concatenation fix is generally temporary, and you should add a new link or get a new chain shortly later.^[two]

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Add a new link as shortly as possible to render your chain to its normal length. If your chain breaks, y'all can remove the broken link and reattach the chain for a temporary fix. All the same, the shorter chain won't be able to fit around all of your gears, severely limiting your range. You lot can purchase new links, even so, at any cycle shop and many sports retailers
- It'due south not platonic to use a chain that has links with unlike levels of wear. The all-time matter to practice is to supersede the entire chain instead of adding a new link.
- Master links are made to fit easily onto a cycle. They are easy to install apace, as well, making them handy to go on in your saddle bag on long trips. They are, past far, the most common links used by home mechanics. Consult a local bike store to find ane that works for your bicycle.
2

Confront the master link the correct management. Near links have an pointer on them that needs to signal in the direction the chain goes when pedaling. The residual are concave (bending in) on i side, and this side needs to face up towards the cycle and the residual of the bicycle.
3
Pinch the links together to unhook the 2 halves of the principal link. You'll notice that the master link has a figure-8 shaped infinite for the pins, instead of the normal rounded pins and pin-holes for the rest of the concatenation. If the chain is not already unlocked, practice information technology now.
- Some chief links come up as 2 asymmetrical halves: a C-shaped piece with both pins and an outside plate. To fix these bondage, simply thread the C-shaped pivot into the both open up holes of the cleaved chain, then fit the plate on top.
four

Take each half and push it through the hole on opposite ends of the chain. Each of the pins on the two halves of the master link needs to go into i of the ends of the chain. Brand certain that the pins go in from contrary sides of the chain equally well. You lot are going to hook the chain dorsum together using the figure-viii hole, and they need to line upwards.
5
Link the exposed pins through the figure-eight holes on the opposing links. Beginning, bring the chain together. Then, marshal the holes and push the pins through them. Notation, however, that this connection is currently very loose.
- Some mechanics use a tensioner, a elementary C-shaped wire that hooks into the grooves of the chain, to concord it taut while linking. While non necessary, a set of hands or a like tool to keep the concatenation shut together makes life much easier.
half dozen

Use a pair of pliers to button the master link together, clicking the pins into place. You desire to force the pins into the other sides of the figure-eight hole to lock them in place. If you don't have a pair of pliers handy, at that place is one more than pull a fast one on to tighten everything. Flip the bicycle over then it's upside-down. Holding the dorsum suspension down, slowly pedal the bike. As the brake holds the wheel, and thus the chain, in place, the pressure level of pedaling will pull the other side, tightening your master link.
7

Know that, in the end, a broken chain ordinarily means y'all demand a brand new one. While yous tin ready the chain in a diverseness of ways, as noted, a broken concatenation usually needs a replacement. Beyond breaking, quondam chains expand as the pins inside clothing downwardly. This might not sound similar much in theory, but it matters when riding. The chain handles and transfers all of the force from your feet to the wheels, and a loose concatenation means y'all're doing a lot more work for a lot less speed.^[three]

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Question

The tool is all that is needed when a concatenation breaks? I don't demand an actress pin or annihilation?

Matt Gander

Community Answer

Utilize the tool to remove the damaged link, then purchase a quick link or speed link to reconnect chain, every bit it volition be much stronger than trying to push the concatenation dorsum in.
Question

How do I repair broken gears?

Generally, gears are fabricated of metal with a plastic ring over information technology, the plastic merely serves an artful purpose, and the metal gear can be easily welded back or replaced, depending on the extent of the damage.
Question

How exercise I put an unbroken bike chain back on?

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Pins in the chain are specific to the number of speeds your cassette has. Ask at your local bike shop if you lot have any questions about this.
E'er keep an old chain or those extra links left over from a new chain replacement, every bit spares. Call back though that there are several types of chain made to fit specific blocks, and one may not be uniform with another.
The chain billow tool is one tool that will pay for itself. Chains pause off at times for no apparent reason. Keep information technology with you when biking, every bit it tin can also help another stranded cyclist.

Follow these instructions closely and carefully. Don't rush annihilation.
If you are actually stuck, enquire a pro
The pivot that y'all pushed out should be replaced with a new pivot every bit reusing the old pivot could cause a failure. Replacement pins are bachelor from your local bike shop.

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Article Summary X

With a chain breaker tool, you tin easily fix your broken wheel chain and get riding again right away. You'll just demand to remove the broken chain link by pushing its pivot out with your concatenation breaker tool and so connect the 2 ends past pushing a pin between them. However, if yous don't have a new link, you can all the same connect the ends of the chain together using your concatenation billow tool. Just avoid using your highest gear until you tin can add a new link to the chain, since information technology volition be too short for the meantime. Brand sure you lubricate your chain with bicycle grease earlier yous ride it. For more tips from our Bike Maintenance co-writer, including how to locate the master link in your concatenation, read on!

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