Chain removal

[ST Colin]

Hi all,

I want to remove my chain and give it a proper clean. I have a Shimano HG93 chain.

Can nip into Halfrauds and get a Park Tools chain remover. Can a laymen pleb like me remove and refit safely?

Colin

[Lwatson]

Chain tool to press out the rivet and get yourself these:

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=871

Then in future you will not have to break the chain to get it off your bike!

[rochey]

I have one if you want to borrow it. Its easy enough to do you just need the right pin to rejoin the chain after. I thought you where joking about the ocd with cleaning the bike?lol

[ST Colin]

Well, I've tried to disguise it as a joke, but it's true, I'm a freak when it comes to keeping it clean. Same with my car, it has to be spotless. And I mean spotless, even the wheel arches get degreased, engine bay is spotless, exhaust tails and back box gets metal polish treatment.

I'll get my coat.

[rochey]

I'll put my bike in the back of my car along with the chain breaker. You can take the lot and clean away until your hearts content!lol

Do you have pins for the chain?

[Lwatson]

you just need the right pin to rejoin the chain after.

A proper shimano connecter pin for rejoining a chain is the same price as a power link jobby. Makes sense to spend 1.99 on a link jobby then anytime you need to split the chain you dont have to break links.

From my experience, pressing rivets back into a chain doesnt last.

[ST Colin]

Hmmmm, I assumed I can use the pin that's already in the chain. I guess not!

EDIT: Just realised what an utterly stupid assumption that is.

[Lwatson]

Hmmmm, I assumed I can use the pin that's already in the chain. I guess not!

EDIT: Just realised what an utterly stupid assumption that is.


You can, it just doesnt last.

[rochey]

Years ago you could reuse the existing pins. But I think Shimano caught on to this, Thats why you have to pay for them now.

[Lwatson]

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=871

Then in future you will not have to break the chain to get it off your bike!

:rolleyes:

[Darran@BOMB]

Am i weird, i always reuse the existing pins by not pressing them out the whole way, i rarely break them. Maybe my legs arent powerful enough.

If you keep the pin projecting about 1mm it even helps when rejoining the chain as it conveniently snaps together and stays in place for you to press the pin back in again.

Am i the only one to do that?

[tony07]

nope ive done that manys a time when ive got no more powerlinks. does the job!

[rochey]

No mate I used to do it to, but had the chain come apart a few times, usually in the a**ehole of nowhere.

[monty]

Powerlinks.. I had one once..
Not anymore though as I could not for the life of me use it! Wouldn't come apart at all!

[Lwatson]

Am i weird, i always reuse the existing pins by not pressing them out the whole way, i rarely break them. Maybe my legs arent powerful enough.

If you keep the pin projecting about 1mm it even helps when rejoining the chain as it conveniently snaps together and stays in place for you to press the pin back in again.

Am i the only one to do that?

I do it to, it just doesnt seem to last for me, my current chain had two sram power links and i've lost count of how many times i've rejoin by pressing the original pin back in again. After snapping it again at the weekend i decided it was time for a new one :o

[keyserni]

Yea I just don't pop the pin out the whole way but saying that I've never had a chain break no power in my legs.

[ST Colin]

Well the chain is off, just took out one of the links and will replace it with a proper Shimano link, not a re-usable one.

It's now soaking in a tub of vinegar

[Kona Rab]

Don't get a shimano link pin, as you will have to buy another one if you want to take the chain off again.

Buy yourself a Powerlink one of the best things since sliced bread.

PS. Monty there is an knack to getting them off. Squeeze the link and twist and they come off in seconds.

[thetrailbuilder]

DONT take it off

why weaken it

[ST Colin]

Too late for that, it's enjoying itself in a bath of vinegar.

It's pretty amazing what an 85p bottle of vinegar can clean.

[chucky]

It's pretty amazing what an 85p bottle of vinegar can clean.

Probably all the lubricants from the chain ;)

I've never cleaned a chain. Ever. Never had any problems either.

[thetrailbuilder]

its going to be dirty with 0.0000000000000000000000000000000001 second of riding it again

[Tiff]

its going to be dirty with 0.0000000000000000000000000000000001 second of riding it again

xbox is better

[thetrailbuilder]

xbox is better

lmao

[ST Colin]

Well, gave it a good scrub last night, all the surface rust is gone. So, i'll pop it back on tonight, degrease again, and lube and ready to go*



* requote at will

[pa-system]

Another handy cheap alternative to the vinegar is diesel or parrafin - will eat through any grease, is reusable (the crap will sink to the bottom) and will displace water and add some lubrication (until you lube it up before your next ride).

[barry_kellett99]

I used to take the chain off and clean it in a bottle of diluted degreaser.
Sure, it cleaned the chain, but I am pretty sure it was shortening the life of the chain.

I am now using Rock N Roll lube, which you put on after riding. It seems to be made up of two separate liquids which you shake hard to mix and squirt it on liberally on the chain while spinning the chain by back pedalling the crank.

I haven't looked into how it works but it seems to be one part is a cleaner and the gooey white part you have to shake in is the lube. I assume they separate again shortly after squirting on but the up shot is, you wipe the excess off with a rag and after a wee while the chain is shiny and clean and is audibly lubed up well inside.


Of course, if i get lazy and dont clean it soon after riding I may have to revert back to the old course of action at some stage.

[ST Colin]

I don't plan on taking it off all the time, I need to make sure it's cleaned after every ride to stop surface rust coming back.

[pa-system]

What about one of the little chain-cleaner dohickeys (http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=12709)that brushes the chain with degreaser in-situ?

[onionfx]

bufty alert
WHOOP WHOOP

:) :) :)