Chain repair in the field

Hey guys:

I was on a ride today and witnessed one of our groups riders lose a chain.

We had enough tools to rebuild an engine, but nothing for chain repair.

This got me to thinking.... hmmmmmmm.... I better prepare myself for this potential problem.

Anyhow, any recommendations for chain repair tools while in the field?

TIA

Dave

You can get those $20 chain breakers. I think they are aluminum. They are small but will break the BRP chain unless you have something unusual. I think someone told me they will only work a few times so...

More robust is this: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Motion-Pro-Chain-breaker-and-Mini-press-COMBO-kit_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem56365dc924QQitemZ370279303460QQptZMotorcyclesQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories
I got a great deal on it by looking for one that had a worn out pin. I paid $5 for it and the new pin was another $7 I think. In my case I think i found a guy who didn't know they were rebuildable. I don't know.

And I carry two DID ERV2 links of chain.

And two DID type clip masterlinks.

Not sure but I think this is the press I have: http://www.amazon.com/MOTION-MINI-CHAIN-PRESS-08-0070/dp/B000RG6LSW/ref=sr_1_37?ie=UTF8&s=automotive&qid=1256874447&sr=1-37

Yikes - Review of MP Chain tool: http://www.webbikeworld.com/t2/motorcycle-chain-sprocket/
But for me, I get the chain riveted and then change them frequently. Never lost one. When I was young I never replaced them. Or lubed them. Or cleaned them. Never lost one either...

Looks like MP even makes a special Plier for clips: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/MASTERLINK-Chain-PLIERS-Motion-Pro-Tools_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem5ad3f2adebQQitemZ390102953451QQptZMotorsQ5fAutomotiveQ5fTools

DIY Chain Rivet Tool:
http://www.kawiforums.com/how-tos-faqs/121549-diy-chain-rivet-tool.html

Here's what a guy uses who rivets bicycle chains all day: http://www.artofchain.com/

Bump:

Yeah, I've never lost one either, even with the similar "early days" abuse that you mentioned.

But, now that I've mentioned "it," it will happen.

Even an extra link or two would have helped today. We rode to a small airport (the closest place for miles), where some super cool airplane wrench turners removed the busted half link.

After being stoked and riding back to the crippled XRR, we found the damn chain was now too short to link back together. *%^&*

Thanks for the link to fix links. Time to grab more repair tools....

Dave

joking-I hope...

I found some cool tools while I was looking online. I'm gonna do the DIY rivet press tool. It looks like the best one to get is one made by DID, the chain people. But they are like $150 to $250! That's too rich for me. I'll email you what I'm gonna do. It's based on the Kawasaki guy's idea.

I'm kindofa freak for tools the help me do things by myself. So when i stumbled across this I bought it: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/RENTHAL-RK-EK-DID-REGINA-CHAIN-HOLDER-TOOL_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem3355c3296bQQitemZ220482185579QQptZMotorcyclesQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories#shId

I have a DID O-Ring chain, and a few extra master clip links, and I use the Motion Pro Mini Press. I think the extra links are around $2.00 each so if your real worried I guess you could change them a few times a year, and be out very little.

As for Pressing non clip-able links I never flanged out the pins on my FZ1 street bike. Chain never came off, and I went through a few chains while owning that bike. Stress on a chain is length wise, there is no stress to the sides if everything is running in alignment. Off course dirt bikes I guess you could hit a rock hard enough to cause the side plate to pop off, still pretty unlikely though as the chains I used were DID ZVM2's took a lot of effort to even press the plate onto the pins. They simply were not going to just pop off, even with a whack of a hammer.

I see above some use the clip-type links - surely a joke or what?
I'll only use a rivet link, riveted with a DID tool I've got. At home riveted I mean, never ever it will come off of break! That will save me carrying any tool or spares... think about that pls?
Only chains with a clip link will come off, and our Pig has waaay too much power for such links anyway.