Moped Riders Association

serge4 · Net Rider Joined: 09 Oct 2006 Location: Ithaca, NY

anyone recommend a chain breaker tool that's not too expensive? for a 415 chain. i had some fancy italian model that broke after 1 use... total junk. i don't need some fancy park tools nonsense, just some quality tool to get the job done... and no i'm not using my dremel.

John

You can get these for about 15 bucks, try Harbor Freight. I have used mine for years, 40+ to be exact. lol

supercub

Dremel no, but a bench grinder nick the mushroomed head off of the link and push it through with a pin punch... Until I buy the real thing someday.

serge4 · Net Rider Joined: 09 Oct 2006 Location: Ithaca, NY

this was the only one at harbor freight i found and it said it only went as low as 420...

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=66488

John · Last edited by John on Tue Feb 09, 2010 10:11 am; edited 1 time in total

If it will do 420 then it will do 415. Still prefer the clamp type though.

serge4 · Net Rider Joined: 09 Oct 2006 Location: Ithaca, NY

this one seems good but sounds like it messes up the chain plate... http://www.bikebandit.com/drag-specialties-heavy-duty-chain-breaker?WT.mc_id=1484958&CAWELAID=338418799

or i could spend a bit more and get this one
http://www.pistonbikes.com/product-p/sbct3.htm

John

You are not using the link plate or link again, that is what master links are for. Every industry that as chain drives use this type of breaker, and there are larger ones of the same design! Things can't be that difficult to make a decision on a breaker. As mentioned before an angle grinder and a punch will work also, but it can mess the chain up too.

serge4 · Net Rider Joined: 09 Oct 2006 Location: Ithaca, NY

i want to break part of the chain off one chain, and then attach it to another chain... and i only want to use 1 masterlink not 2... so I'd need to at least use the link again.

John

Good luck!

mopedlar · Regional Rider Joined: 20 Feb 2009 Location: New Jersey

If that's the case, buy a new #41 chain from Tractor Supply. You'll get enough chain to do 2 peds.

supercub

Chain is cheap. Risking a broken chain isn't worth it. 2 used different chains will be stretched differently and that will make the chain slack vary. Your sprockets will wear out faster. You will feel a rumbe at high speeds and the vibration could loosen up the reassembled link.

mopedlar · Regional Rider Joined: 20 Feb 2009 Location: New Jersey

The only time I had to join two chains was on my Tri-ped because the drive chain was so long. Both chains were brand new and 2 master links were used. After 2 seasons of use, the chain has held fine. I would not recommend doing this unless it's an emergency and you don't have a new chain. Like it's been said, chain is cheap. Replace, don't repair.

serge4 · Net Rider Joined: 09 Oct 2006 Location: Ithaca, NY

ok, maybe i'll just get a new chain and break it down and then use the old chain as some roadside resource. i think i'm going to buy this chain tool...

http://www.setteusa.com/show.php/Accessories|Wheel+and+Chain|chain_tool

mopedlar · Regional Rider Joined: 20 Feb 2009 Location: New Jersey

The only tools I've ever used to cut chains is my bench grinder, a thin blade screwdriver and a hammer. I've never met a chain yet I couldn't cut with these basic tools.

That chainbreaker tool would definitely be helpful if I was away from my shop.

RebelMob · Net Rider Joined: 12 Nov 2008 Location: Canada

I have a clamp type and it is great, I got tired of messing around trying to cut a chain and hammer it and using punches and such.
When you put a chain back together put some RTV on the master link keeper to keep it in place. If the keeper can not move the link will never come apart. ALso run a single length when ever possible, splicing two chains together means you are using two chains of different vintages and one will fail or kill off your sprockets. Standard length is 10 feet which is enough to do more then most of the peds.