chain removal question

(Joe) said:

I have a Suntour chain that I need to break to throughly clean; I know that I should use a
replacement pin when doing so, however a bicycle mech. told me that a shimano pin will not work.
If I dont push the pin completly out will I still be in jeopardy of creating a weak link? Thanks

Suntour chains don't work like Shimano; you don't need a special link pin. Just do this: push the
pin out carefully just enough that you can get it apart. Reverse to reassemble, but make sure you
don't create a tight link. If you do, bend back and forth sideways until it's free. Ride.

If you accidentaly go too far and push the pin all the way out, don't try to push it back in. Either
shorten the chain, add a link from another chain, or get a new one. Decent chains are pretty
cheap-under $US15.

--
Ted Bennett Portland OR

Joe said:

I have a Suntour chain that I need to break to throughly clean; I know that I should use a
replacement pin when doing so, however a bicycle mech. told me that a shimano pin will not work.
If I dont push the pin completly out will I still be in jeopardy of creating a weak link? Thanks

Any time you push the pin out it gets weaker, on the newer models with 'mushroomed' pins get is
worse i'd remove the link completely and put in a quick link.

James Connell said:

Quoted message said:

I have a SunTour chain that I need to break to throughly clean; I know that I should use a
replacement pin when doing so, however a bicycle mechanic told me that a Shimano pin will not
work. If I don't push the pin completely out will I still be in jeopardy of creating a weak link?

Quoted message said:

Any time you push the pin out it gets weaker, on the newer models with 'mushroomed' pins get is
worse I'd remove the link completely and put in a quick link.

The reason for the special pin for Shimano is that there isn't much of a micro radius on the ends of
their pins and pressing such a pin back in can get into a broaching mode that reams out some of the
press fit that is required to safely use the chain. The special pin is one with an entry nose with a
groove to crack off the nose after pressing in. This assures a more reliable fit, although the
radius at the groove is no greater than the original pin had. It only guarantees a straight
insertion that you can achieve yourself if you have the tool. Shimano inserts these pins in without
a leader nose in the first place.

I have not used these chains but most others that I have, I re-inserted the original pin, that is
except for the times I used master links. After one of these jumped out on me when clean and new, I
decided they offered no advantage because a dirty chain is not easily opened with one of them, grit
taking up the clearance needed to release the master link. The master links can disengage if the
chain skips on a worn sprocket and the link happens to be the next on to enter the sprocket. In that
event I found the link lying on the street, reinserted it and rode on.

When pushing out a pin for re-use, push it only so far that the chain will not separate without
lateral bending or it will be difficult to connect the chain after cleaning. When pushed back in,
the pin should protrude equally on both sides before the link is loosened by forcefully bending the
chain sideways. This bending forces the side plates apart enough to make the chain free to
articulate.

Jobst Brandt [email hidden] Palo Alto CA

"Joe" <[email hidden]> wrote in message "]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I have a Suntour chain that I need to break to throughly clean; I know that I should use a
replacement pin when doing so, however a bicycle mech. told me that a shimano pin will not work.
If I dont push the pin completly out will I still be in jeopardy of creating a weak link?

Suntour's chain did not require a replacement pin. And especially don't use a Shimano one in it.
Just move one rivet far enough out to get the chain apart and then rerivet that one, taking care to
set it evenly.

--
Andrew Muzi yellowjersey.orgyellowjersey.orgOpen ↗ Open every day since 1 April 1971

maxhr-<< I have a Suntour chain that I need to break to throughly clean; I know that I should use a
replacement pin when doing so, however a bicycle mech. told me that a shimano pin will not work. If
I dont push the pin completly out will I still be in jeopardy of creating a weak link?

Use a Sram 8s silver snaplink-

Peter Chisholm Vecchio's Bicicletteria 1833 Pearl St. Boulder, CO, 80302
(303)440-3535 vecchios.comvecchios.comOpen ↗ "Ruote convenzionali costruite eccezionalmente bene"

A Muzi said:

Suntour's chain did not require a replacement pin. And especially don't use a Shimano one in it.
Just move one rivet far enough out to get the chain apart and then rerivet that one, taking care to
set it evenly.

I don't think that Campy 9sp chain uses a special pin either.