Removing old chain?

In article <[email hidden]>,
"Mike Rocket J. Squirrel Elliott"
<[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

I'm helping my son clean up an old mid-70's 5-speed (one rear
derailleur) Schwinn bike he just got. The chain is pretty funky so it
wants cleaning and re-lubing. It's a 1/2-inch pitch chain. I can't see a
removable link. The link pins don't appear to be straight stock with
flat faces, like newer chains, but look like rivets on the ends. So
before I apply my handy link pin pusher-outer tool, I would appreciate
any helpful suggestions from folks who know about these chains.

Chain is probably out of specification. Lay a 12 inch
steel rule next to it. If (unlikely) the pins match the
rulings for all 12 inches then the chain is good. If over
12 inches the 24 th pin is more that 1/16 inch past the 12
inch mark, the chain is bad. Best to buy a chain tool.
Much more advice is available on various web sites.

--
Michael Press

If you're a true tight ass like myself, go to your token Xmart, get a
chain tool and a single speed chain (might want two, as they're usually
a bit short), both should cost you under $10USD. The chain will have
some house brand logo on it, but they're all usually cheap KMC brand
chains at this price point--they work fine.

You might have to add links or remove to get the right length, then use
the master link to install.

If you have a little more dough, Sram chains, and a Rivoli brand chain
splitter are better quality.

On 9/11/2005 1:58 PM maxo said:

If you're a true tight ass like myself, go to your token Xmart, get a
chain tool and a single speed chain (might want two, as they're usually
a bit short), both should cost you under $10USD. The chain will have
some house brand logo on it, but they're all usually cheap KMC brand
chains at this price point--they work fine.

You might have to add links or remove to get the right length, then use
the master link to install.

If you have a little more dough, Sram chains, and a Rivoli brand chain
splitter are better quality.

Thanks! That's a great idea about getting the cheap-o Sprawlmart chain.
Despite its dirtiness, this chain has not received so much usage that it
is stretched out, so I would like to re-use it. I already have a chain
tool, my question is more along the lines of whether this type of chain
-- where the link pins have a rolled-over, lipped "pop-rivet" look on
the ends, will survive a chain tool. There is no master link.

--

Mike "Rocket J Squirrel" Elliott
71 Type 2: the Wonderbus
84 Westfalia: Mellow Yellow ("The Electrical Banana"😉
KG6RCR

Mike Rocket J. Squirrel Elliott said:

I'm helping my son clean up an old mid-70's 5-speed (one rear
derailleur) Schwinn bike he just got. The chain is pretty funky so it
wants cleaning and re-lubing. It's a 1/2-inch pitch chain. I can't see a
removable link. The link pins don't appear to be straight stock with
flat faces, like newer chains, but look like rivets on the ends. So
before I apply my handy link pin pusher-outer tool, I would appreciate
any helpful suggestions from folks who know about these chains.

You can clean the chain while its still on the bike. This is by far the
simplest. I use one of these:

http://tinyurl.com/bj55u

With an appropriate solvent, it might take a while and dirty a few rags
if the chain is really nasty, but after that it's easy to get into a
routine of sub-5-minute clean/lube chain maintenance. I've been doing
this for a while, and I've been pretty happy with shifting and chain
life, especially in winter when it gets dirty really fast in the slush.

Park also makes a chain cleaner, it uses magnets, is heavier duty, and
has a heavier duty price to reflect it.

Mike said:

It's a 1/2-inch pitch chain. I can't see a
removable link. The link pins don't appear to be straight stock with
flat faces, like newer chains, but look like rivets on the ends.

Schwinns in the 70s equipped with derailers came with standard chains
designed to be assembled/disassembled with regular chain tools at any
of the links. I wonder if the 'rivet-like' appearance may just be due
to dirt/rust buildup over the years.

Despite maxo's recommendation I wouldn't suggest using a single-speed
chain on this bike since derailer-compatible chains are considerably
narrower.

Mike Rocket J. Squirrel Elliott said:

On 9/11/2005 1:58 PM maxo said:

If you're a true tight ass like myself, go to your token Xmart, get a
chain tool and a single speed chain (might want two, as they're usually
a bit short), both should cost you under $10USD. The chain will have
some house brand logo on it, but they're all usually cheap KMC brand
chains at this price point--they work fine.

You might have to add links or remove to get the right length, then use
the master link to install.

If you have a little more dough, Sram chains, and a Rivoli brand chain
splitter are better quality.

Thanks! That's a great idea about getting the cheap-o Sprawlmart chain.
Despite its dirtiness, this chain has not received so much usage that it
is stretched out, so I would like to re-use it. I already have a chain
tool, my question is more along the lines of whether this type of chain
-- where the link pins have a rolled-over, lipped "pop-rivet" look on
the ends, will survive a chain tool. There is no master link.

Yeah, but don't do it. Single speed chains are 1/8 and far too stiff
sidewise for derailer use, you need derailer chain at 3/32. Cheapest of
those will suffice, though, with a 5 speed.

Jasper

11 Sep 2005 12:19:36 -0700 'Mike Rocket J. Squirrel Elliott said:

I'm helping my son clean up an old mid-70's 5-speed (one rear
derailleur) Schwinn bike he just got. The chain is pretty funky so it
wants cleaning and re-lubing. It's a 1/2-inch pitch chain. I can't see a
removable link. The link pins don't appear to be straight stock with
flat faces, like newer chains, but look like rivets on the ends. So
before I apply my handy link pin pusher-outer tool, I would appreciate
any helpful suggestions from folks who know about these chains.

That's an old standard 1/2 x 3/32 derailleur chain. The rivet heads
stick out a bit to help in shifting. Later chains were narrowed by
making the rivets flush. None of these chains have master links.

The beauty of these old chains is that you can just push the rivet out
and then back in again if you have a chain tool. No worries other than
tight links or of getting the rivet mis-centered.

A 1/2 x 1/8" single speed chain won't work with this derailleur geared
bike, even though it just has one derailleur.

-
-----------------------------------------------
Jim Adney [email hidden]
Madison, WI 53711 USA
-----------------------------------------------

Mike Rocket J. Squirrel Elliott said:

I'm helping my son clean up an old mid-70's 5-speed (one rear
derailleur) Schwinn bike he just got. The chain is pretty funky so it
wants cleaning and re-lubing. It's a 1/2-inch pitch chain. I can't see a
removable link. The link pins don't appear to be straight stock with
flat faces, like newer chains, but look like rivets on the ends. So
before I apply my handy link pin pusher-outer tool, I would appreciate
any helpful suggestions from folks who know about these chains.

If there's no snaplink, then your only recourse is to push a pin, but
given the age and the general description, I think I'd consider
getting a replacement chain. If the old one is just full of congealed
grease, it may be OK...but if it's corroded, I would advise against
trying to return it to service. I've had a couple of old, rusty but
low-wear chains fail shortly after being cleaned up and reinstalled
(due to side plates breaking out at pin holes, and *not* at the place
where the chain was taken apart), so I now replace them when they're
corroded enough that they don't move freely after normal cleaning.
(And if the side plates are pitted badly, I'll toss the chain even
when it's not binding.)

If the chain is free-moving after cleaning, and passes the measurement
test for wear, you can sidestep the entire pin issue by using a
snaplink to put it back together.
--
Typoes are a feature, not a bug.
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Jasper Janssen wrote:
eah, but don't do it. Single speed chains are 1/8 and far too stiff

Quoted message said:

sidewise for derailer use, you need derailer chain at 3/32. Cheapest of
those will suffice, though, with a 5 speed.

Jasper

I just read the post wrong--somehow it read "three-speed hub". Don't
always bother to wear my glasses.

Of course using a single speed chain would be stupid on this bike.

I wouldn't bother reusing the old one, as new chains are much much
better quality.

On 9/11/2005 6:52 PM Jim Adney said:

11 Sep 2005 12:19:36 -0700 'Mike Rocket J. Squirrel Elliott said:

I'm helping my son clean up an old mid-70's 5-speed (one rear
derailleur) Schwinn bike he just got. The chain is pretty funky so it
wants cleaning and re-lubing. It's a 1/2-inch pitch chain. I can't see a
removable link. The link pins don't appear to be straight stock with
flat faces, like newer chains, but look like rivets on the ends. So
before I apply my handy link pin pusher-outer tool, I would appreciate
any helpful suggestions from folks who know about these chains.

That's an old standard 1/2 x 3/32 derailleur chain. The rivet heads
stick out a bit to help in shifting. Later chains were narrowed by
making the rivets flush. None of these chains have master links.

The beauty of these old chains is that you can just push the rivet out
and then back in again if you have a chain tool. No worries other than
tight links or of getting the rivet mis-centered.

A 1/2 x 1/8" single speed chain won't work with this derailleur geared
bike, even though it just has one derailleur.

Yup, that was it. The link pins are simple link pins with raised rivet
faces. Thanks, Jim!

--

Mike "Rocket J Squirrel" Elliott
71 Type 2: the Wonderbus
84 Westfalia: Mellow Yellow ("The Electrical Banana"😉
KG6RCR

On 9/11/2005 6:52 PM Jim Adney said:

11 Sep 2005 12:19:36 -0700 'Mike Rocket J. Squirrel Elliott said:

I'm helping my son clean up an old mid-70's 5-speed (one rear
derailleur) Schwinn bike he just got. The chain is pretty funky so it
wants cleaning and re-lubing. It's a 1/2-inch pitch chain. I can't see a
removable link. The link pins don't appear to be straight stock with
flat faces, like newer chains, but look like rivets on the ends. So
before I apply my handy link pin pusher-outer tool, I would appreciate
any helpful suggestions from folks who know about these chains.

That's an old standard 1/2 x 3/32 derailleur chain. The rivet heads
stick out a bit to help in shifting. Later chains were narrowed by
making the rivets flush. None of these chains have master links.

The beauty of these old chains is that you can just push the rivet out
and then back in again if you have a chain tool. No worries other than
tight links or of getting the rivet mis-centered.

A 1/2 x 1/8" single speed chain won't work with this derailleur geared
bike, even though it just has one derailleur.

Yup, that was it. The link pins are simple link pins with raised rivet
faces. Thanks, Jim!

--

Mike "Rocket J Squirrel" Elliott
71 Type 2: the Wonderbus
84 Westfalia: Mellow Yellow ("The Electrical Banana"😉
KG6RCR