- A bike chain can go through some serious abuse
when it's out on the trails.
And this isn't just muddy
and wet trail conditions, I'm talkin' about.
When you think of the amount of torque that goes through it,
the sideways movement from such a huge range of gears,
it's no wonder that this fragile component
can break easily and suffer some damage.
Whether your chain snaps entirely
or whether your links just get twisted,
here's a few ways that you can fix your chain
on the trail that at least gets you home safely.
(upbeat electronic music)
So, we're gonna talk about three different ways
that you can fix a chain on the side of the trail.
The first one bein' usin' a chain tool.
We're gonna look at usin' Shimano pins,
and we're also gonna look at master links.
(upbeat electronic music)
Every mountain biker should have
a decent chain tool on them.
Multi-tools like this one has a chain tool built into it.
Now, like this one is really great
because it has two sets of jaws.
One for holding your chain so you can push the pin in
and out, and a second set of jaws
to help you cure a stiff link.
Chain tools like this are great
for fixing your chain on the side of a trail.
However, they don't work for all Shimano chains.
Now, this is because the way in which the pins have been put
into the chain, they flare out at the edges.
So, once you push that pin out,
you'll weaken it and it can get damaged.
So, once you push it back in, it's not gonna be a solid fit,
and it will probably break again.
If your chain is damaged and you have to remove some links,
be sure that you have enough healthy links left
in your chain to actually get you back in the smallest gear.
So, before you get started, make sure your chain is
in the smallest gear at the back.
If you have a clutch on your rear mech, put that on,
as well so you can get as much slack as you can.
This will be really helpful for usin' the chain tool.
When you're removin' the damaged parts of your chain,
what you'll need to do is use this tool
to push out the pin from the female link.
Now, you don't wanna push it all the way out.
You only wanna push it a little bit,
so that you can actually detach the chain
to remove the damaged links.
Once you've removed the damaged links,
what you'll then need to do is put the chain
back together usin' your chain tool.
Get the healthy male part of the chain
and put it back in with the female part
of the chain where you have the pin half pushed out.
So, what you need to do is give it probably a bit
of a wiggle to get it in there and to get the pins lined up.
Pop your chain tool back on the chain
and drive the pin back through.
So, once you've rejoined your chain back together,
you wanna make sure that the pin is relatively
in line with the other pins.
Now, remove the chain tool, and just give it a good wiggle
just to check and see if it's quite stiff
or if it moves freely.
Ideally, of course, you want it
to move as freely as possible.
Now, if you find that your link is a bit stiff,
pop your chain tool back on it
in the second pair of jaws, and you can cure
a stiff link usin' the tool at the same time.
(upbeat electronic music)
Another way to fix your chain on the side
of a trail is by usin' a powerlink or a master link.
Now, these are brilliant.
They're becoming quite popular and are quite compatible
with a number of chains out there.
So, be sure to get one that is suitable for your drivetrain.
Now, some powerlinks will be multi-use,
where you can use them a few times over,
and some will be single use.
So again, be sure to check what the manufacturers say.
Now, if you have to remove just one link
from your chain because it's damaged,
the great thing about powerlink is
that it will still give you the full length
of your chain, so you can still use all the gears
without havin' to be restricted.
Now, with a powerlink, as well,
what you'll need is two undamaged male parts
in order to get this workin'.
So, once you remove the damaged links from your chain
and you have your two healthy male ends ready to go,
what you'll need is a third hand tool.
Now, some chain tools will have one of these equipped,
or you can make your own from an old wheel spoke.
Using a third hand tool, take the powerlinks
and apply one to each side of the chain.
And then just simply link them together.
But in order to make them lock properly,
what you'll need to do is hold onto your back brake,
and push down on the cranks to make it click.
And you'll hear a distinctive click sound.
So, once that chain has been snapped
into place usin' a powerlink, make sure
that the links are moving freely and they're not too stiff.
Even spin the cranks a few times,
get that chain workin' around, and ensure
that it is movin' seamlessly through the drivetrain.
(upbeat electronic music)
Now, if you run Shimano on your bike,
then you can fix a broken chain
by usin' a Shimano joinin' pin.
Now, I run SRAM on my bike, so for this demonstration,
I'll be doin' this at the table.
Now, to use a Shimano joinin' pin,
you'll need an undamaged male and female part of your chain.
And because it can be quite a fiddly job,
it's always best to use a third hand tool.
Now, as I said earlier, you can make your
own third hand tool usin' an old spoke.
So, once you remove the damaged links of your chain
and you have your clean female and male pieces ready
to put together, usin' a third hand tool will be brilliant,
because this can be quite a fiddly job.
So, holdin' the chain together with the third hand tool,
take your Shimano joinin' pin and push it through
from the bike side outwards towards you.
This will make it really easy for when it comes
to securin' that pin and snappin' off the excess part.
So, once you're happy with the freedom of your chain
and you're happy that the links are movin' freely,
what you'll have to do is just snap off that end bit.
And what we recommend is to usin' some pliers.
Now, of course, you may not carry pliers on the trail,
but it might be something to consider
if you are usin' Shimano joinin' pins.
When you're snappin' off of the excess part
of the Shimano joinin' pin, do make sure
that you're holdin' onto that chain securely
and you're keepin' it straight.
You don't wanna put any twist
or unnecessary strain on the links.
Now remember, these chain fixes on the side
of the trail are really just to get you home.
If you have damaged your chain or snapped it completely,
it's a real good idea to replace
that chain altogether as soon as possible.
Now, if you like this video and you wanna watch more,
check over here for Doddy's instructional video
on how to set up your front suspension.
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