Anyone got any suggestions of a decent chain tool? Ive got a cheap nasty one but dont think I would trust it enough to take it on my travels. Want something sturdy/compact and reliable.

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www.onepistononeworld.com

I think carrying such a tool is an extravagant use of available space/weight.

A basic drift/punch, pliers and mole-grip are far more useful and already carried. Plus a few heavy rocks on the track side, as both hammer and anvil.

They did the trick for us in deepest Siberia when a chain snapped which we repaired with a couple of 'soft' links. That got us to a workshop several weeks later!

Biggest difficulty was the hungry mosquitos and no chain tool can deal with them.

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A chain tool would have avoided having to get you to a mechanic!
You could have done a permanent repair, and rocks tend to be a bit sparse in some places.
There are some nice light weight chain tools out there.
Motion pro do an ace one. zenoverland.com sell em.

As a mechanic I've seen many a thing "hammered" into a "will get you by" situation where a proper repair was a tool away and would have, well, repaired it!
A chain tool is such a thing
You hammer something, it distorts!
Although, in some cases, a variable pressure applicator does have it's uses!

But, each to their own!
There's lot's of "over loaded with useless stuff" bikes out there.
Just an opinion.

All the best bud.
Dave.

I carry the Motion Pro T-6 Chain Tool. Very small and lightweight. I helped someone fix a chain without a chain tool once and it worked, but I would never have trusted that chain again for any significant distance. After that, I decided carrying a chain tool is a small enough sacrifice to guard against a possibly mangled field repair resulting in the need to buy a new chain. But no, it is not necessary by any stretch of the imagination.

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Blog: The Seductive Life (General Travel)

I carry a DRC Aluminium chain tool.
It's not heavy.
It's not bulky.
It fixes chains.

It's wrapped up in a little bag with a few new and used split links and some bits and bobs of chain.

I've done a few chain repairs in the past with wire, bits of nail, etc to limp home. But having seen how much damage a broken chain can do to a bike, I'd much rather do it right and only do it once.

Cheers people, the drc alu tool looks pretty good. Im a mechanic too and would rather do 'first time fix'. No point doin a job twice.

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i have a small motion pro one and would say its worth stashing somewhere on bike.
a broken chain from a lashe repair is not the end of the world....but is not quite so rosey when the broken chain wraps round front sprocket and demolishes crankcases...ouch....
i actualy know someone that welded a link plate on a honda crf450 to try it up the road..15 minutes later it was pissing oil out from a hole in left case..oopsy.

can you remember where from & how much?

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We are the Pilgrims, Master, we shall go Always a little further: it may be beyond that last blue mountain barred with snow, Across that angry or that glimmering sea.

Can't remember where I got it from but I think it was about ten squids.

A quick goggle search finds lots of stockists

Does the Motion Pro tool do the whole gig, split and rivet? I had a feeling it only works on split links, I'm in the market also but sure someone said it isn't a "complete" tool.

Cheers
Pete

Edit, just checked the MP isn't any use for me

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Vietnam, Cambodia & Thailand 2016
Buenos Aires to NYC 2012-2013: www.facebook.com/curryhunt
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I suggest this: gear4bikes.com (UK) Tools & Gauges

I just tested this link on a different computer and the page didn't appear correctly. If you use the site's search function, you're looking for this: "790050 - KM500 Style Chain Splitter & Rivetter (replica of DID tool, suitable for 520, 525, 530 & 532 gauge)"

I've used it to split a stretched chain and remove links and re-rivet it. The instructions are in "Chinese" English, but are followable.
HTH
Chris

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TBS.com

Hi I see the edit there.

The lightweight tool is a "pin/plate pusher" not a riviting tool but, The biggest prob with "in the field" chain repairs is pushing a rivited or peened pin out of the link.
Some tools require you to grind the riveted head off the pin before use but the lightweight MP one will push them out as is.
It has plates with it that keeps the side plates aligned when pushing them on to a new master link.
It's important as I'm sure most of you know, not to over compress the o-rings on o-ring chains when putting the plates on. This is where a chain tool gives you that control.
Sometimes you get little spacers that you clip in over the o-rings to stop this when pushing the plates on otherwise you have to be careful and try and match to the existing plates as best you can. An adjustable spanner can help as a makeshift vernier gauge.
These clips are very handy for field repairs!
The breaker/riveter tools are usually a bit more heavy duty, and I don't know of a light weight one.
Without a riveting tool, peening of the pin is something that can be done with a hammer and makeshift anvil but it doesn't require too much. The hollow pin type "master link"" will need a centre punch and solid chain pin careful use of a variable pressure aplicator. Again an adjustable spanner will help match the riveted head to the other rivets.
As for hammering the pins out in the field with a centre punch and hammering the plates on ect, well, it's up to you but when your options are limited you gotta do something.

I have seen a few broken chains and a fair few of those have been at the master link ect. Even on chains that have been fitted "professionally".
They can write your crankcase off in some cases!

Don't forget to grease up the new link and o-rings, v important!
I'm no chain expert but I know it's an important area and when you think of the abuse and stress it's under you just know it's something you have to get right.

All the best.
Dave.

Motion pro do other models too. Adventurespec just sells the split link one but the next one up rivets too

Terra-X make a good chain breaker which is tiny.

Enduro Chainbreaker

How good is it?

I've been thinking about chain tools for a trip so i'd like to get your oppinion of it.