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Stuck in Tashkent, need chain tools Stuck in Tashkent, need chain tools
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  #1  
Old 19 Aug 2012
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Stuck in Tashkent, need chain tools
Hello all,

My wife and I are half way around the world in Tashkent on our F800GS and loving our trip so far. Today we started some maintenance today, replacing the front and rear sprockets and intending to replace the chain. We got to the point where we were installing the new chain and found, to our dismay, that we don't have the right chain tool. I know, stupid mistake. Wrong chain or wrong tool, whatever the case we are stuck.

Does anyone know where we can find someone near Tashkent with a chain tool that can punch the rivets out of a DID 525 VX chain and then rivet the master link? Maybe a traveller is near or someone knows a local mechanic with a chain tool? Would a bicycle repair shop be able to help? Any suggestions?

Thanks for your help.

Jeff and Si
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  #2  
Old 19 Aug 2012
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Hi Jeff,

Hopefully you will find a traveler with a 525 chain tool. Failing that you will have to resort to third world caveman technique.

When I needed to remove a link from a stretched chain on a rental bike in Costa Rice, this consisted of stopping at a roadside transmission repair shop where the owner Señor Pollo cut the chain off with a metal blade in an angle grinder, carefully ground the heads of chain rivet, used a hollow transmission input shaft against one side of the chain while he used a ground down pin punch to drive the pins out of the chain, remove a link, reassemble on the bike and had me hold a block of steel on one side of the chain while he carefully peened over the pin.

I'm not saying you should do this, more as information for someone slightly more desperate who may read this.

525 DID chains and tools can be rare as hen's teeth in the third world. More likely in Tashkent than a village in the mountains though.

I should think that a large C-clamp could be modified to work as a pin press in a pinch.

Others may have ideas.

Best luck.

Kindest regards,
John Downs
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  #3  
Old 19 Aug 2012
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Thanks John. And good timing. I was just trying to figure out if a DID brand chain breaker/riveter is really needed for a DID 525 chain. DID seems very particular, a little contradictory, and generally confusing on their site: D.I.D. Racing Chains and DirtStar® Rims

Reading reviews and forums around the web has given me the impression that other chain tools generally work fine with any brand of chain but there are quite a few cases where all manner of chain tools break on first or second use.

What's your impression on this? I would hate to unnecessarily turn away a traveller with a perfectly good Motion Pro chain tool...

Quote:
Originally Posted by John Downs View Post
Hi Jeff,

Hopefully you will find a traveler with a 525 chain tool. Failing that you will have to resort to third world caveman technique.

When I needed to remove a link from a stretched chain on a rental bike in Costa Rice, this consisted of stopping at a roadside transmission repair shop where the owner Señor Pollo cut the chain off with a metal blade in an angle grinder, carefully ground the heads of chain rivet, used a hollow transmission input shaft against one side of the chain while he used a ground down pin punch to drive the pins out of the chain, remove a link, reassemble on the bike and had me hold a block of steel on one side of the chain while he carefully peened over the pin.

I'm not saying you should do this, more as information for someone slightly more desperate who may read this.

525 DID chains and tools can be rare as hen's teeth in the third world. More likely in Tashkent than a village in the mountains though.

I should think that a large C-clamp could be modified to work as a pin press in a pinch.

Others may have ideas.

Best luck.

Kindest regards,
John Downs
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  #4  
Old 19 Aug 2012
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Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Alberta, Canada
Posts: 60
My two cents re: Motionpro Chain Tool
I have used, and have broken, a Motionpro chain tool while on a trip down to California from Alberta, Canada. If you read very carefully and follow the instructions exactly, you can break and rivet the master link without breaking the tool. The dealer warned me that they break easily and even explained what causes them to break but I broke mine while pushing the pin out. After having broken it, it was easy to understand why it broke but of course it was too late. The riveting pin is much easier to use and is far less likely to be a problem. I replaced the broken part easily and relatively cheaply but I'm also at home so that's a whole different game than what you'll deal with. If I was needing to replace my chain on the road again, I'd use an angle grinder to break it if available before I tried the tool again. Riveting with the tool is much easier and less risk of breaking. Take your time and really understand the instructions before you start and don't rush the job and you'll be fine though.
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Old 19 Aug 2012
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Thanks Roger. Which MP chain tool did you have? The PBR? Motion Pro - PBR Chain Tool

I may order either the DID KM501E or Motion Pro PBR chain tool, a couple extra riveted master links and a couple clip master links and have them all shipped to Tashkent. Shipments can supposedly get here in 5 days but I'm a little wary of customs and other random delays.
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  #6  
Old 19 Aug 2012
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Either tool will work. I have the Motion-Pro and what Roger said is true. Although the tool works fine for pressing on plates and riveting replacement hollow or soft tip rivets, it has a hard time pressing out the old rivets when trying to break a chain. It is easier as he suggests to grind off the old rivet heads with a grinder before pressing them out. Or cutting the old chain off with bolt cutters if you are replacing it.

I looked at the picture of the DID K501E tool and it can cut plates off so perhaps a bit more versatile.

Alas, fixing flats and replacing chains wasn't on the curriculum at University. I've had to learn the hard way.

Safe travels.

Best,
John Downs
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