lawndrnot asked:
I’m trying to put my son’s new bike together. The chain is weaved through the frame of the bike, so it cannot be removed. The chain seems to be “kinked”, so I cannot weave it through the gear mechanism. I’m trying to take the chain off, in order to unkink it and weave it through properly. I bought a cheap chain tool, but it just bent. When trying to take the rods out of a link, does it matter which way you push the rod through? If so, how do you know which side is which? Can you remove any rods, or is there a master link that comes apart? Any known tool to make it easy? Thanks for any help.
Chains are specifically designed not to break.
you are best off cutting the chain (one link) then, buying a chain repair kit (only a couple bucks) to replace that link.
seems like they dont make a master chain anymore. just remove any of them it doesnt matter. try using a hole punch like the ones they us to put holes in a belt that gets the pin out
I’d say bring the bike back where you got it from…. ask for a different one that isn’t broke.
1st, if you have a new bike DO NOT take the chain apart. If it appears to have a “kink” as you say, it will have a second one, that when you put the 2 kinks together will remove both. You may not see the second kink at 1st as it may be part of a larger loop.
Next, if you ever have to take a chain apart that doesn’t have a master link, use a good chain tool, as you already see cheap ones aren’t any good. Don’t cut your chain or use a punch as someone said. You can use any link to take it apart. The parktool web site and many others have full instructions on how to do this.
Sound advice from MR – if it isn’t broken don’t break it.
It would be pretty hard to put the chain on the frame with a kink in it at the factory. Especially when done by a robot. Those guys with the metal heads rarely make mistakes.
MR is right on track here. Please ignore the 1st three respondents. You don’t want to cut the chain, and you don’t want to take a punch to it.
To reiterate, if there is one kink, there is almost certainly another. You shouldn’t need to take the chain apart to get it straightened out.
If you must take it apart, you really want a high quality chain tool. A cheap tool is going to hurt your hands and isn’t going to do the trick. Park Tool makes a couple great chain tools. Crank Brothers puts a decent chaintool on it’s multi-tool set.
Here is the link on Park Tool’s website with instructions for working on chains.
Getting a chain back together without any tight links can be tricky. I suggest you also buy a SRAM Power Link when you get a new chaintool. A Power Link is somewhat like an old fashioned master link, but better.
Hope this helps.
Do not remove the chain. It has to be through the frame. Think about it, the large front sprocket is outside the frame and the small one on the wheel is inside the frame.
All you need to do is unwind the kinks until it is straight.
If you can’t do this you need to find someone with more mechanical ability, probably a bike shop.