Which chain breaking tool?
Which chain breaking tool?
I'm confused. I have one bike with a 9-speed chain and another with a 7-speed. Can I use the same chain tool on both chains or do I need a separate one for each?
Bikes: Giant SCR 2 light tourer - Revolution Courier 27 commuter.
You can split both with the same tool. Now the bad news - 9 speed chains aren't designed to be re-joined that way 
Sram have a quick link which is fairly civilised & easy to use. Shimano have a special one time only joining pin. The normal chain pins are "peened" - ie the ends are flattened out to retain the chain side plate, if you break the link with an old style tool it destroys the peening so the chain theoretically can fall apart while you're riding. In practice I've joined 9 speed chains the old way for a couple of years before I became aware of the problem and I didn't have any trouble but it's best to be aware.
Sram have a quick link which is fairly civilised & easy to use. Shimano have a special one time only joining pin. The normal chain pins are "peened" - ie the ends are flattened out to retain the chain side plate, if you break the link with an old style tool it destroys the peening so the chain theoretically can fall apart while you're riding. In practice I've joined 9 speed chains the old way for a couple of years before I became aware of the problem and I didn't have any trouble but it's best to be aware.If at first you don't succeed - cheat!!
Just dug out my Cyclo tool, and a short length of Campag Record 9sp chain.
I can only just feel a bit of peening on the un-touched end of the protruding pins. Even then, I had to use my penknife to feel it. I don't think it can make much difference to the security of the links. The pins are peened over, not all round, but only on a couple of small sections.
I've been using the above Cyclo tool for 20 years or more on 5, 6 and 9sp chains, and if you make sure that the pins are inserted properly and evenly, you should have no problem. My tool even has the ability to relieve a stiff link.
In my 5 and 6sp days, I used Sedisport, now Sram I think.
I can only just feel a bit of peening on the un-touched end of the protruding pins. Even then, I had to use my penknife to feel it. I don't think it can make much difference to the security of the links. The pins are peened over, not all round, but only on a couple of small sections.
I've been using the above Cyclo tool for 20 years or more on 5, 6 and 9sp chains, and if you make sure that the pins are inserted properly and evenly, you should have no problem. My tool even has the ability to relieve a stiff link.
In my 5 and 6sp days, I used Sedisport, now Sram I think.
Mick F. Cornwall
-
montmorency
- Posts: 271
- Joined: 31 May 2007, 11:00pm
- Location: Oxfordshire
"Give us the job and we'll finish the tools" - this is a favourite quote of my Pa-in-law's, but it applies to me and chain tools.
I've broken at least three of them (I think two of them can still be made to work....I don't throw them away
).
I just bought myself a solid-looking Park job, with a very re-assuring solid feel to it, so it might last a bit longer, plus one of the bits I usually break is replaceable.
Regards,
M.
I've broken at least three of them (I think two of them can still be made to work....I don't throw them away
).
I just bought myself a solid-looking Park job, with a very re-assuring solid feel to it, so it might last a bit longer, plus one of the bits I usually break is replaceable.
Regards,
M.
PW wrote:You can split both with the same tool. Now the bad news - 9 speed chains aren't designed to be re-joined that way
What you say is only true of Shimano chains. Campag can be split and joined with a chain tool.
