Chain tools are a mystery to me

[Thomk]

I feel a little humiliated by this but i'm afraid it's true. What are they for? How often are you likely to need one? Are they easy to use? Can anyone recommend a good one for a good price?

 

[david1701]

you use them to hold a cassette still when you are unbolting its lockring, or with a freewheel/fixed cog ect. Umm as often as you strip the rear wheel and good/price kinda depends on how often you use it

I settled my tools discussion by buying what I need on a job by job basis from park tools so I have very good tools of only the ones I need to use

 

[Thomk]

Mmm thanks. But why do some people carry them on their commute?

 

[Thomk]

Anyway if that's the case what in heavens name is a lockring tool?

 

[HovR]

David1701 is talking about a chain whip. Whilst it is a tool with a chain, it is not a tool for working on chains.

A chain tool is used to break apart chains to make them shorter or longer. People carry them on their bikes so if their chain were to snap on a ride, they could remove the broken section of the chain and re-fit the chain with a quick link to get going again, or link the chain together manually.

 

[bobcat]

Very useful, I got caught out the other day when my chain broke and by chance I had a chain tool in my bag, fixed the chain together and still got to work on time. I carry it with me everywhere now!

 

[Thomk]

Perfect HovR, thanks. How often do chains break? e.g. I guess I do (will do) about 3 - 4 thousand miles a year, am I likely to have a broken chain at some point?

 

[bobcat]

Perfect HovR, thanks. How often do chains break? e.g. I guess I do (will do) about 3 - 4 thousand miles a year, am I likely to have a broken chain at some point?

When you least expect it according to "Bobcats law".

 

[HovR]

If you continue to use a worn chain, then yes, your chances of snapping a chain will increase - So it's important to replace your chain when it is worn - However a chain shouldn't break when it is in a good usable state (ie, not worn). You can tell if your chain is worn by using a chain wear indicator.

If your chain is worn enough to warrant replacing, you will first need to remove your original chain off your bike by either unclipping the quick-link, or removing the chain with the chain tool if your bike does not have a quick link installed.

Once the original chain is removed, you want to shorten the new chain to the old chain's length with the chain tool, and then fit it to your bike. The easiest way to fit a new chain is with a quick link. If your chain does not come with one, they are very cheap. I bought 2 for £3 the other day.

 

[HovR]

Here's a pretty good video on checking chain wear, and the usage of chain tools.

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

The fact that I've never ever broken a chain out on a ride makes me feel strangely inferior - I must be a weakling. I live in hope though and carry a chain tool and a spare quick link with me wherever I go. ah, one day...

 

[Scilly Suffolk]

Anyway if that's the case what in heavens name is a lockring tool?

The lockring secures the cassette or freewheel to the hub: you hold the cassette still with a chainwhip, undo the lockring and slide the cassette off or unscrew the freewheel.

Some examples on this page, you'll note that different brands and types of cassettes and freewheels require different lockring tools.

 

[andrew_s]

Perfect HovR, thanks. How often do chains break? e.g. I guess I do (will do) about 3 - 4 thousand miles a year, am I likely to have a broken chain at some point?

Chains break rarely - I think I've have had about 3 in 100,000 miles.

The state of wear doesn't really have much to do with breakages as the bits that wear (pin centres & bushings) aren't the bits that break (outer side plates and pin to side plate joint).
Breaks are generally because of previous mistreatment - fluffed gear changes, chain getting jammed between frame and chainstay/seatstay etc. The longer you use any one chain, the higher the chance of it being mistreated at some point.

However, there have also been spates of chain breakages at very low mileages due to bad manufacture. These are mostly 10 and 11 speed chains where the the pin doesn't project beyond the sideplate and has to be peened. When checked after a break, there have been several other sideplates with cracks and obviously about to break. I've come across reports of this with most brands, so it's not just a case of avoid the bad one.

 

[ColinJ]

I have never broken a chain but I have been with more than 5 people when theirs did. I repaired at least 4 of those chains and the owner of the other bike had his own tool and knew how to use it so he repaired the chain himself.

One chain was definitely faulty rather than being worn or incorrectly assembled - it was on a new bike being ridden gently by a small woman and it snapped across one of the plates. She did not have the brute strength to do that.

One chain was destroyed by brute strength though - a bodybuilder friend with massive leg muscles was mashing a huge gear on a hill at the time - I'd just warned him that he should change to a lower gear when his chain exploded!

2 other chains were damaged when rear mechs went into wheels.

At least one chain failed for no apparent reason.

So - I'd say that chains breaking should be pretty rare. but it does happen and it is such a show-stopper when it does that I recommend every rider to carry a chain tool and to know how to use it! Mine is on my multitool.

 

[CopperCyclist]

I've broken one and didn't have any option other than to call the Wife AA. Now I carry one all the time.