Is there a tool for...?

[wheres_my_beard]

Is there a tool for...

...holding a chain together or nearly together, bridging the the loose ends and the "chain tool" while re-connecting links?

I am sick of gravity or something else yanking on the chain out of the tool while I struggle to keep the loose chain in place, hold the tool, and turn the spindle.

 

[4F]

The secret is not to push the pin to far through when you undo it. It should protude just enough so that it clicks in place and holds the chain together before you rejoin it.

It tool me years before I sussed this watching one of the video's on you tube.

Or if you want to make the tool you describe use a giant paperclip and bend into a U shape.

 

[numbnuts]

I made this out old a spoke, but any wire will do

 

[wheres_my_beard]

Ah ha. Very cunning.

Thanks.

 

[smokeysmoo]

I recently bought a new chain tool, one of THESE

Still seems a tad fiddly though IMO

 

[Sittingduck]

Twist derailleur cage towards the bottom bracket, to take up tension and loop a cable tie round the cage and chainstay. Work on the chain and snip off the tie with scissors, when complete

 

[Trevrev]

I'm with numbnuts............I just use a bent piece of wire.

 

[byegad]

Yes an old coat hanger provided me with one for each trike.

 

[henshaw11]

I've tried this trick for undoing a chain, so it might work the other way round - get both ends of the chain round the front end of the large chainring so that there's some slack in the chain over a few tooth's-worth, then fasten the link.

(Normally I'd go for the bent bit of coathanger...)

 

[Night Train]

I hook both ends onto the big chainring too and then use the chain tool to push the rivet back in.
Usually I set the position of the chain so that the loose ends are at about the 2 O'clock position and then a screw driver, placed though the spokes of the chain ring into the frame, stops it spinning around.

 

[HLaB]

The topeak Multi tools with chain tool has something similar to what Numbnuts posted, for example the hexus II

 

[Tyke]

The topeak Multi tools with chain tool has something similar to what Numbnuts posted, for example the hexus II

The one on the Multitool neatly clips on, so it is there when you need it. But in saying that it is still only a piece of bent wire. However, the hexus II is a very good multitool for the price.

 

[zacklaws]

Unless I'm missing something its a simple job, once you have the chain at the correct length, just remove it from the chain ring so it all hangs loose and join it.

 

[cyberknight]

Unless I'm missing something its a simple job, once you have the chain at the correct length, just remove it from the chain ring so it all hangs loose and join it.

+1
Thats how i do it.

 

[bobg]

I find this easier

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/park-tools-...ools-Park_Tools_Chain_Brute_Chain_Tool-Silver

It is manufactured in such a way that it the chain pin is only pushed out sufficiently to allow you to slightly "bend" the adjoining links before the chain splits. The pin remains in such a postion that when rejoining it holds itself in place leaving 2 hands free to attach the splitter and retighten fully.
I hope this stumbling description makes sense!