Related Sponsors

How to Use a Chain Tool

Home » Mountain Biking » Mountain Bike Repair » How to Use a Chain Tool

If your chain becomes damaged, replace it with a new one as soon as possible. However, it is possible to repair a broken chain temporarily, using a chain tool. Most mountain bikers recommend that you travel with a chain tool.

Your mountain bike chain has three basic components: the metal side plates (outer and inner), the "rollers" between the side plates, and the pins or rivets, which go through the rollers and hold the plates together. The rollers turn freely as the chain moves along the cogs.

If your chain breaks, you need to remove the broken link and replace it with a spare link; or, in a pinch, just reattach the two ends of the chain and ride on a shorter chain until you can replace it. Plan to break the chain in such a way that you end up with a link with outer side plates and no roller on one end, and a link with only inner side plates and a roller on the other end. To remove a broken link, place it in the chain tool. Turn the tool slowly counterclockwise until the rivet pin of the tool touches the chain rivet. Turn the tool to push the pin out of the roller. Pay close attention to the position of the pin, and stop turning when the pin is right at the edge of the roller, before it begins to move through the outer side plate. Now turn the tool the other way, and back it out of the roller. Setting the tool aside, work the chain gently from side to side, and extract the inner side plates and roller of the link.

Reroute the chain through the bike. You may need a chain retaining tool, or someone to help keep the chain in the right spot as you're routing it and repairing it. You can also use a simple "retaining clip" like a bent piece of wire to hold the ends of the chain together while you work.

Now that you have removed the broken link and routed the chain, you are ready to either insert a new link or connect the links that were on either side of the broken one. The process is the same: align the two ends so that the link with only inner side plates fits inside the link with the pin and outer side plates. Then use the chain tool to push the pin inward until it is positioned evenly between the side plates.

The easiest way to become comfortable doing this is to have someone show you, and actually practice with a chain and chain tool. You will have no trouble making a temporary repair in a bike chain once you have seen it done and practiced it yourself one or two times.

Next Page: How to Lube a Mountain Bike

Related Mountain Bike Repair Articles