The chain: changing, quick link, de-riveting, etc
Difficulty: fair
Duration: 5 - 15 minutes
Tools necessary for chain operations: Chain tool
Vocabulary:
chain tool: A chain tool is a tool which we can use to separate 2 links of a chain and thus to replace a whole chain, a chain link, etc.
Quick link: A quick link is a chain link which can be easily separated by hand and which therefore allows us to do away with the need for a chain tool.
De-riveting: De-riveting a chain is the action consisting of separating 2 links.
De-riveting and reassembling a chain
Here are all the stages to change, disassemble or reassemble a new chain:
De-riveting the chain
To take off a chain, you will need to de-rivet it, i.e. 'cut' it at a certain point as it passes inside the frame. You will either have a pair of pliers like in the video, and it will be a case of simply pushing the pliers together to cut the chain, or you will have a chain tool, which is a more common and cheaper solution.
If using a chain tool, place this on one of the links and turn the lever clockwise.
The aim here is to remove the tiny metallic axle which keeps the links together. Be careful however, and this is the most difficult part of all with regard to the spokes - you must not remove this little metallic cylinder completely. It must remain, as in the video, attached on one side.
Then turn the chain tool bit by bit, being careful not to let the little cylinder fall off the chain completely. This can happen very easily: at one point the 2 links are still together, a little later they can separate and just a little later the small axle cylinder can fall to the ground!
Taking the chain off your bike is very easy: Pull on the end of your chain at the point of the link with the little cylindrical axle described above until the chain goes full circle and comes off in your hands.
Putting on a new chain is as easy as taking one off. To do this, position the chain first of all on the small front chain wheel and then on the small back chain wheel. With the chain tool towards you, let the chain pass to the right of the first small wheel and to the left of the second small wheel. You can push on the front of the derailleur, like on the video, making it easier to put the chain onto its little wheels.
Riveting the chain
To join up the chain again, you will need your chain tool again. Put the two chain ends in place on the chain tool. The small cylindrical axle must be opposite the link hole on the other end of the chain.
To push the little axle and place it once more between the 2 separated links, turn the chain tool lever clockwise. Stop when the axle is right in the centre of the 2 links and then finally fold back the links on both sides using your hands so that the axle becomes effective once more.
If the little axle has become detached from the link, you can try to put it back using a hammer on top of the axle once the 2 links have been put in place. Once the little axle is holding correctly, finish inserting it using the chain tool.
Assembling or dissembling a chain with the aid of a quick link is simple and fast.
To install a quick link on a chain, you must replace one of the old links with this new quick one. To assemble the new link, insert one of the two parts of your quick link either side of the chain and attach them by pushing them tightly together and then pulling on the chain on both sides to clip in the quick link.
Put your chain on the largest front chain wheel and the largest back chain wheel. Then join the two ends and see at which link you should assemble your chain.
Video:
Credit Dagsit Nicolas Boutteville
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