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Chain splitter / riveter
Posted: Wed Dec 17, 2014 8:21 pm
by squadron Nero
Has anybody got one they'd trust me with? I don't really want to buy one as I'm not going to get much use out of it. If somebody has one they'd be willing to lend me over Christmas / New Years, plan on fitting my goodies with my time off, You'd have my eternal gratitude. I'll guarantee it'll be looked after and returned in the same condition. If not I'll buy you a like for like new replacement. As we're all a bit spread out I'd cover the costs of sending it to me via recorded mail and I'll send it back, again recorded.
If not, are they all much of muchness or are the cheapo ones cheap for a reason?
Posted: Wed Dec 17, 2014 11:44 pm
by Aladinsaneuk
mine is currently with a friend, or I would have offered
you do get what you pay for....
Posted: Thu Dec 18, 2014 10:45 pm
by mangocrazy
I've used a Sealey VS779 chain breaker/rivetter and it's worked well for me:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/VS779-Motorcycl ... B000WZAAUS
The only point I'd make is to grind the rivet head off the old chain with an angle grinder or Dremel first, that gives the breaker a much easier time of it. Either that or just cut the old chain off with an angle grinder fitted with a thin metal cutting disc. Go through both side plates and the chain is off. Then all you need is a chain rivetter...
Happy to lend you my chain breaker/rivetter, but you're not having my angle grinder - that gets far too much use...

Posted: Fri Dec 19, 2014 10:23 am
by squadron Nero
Cheers lads. Not to worry, I bought one last night.
It recommends drilling / grinding the rivets out of anything 530 or bigger. I think ours are 525 so it would be right on the limit. I thought it would be good practice to drill them out first.
Posted: Fri Dec 19, 2014 11:37 am
by wayno
As I recall I ground mine right down so there was none of the riveted head left. If you don't do that you're more likely to break the breaker than the chain.
Make sure when you press the new link on that you do it nice and squarely or it will jam half way on (oh fond memories of trying to get that bastard off to start again)
Posted: Fri Dec 19, 2014 3:45 pm
by mangocrazy
I'd second the 'grinding the head of the rivet off' before using the chain breaker. Those peened over rivets are incredibly tough and, as Wayno says, if you don't grind the head off first you're as likely to break your new toy as to get the rivet out.
But if the old chain is for the bin, just cut through the side plates with a metal cutting wheel. Piece of the proverbial...
Posted: Fri Dec 19, 2014 5:24 pm
by randomsquid
mangocrazy wrote:
But if the old chain is for the bin, just cut through the side plates with a metal cutting wheel. Piece of the proverbial...
I've never had a chain tool, shaft drive big bikes or littleish ones with split links on. I put a hacksaw through the last chain I did, wasn't hard.