Excellent chain pictorial

[scott_araujo]

Just saw this while researching chain replacement.  Very nice step by step.

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=331112

Scott

[ab]

Thanks.

[ScottRNelson]

Good step by step set of pictures.

I've never bothered with a cutting wheel, though.  I've found that the pins press out with about the same amount of pressure without grinding the heads off first.  I'm happy to skip that extra step.

[erkishhorde]

Oooh, I just bought that same dremel kit and boy it's been fun to play with! 

On topic,
+1 to Scott's comment about not bothering to grind off the heads first. I just push the pin straight out. Or if I'm replacing sprockets too the rear wheel is coming off anyway so I don't even bother to kill the old chain and just take it off once I loosen the rear wheel.

[DucHead]

Not grinding off the head is how many people break the tool pins.  I always grind the head off the rivet.  It takes 5 seconds.

[ScottRNelson]

Not grinding off the head is how many people break the tool pins.  I always grind the head off the rivet.  It takes 5 seconds.

It takes five seconds after I spend five minutes finding my Craftsman version of a Dremel tool and a proper extension cord and get a new cutting wheel installed, because I always leave it with a broken one in there.  And I have to put all of that back afterwards.

I can tell when I'm using my chain breaker tool how much pressure it's exerting, and I've never had it come anywhere close to breaking anything when pushing out pins in both stock chains and replacement DID chains.  If it started to take any serious force to push a pin out I would grind it off, but I skip that step when the pins push out so easily.

[DucHead]

It takes five seconds after I spend five minutes finding my Craftsman version of a Dremel tool and a proper extension cord and get a new cutting wheel installed, because I always leave it with a broken one in there.  And I have to put all of that back afterwards...

Sounds like you need to organize your garage!!     I use a 4" die grinder which hangs on the wall for easy access. 

[rockaduc]

Oooh, I just bought that same dremel kit and boy it's been fun to play with! 

On topic,
+1 to Scott's comment about not bothering to grind off the heads first. I just push the pin straight out. Or if I'm replacing sprockets too the rear wheel is coming off anyway so I don't even bother to kill the old chain and just take it off once I loosen the rear wheel.

Yes, the Dremel might one of the coolest, most versatile tools EVER invented!!!

[corndog67]

If you've got a cheesy Harbor Freight type chain tool, you will break the pin if you don't grind the heads off.  I grind them off, and they just push out with your fingers.