How To: Fix a Broken Chain??????

Ok very basic - and maybe simple question for most.

How do I fix a broken chain?

I was riding today and pop - if I can refer to a chain with a female and male pieces - the female piece that goes around the male link - was spread apart - and the bar that runs through both was still in the male piece - I removed the bar out and tried to run it back thru the female piece but it won't fit.

Did I break off a retaining part of the bar that I need?

Do I need to buy a new chain or can this one be fixed (yes it's been a while if ever that this chain has been replaced)?

Please help!

Okay, I'll have a go and will welcome anyone to correct or add to what I've got to say.

First off, if you've been riding on that chain for a long time, as you imply, then it's likely that the chain was "stretched" - a misleading term, because of course the metal doesn't stretch, but the links wear against the pins, and the result is that the links spread further apart from each other. Anyway, what happens is that as the chain stretches and you continue to ride it, the cogs and the chainrings get worn down to match this change. So if you just replace an old chain, very often the new chain will jump and skip on the old cassette (the rear cogs), especially in your highest gear (i.e. the smallest cog in the back).

So generally, changing a very old chain means that you have to simultaneously change your cassette, at least - usually the chainrings take longer to wear down to the point where it becomes a problem, but that's a possibility, too, if it's really been ages on that chain.

If you really can't afford to replace the chain and cassette (depending on the quality of the parts, these can start at about $10/chain and $25/cassette, give or take), you can try just repairing your old chain and hoping for the best. To reinsert the pin, you need a special chain-pin tool. These can be purchased from your LBS for not too much $, and they hold the chain together while pressing the pin through.

However, in your case, with the pin all the way out and the busted link spread out like that, your best bet is to buy a master link, such as an SRAM powerlink. These will allow you to easily replace the "female" part of the chain without using any tools (except to completely remove the female portion you're replacing - you'll still want a pin tool for that). Make sure that the one you buy matches your chain - there will be different ones for 9spd drivetrains versus 6, 7, or 8 speed.

If you get in over your head, labor charges for changing a chain tend to be around $6, and changing a cassette around $3 (your LBS prices may vary ;) ), so it's not a real expensive thing to take to the shop.

Hope that helps!

Check out sheldonbrown.com or parktool.com Both sites are excellent and very helpful in learning how to maintain/fix most common problems. They also explain it better than I could, and with pics to boot!

To reinsert the pin, you need a special chain-pin tool. These can be purchased from your LBS for not too much $, and they hold the chain together while pressing the pin through.


if you realy have no money to spend i would take a small punch to the pin and lightly bang the pin through while its being held in a vice with carboard

first drive to bike store and purchase chain breaker and extra links for you chain. Then figure out how long you need your chain to be, replace links with breaker.

done..

if you dont know how to use the breaker ask someone at the bike shop, im sure theyd be glad to show you and actully do it for you for free.

good luck