How To Use a Chain Tool To Break a Chain
How a chain tool works, and how to use it to disconnect and reconnect your bike chain.
If you like this video, buy me a coffee! 
DownloadThis week we’ll learn how to break a chain using a chain tool. I’ll cover the quick release method next week.
Quick Release Links
The first thing to do is check to make sure your chain does not already have a quick release link. Do this by turning your pedals backwards and carefully watching every chain link as it goes by. A quick release link will stand out as they look different from all of the others. If you find one, you can refer to next week’s tutorial for removal and installation instructions.
Loading ...The Chain Tool
If you can’t find a quick release link, then your chain probably doesn’t have one. This has traditionally been the most common type of chain, and it requires a chain tool for both removal and installation. Beside this video you’ll find a few links where you can order a good quality one.
Turn the handle of your chain tool counter-clockwise until the pin has backed off enough so you can place one of your chain links on the outermost slot, furthest from the handle. There are two places on chain tools where you can place a chain. The outer slot is for disconnecting and re-connecting the chain, while the inner slot is for loosening chain links.
Disconnect the Chain
Now tighten the handle clockwise until the chain tool’s pin connects with the end of your chain pin. Continue tightening the handle and you’ll see the chain pin get pushed into the link and start coming out the other side. The tricky part here is to push the chain pin far enough so that it is gets about halfway through the first of the two outer chain plates. If the chain pin gets pushed all the way out of the chain there is really no way to get it back in, and you’ll be forced to shorten or replace your chain.
One way to prevent this is to pay careful attention to how easy the handle turns as you push the pin through. When you get close to the end, you’ll feel resistance and the handle will become a slight bit harder to turn. As soon as you feel this, stop tightening the handle, and then give it another half a turn. This is usually the perfect spot to disconnect the chain. When you take the chain tool off, you’ll notice the chain is still barely held together, but can be easily disconnected by twisting and pulling the chain.
Reconnect the Chain
Notice how a tiny bit of the pin is still poking out of the inner side of the outermost plate. This is perfect, as it will help us re-install the chain. Twist and push the links back together until the chain pin clicks back into the inner link, once again holding the chain together.
Now back off the chain tool’s handle and place the chain back onto the same outer slot of the chain tool. This time position it so the protruding chain pin faces inward toward the chain tool’s pin. Now tighten the handle until the tool pin starts pushing the chain pin back through the link. Continue tightening until a tiny bit of the link pokes through the other side. Now take a look at both sides of the link… the chain pin should stick out roughly the same amount on either side.
Loosen the Chain Link
The process of re-connecting the chain caused the chain links to compress together, making a stiff link. To fix this, we use the inner slot on the chain tool. Back off the chain tool all of the way so that you can place the freshly connected link into the inner slot. Now tighten the chain tool’s pin until it connects with the chain pin and tighten it just barely, about a quarter of a turn. This usually loosens the chain link plates enough. Remove the chain from the tool and check to make sure the link is loose. If it’s still tight, try loosening it with the chain tool another quarter of a turn.
Related Tutorials
Recommended Books
Comments & Questions - Help Forums
12 Responses to “How To Use a Chain Tool To Break a Chain”
Feel free to leave a comment...
and oh, if you want a pic to show with your comment, go get a gravatar!
Hi,
Firstly, Thanks for the videos! many of them have been of great use so far.
Regarding re-connecting chains. You didn’t mention that Shimano chains (I’d guess Shimano chains are most common for most people) should only be re-connected using new link pins rather than re-using the old pin as shown in the video. I would have though this would be a very good thing to mention as re-used pins do not stay in so well or loose strength due to the way Shimano make their chains/pins.
Regards
Paul
Nice Video. Are there any tools that can break the chain without pushing the pin off?
Paul, thanks for reminding me… I’ll add an HG tutorial to the list of requests.
Not that I’m aware of Mumu.
Well done yet again, this really helped me. Thanks very much.
Alex another great clip very handy seeing as I am updating my complete drivetrain
I was stupid enough to push the pin off…
Good lesson learned!
Very helpful video. I done this and it seemed to work fine but now I’ve been told if you’ve pushed the pin through to the other side and re-connected the chain you also need to flatten off the edge of that pin as it can now come loose, is this correct?
Al, I’m not exactly sure what you mean, but I’m pretty sure that is not necessary.
One of the most important pieces of information on this page is the message that Paul Hughes wrote regarding shimano chain pins. I took the (shimano) chain off and replaced as per this vid and all seemed fine, however I then went out for a ride and just outside the village the chain came apart, causing the chainset to grind to a halt, and me to fall off as I was clipped in. The broken chain had gone into the jockey wheels, pulling the rear derailleur back and up, bending it right out of shape and into the wheel and pulling part of the wheel bracket of the frame with it. Unfortunately I hadn’t read this comment by Paul, and someone else has since told me that this was probably the cause of the break
Off to the workshop for me!
I’ve watched several of your videos (even bought some of the items you suggest) and wish to thank you for these excellent videos. I don’t have any excess funds at the moment but would love to contribute if possible when I do. Is there a way?
Regards,
Jure
Hi Jure,
I’m really glad to here you’re finding these tutorials helpful. If you do ever feel like donating you can use this paypal link. We also get 5% commission on any products purchased through Amazon (which it sounds like you’ve already been doing). Thank you very much for your support!