Repairing a Broken Chain
By Tim Brennan
Occasionally a chain might develop stiff links or even break - this is an increasingly common problem for cheap chains that have a poor standard of manufacture. Other times it can be caused by general wear and tear.
To repair these problems or to replace a chain a special link removing tool is required. This tool can be purchased for around £7 from any bike shop. This tool basically pushes the small steel cylinder, or pin, out of the chain and breaking the link.
When you are using this tool you shouldn't push that pin all the way out if you are planning on using it to re-link the chain. Instead just push it as far as necessary to release the link and stop around a couple of millimeters short of pushing it completely out.
It is a good idea to try and remove as few links as possible. A shorter chain can be compensated for to a limited extent by the rear derailleur or sometimes positioning the rear wheel a little forward. If there are too many faulty links you'll need to buy a new chain.
To re-link the chain, the tool needs to be reversed to push the link back in. Make sure the holes are lined up so it can slip back into position. Check that the link looks like all the other links in the chain and that the peg doesn't stick out too much on one side.
As an alternative, a removable chain link can be bought for around £1. This shouldn't be used with derailleur gears as they will unclip it when you are cycling.
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