Chain Breaker/Riveter
 

Anyone got any suggestions of a decent chain tool? Ive got a cheap nasty one but dont think I would trust it enough to take it on my travels. Want something sturdy/compact and reliable.

I think carrying such a tool is an extravagant use of available space/weight.

A basic drift/punch, pliers and mole-grip are far more useful and already carried. Plus a few heavy rocks on the track side, as both hammer and anvil.

They did the trick for us in deepest Siberia when a chain snapped which we repaired with a couple of 'soft' links. That got us to a workshop several weeks later!

Biggest difficulty was the hungry mosquitos and no chain tool can deal with them.

A chain tool would have avoided having to get you to a mechanic!
You could have done a permanent repair, and rocks tend to be a bit sparse in some places.
There are some nice light weight chain tools out there.
Motion pro do an ace one. zenoverland.com sell em.

As a mechanic I've seen many a thing "hammered" into a "will get you by" situation where a proper repair was a tool away and would have, well, repaired it!
A chain tool is such a thing
You hammer something, it distorts!
Although, in some cases, a variable pressure applicator does have it's uses!

But, each to their own!
There's lot's of "over loaded with useless stuff" bikes out there.
Just an opinion.

All the best bud.
Dave.

I carry the Motion Pro T-6 Chain Tool. Very small and lightweight. I helped someone fix a chain without a chain tool once and it worked, but I would never have trusted that chain again for any significant distance. After that, I decided carrying a chain tool is a small enough sacrifice to guard against a possibly mangled field repair resulting in the need to buy a new chain. But no, it is not necessary by any stretch of the imagination.

I carry a DRC Aluminium chain tool.
It's not heavy.
It's not bulky.
It fixes chains.

It's wrapped up in a little bag with a few new and used split links and some bits and bobs of chain.

I've done a few chain repairs in the past with wire, bits of nail, etc to limp home. But having seen how much damage a broken chain can do to a bike, I'd much rather do it right and only do it once.

Cheers people, the drc alu tool looks pretty good. Im a mechanic too and would rather do 'first time fix'. No point doin a job twice.

i have a small motion pro one and would say its worth stashing somewhere on bike.
a broken chain from a lashe repair is not the end of the world....but is not quite so rosey when the broken chain wraps round front sprocket and demolishes crankcases...ouch....
i actualy know someone that welded a link plate on a honda crf450 to try it up the road..15 minutes later it was pissing oil out from a hole in left case..oopsy.

Does the Motion Pro tool do the whole gig, split and rivet? I had a feeling it only works on split links, I'm in the market also but sure someone said it isn't a "complete" tool.

Cheers
Pete

Edit, just checked the MP isn't any use for me :(

I suggest this: gear4bikes.com (UK) Tools & Gauges

I just tested this link on a different computer and the page didn't appear correctly. If you use the site's search function, you're looking for this: "790050 - KM500 Style Chain Splitter & Rivetter (replica of DID tool, suitable for 520, 525, 530 & 532 gauge)"

I've used it to split a stretched chain and remove links and re-rivet it. The instructions are in "Chinese" English, but are followable.
HTH
Chris

Terra-X make a good chain breaker which is tiny.

Enduro Chainbreaker

Terra-x
 

How good is it?

I've been thinking about chain tools for a trip so i'd like to get your oppinion of it.

Scroll down the page to find the chain tool.

Yamaha XS650 - Manuals & Service Tools - XS650 Direct.com

I always take one ,it's way better than bashing away with rocks ,chisels and other crap which can result in knuckle bruising ,side plate bending and an imperfect joint :taz:.
Your bike puts out a lot of horsepower ,treat the driveline with respect .

The DRC chaintool looks good as well .
:thumbup1:

The bonuses with these tools is that you can fix the chain in situ ,easily and properly the first time .

Sure I've fixed chains with chisels, punches ,vicegrips ,used old nuts and bolts as anvils and rivetters and even welded them .
But now I prefer to do it the easy and proper way ,thank you very much .

:thumbup1:
Terra X,great little tool,fits in the palm of your hand.
Ben

Perfect.............. exept it's a 20000 mile ride to get one :scooter:

Gutted
Pete

Order one online and get it posted/couriered to you?