Australian Cycling Forums - Bicycles Network Australia

I just picked up an old malvern star frame from the local tip. After check of the joints and such I decided to turn it into a ss/fixie get around town, don't really care about bike. I just have a slight problem at the moment. I don't have a chain tool and I'm also unable to find the master chain link. Anyone have any ghetto chain removal solutions?

hacksaw or grinder?
hammer sometihing like a spike down between the plates to get them to pop?

I've used boltcutters on an old, rusted-solid chain. The chain wasn't good for anything afterwards, but then again it wasn't good for anything before that either.

I've broken proper chain tools on solidly rusted chains before. Now I hit them with an angle grinder instead.

Dremel and cutting disc = hot knife through butter

Chain breaker tool.....you probably need one for the new chain anyway.

If you insist, put it under a hammer and a hard rock, focus on the rustest link, go crazy, it will break.

slidetaker wrote:Chain breaker tool.....you probably need one for the new chain anyway.

^^ Like drubie said. If I am not worried about reusing the chain. I will just mash it with a grinder, bolt cutters or a centre punch on one of the rivets. Or any combination of these. I have ruined what I thought were decent chain tools on long dead & rigor-mortified chains before..... but that's not to say you don't need one for cutting a new replacement chain.

A 'ghetto' method would probably be hacksaw through chainstay. Simple!

LG wrote:A 'ghetto' method would probably be hacksaw through chainstay. Simple!

Don't joke - I've seen that for real in a redneck fixes bike vid on you tube - and it wasn't a cheap frame the redneck destroyed....... and then "repaired"

Got any sturdy pointed pliers? One good squeeze in the middle of a pair of outer plates should spring them.

Thanks for the replies. I'll try some tomorrow and tell you what works.

Two shifters / adjustable spanners clamped down on the side plates... Twist back and forth a couple of times.

uncle arthur wrote:

LG wrote:A 'ghetto' method would probably be hacksaw through chainstay. Simple!

Don't joke - I've seen that for real in a redneck fixes bike vid on you tube - and it wasn't a cheap frame the redneck destroyed....... and then "repaired"

please tell me the "repair was done with gaffa tape

jasonc wrote:

uncle arthur wrote:

LG wrote:A 'ghetto' method would probably be hacksaw through chainstay. Simple!

Don't joke - I've seen that for real in a redneck fixes bike vid on you tube - and it wasn't a cheap frame the redneck destroyed....... and then "repaired"

please tell me the "repair was done with gaffa tape

The "repair was done by said redneck whittling down a piece of timber to act as a dowel, inserted into the cut ends of the former chainstay, which was then sealed (from memory) wrapped with duct tape.

uncle arthur wrote:

jasonc wrote:

uncle arthur wrote:
Don't joke - I've seen that for real in a redneck fixes bike vid on you tube - and it wasn't a cheap frame the redneck destroyed....... and then "repaired"

please tell me the "repair was done with gaffa tape

The "repair was done by said redneck whittling down a piece of timber to act as a dowel, inserted into the cut ends of the former chainstay, which was then sealed (from memory) wrapped with duct tape.

I can just imagine the redneck dentistry video they made after that repair failed. Moonshine, a cold chisel and some more whittlin'

Used a few methods mixed together. First I twisted an inner chain link up, then I wiggled it a little with some pliers, then I finally popped the plate off with a screwdriver and a hammer.

Thanks!