chains - fit them yourself?

[wig]

do you lot here for chains yourself.
on a push bike some chains can be fitted without special pins/some need them, or power links can be used.
whats the story with motorbike chains? can they be split - washed - refitted etc?
cheers

[Wozza]

Yes, but you need a special chain tool for hard rivets.

[greggo]

Two types of chains

Linkless - with a permanently riveted connecting link

Linked - with a removable master link

Linked chains are rare these days as the big sportsbikes and aggressive power delivery stress the master link too much (went out of vogue about the time the first Fireblade came out). Generally you wouldn't split a linkless chain to clean and reattach as the process of removing a rivet and replacing it with a new connecting link (using the special tool mentioned above) will damage not only the removed link, but the link next to it shortening your chain.

On a 400 I would have no hesitation (and in fact use one on my race bike) in using the linked chain, which you can remove and clean as much as you like (I use a non O-ring on the race bike so frequent cleaning is my friend). As these are low powered bikes with relatively tame power delivery you shouldn't have any trouble with a linked chain, unless you don't fit the retaining clip properly.

If you have the correct tools, splitting and assembling linkless chains is no drama, and in some ways easier than fitting an o-ring chain with a master link. I'm sure plenty of the older riders here have many pinched fingers and hands from compressing the o-rings enough to fit the feckin retaining clip! The tool is relatively expensive (about 70-100AUD god knows what that is in pounds) for one you use rarely, and some bike shops price the chain/sprockets/fitting all in one. Tis an easy peasy jobby.

[stretchie_]

Yep

Cut through the old chain with a grinder then I use this

http://www.bitzforbikes.co.uk/Chain_Cut ... 8-523.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I found this to be a fantastic tool MUCH better than these types

http://www.bikebitzuk.co.uk/index.php?m ... cts_id=999" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

which I have bent when fitting a new chain.

[leopard_pagan]

yes.
current chain is a linked chain = NO TOOLS to fit.
BUT you must fit the clip the right way round or it will come off = a world of hurt + ££££££!

[wig]

cool, cheers for all thin info you lot!

[leopard_pagan]

all chains are cleanable, all need adjusting over time, there are 3 types of chains O ring, X ring or heavy duty, they range from expensive to cheap. try and buy the most expensive one that you can afford. most come with a rivet link or a clip. if you rivet you will need the tool. if you clip you wont.

[Wozza]

Stretchie, that Motrax tool is for soft rivets only - I've made the same mistake myself!

[stretchie_]

That would be why it was crap then