Just did the 520 conversion on my bike this past weekend. While attempting to Rivet, the 2.7mm pin and actual tool itself broke (POS Chinese brand). I finished the chain installation using the clip method as I couldn't rivet it. Will I be ok racing and doing track days with the clip on style link or do I need to rivet it? Also, can anyone recommend a chain rivet tool that's not the standard POS Chinese type? Something made in America?
In a pinch, Take 2 hammers, use one as the anvil and peen the other side of the rivet with the other hammer.
I have the Motion Pro one from Sportbike Track Gear and I've put on countless rivet style masters with that one. Adds 5lbs to the toolbox, though! Clip style is banned by some rulebooks, FYI. I have seen them on lower HP track bikes (SV, etc) You can put some silicone on the clip to make sure it doesn't come out. Personally I don't mess around with chains, it's a once every 2 year item and it can save you alot of headaches or body parts. When they come flying off at speed, it can break the cases of the engine, take off a finger or really mess up the day of the rider behind you. So I always get the DID EVO Gold and rivet the master. But I have been known to be overly cautious.
Awesome, thanks. I'm not seeing anything in the WERA rulebook that prevents us from using the clip-style. Im on a 19 year old SS SV650 that might make as much power now with a few mods, as it did stock in 06'. I'd imagine using the clip style master while racing something like a 1299 Panigale with enough torque to restart a dead planet probably wouldn't be smart.
+1 for the motion pro tool. It was one of the first quality tools I bought when I couldn't actually afford it back in school. Still doing the trick 13 years later. I actually wore out the chain breaking pin and bought a replacement straight off of their website for a couple bucks. That, and the detent that holds the block in place stopped working a few years ago, but that's not affected how well the tool works. I would still recommend using a cutoff wheel to remove a chain because the newer chains are so damn tough. I bought a chinese copy in a pinch a few years later and the breaking pin BENT when using it for the second time. It's long since been turned into razor blades. Money wasted.
I’ve had the RK chain tool, ~25yrs. It’s been flawless. There is a knockoff version that looks exactly alike, but, is a total POS. The included bits are made of chocolate and will simply mash, without flaring the rivet.
I broke the original pin on my RK riveter and the guidance I received from that was to keep the backside of the pin clean and lubed
This is why aliens put things in our asses. OP, don't run a clip style link on a race bike. And buy the Motion Pro PBR and be done with it.
The DID tool is a more robust chain tool IMO, even compared to the MotionPro. It'll take you an extra 10min to learn how to use it. That can be good when someone asks to borrow it and they just return it because using it isn't obvious.
The DID tool pays for itself in the long run because every time I’m like I should replace the chain, I decide to wait instead of trying to remember how to use the DID tool again.
You guys got me thinking and I went and checked the toolbox, it's actually the DID tool that I have. Works like a champ. Keep the directions handy. lol
I have used a Cycle Gear chain tool for at least 10 years and probably 20+ chains now. Never had a problem and it is still going strong. On sale it is about 1/4 to 1/3 less expensive than the RK or Motion Pro. The trick is to be sure you go slow and feel out the tension and be sure you are straight on the pin.
wait... you guys are pressing the peened roller pins out?? I take a grinder to the peen then pry the link off.