Which a chain riveter?

[Gimlet]

Further to my snapped chain and damaged crankcase drama, it looks like I fixed the problem with a bit of shed engineering.

Need new chain and sprocket set now. Trouble is, having crashed my car back in March I only have the bike for transport so as I can't take it anywhere I'll have to fit the chain and sprockets myself.

Can anyone recommend a decent chain riveting tool?
It'll be a heavy duty DID 525 Z-VMX X-ring chain.

Was thinking this:
https://www.demon-tweeks.com/uk/whale-b ... bt480-rvt/

Or this:
https://www.demon-tweeks.com/uk/bikeser ... ic5835101/

[Gregor]

The Whale one is good, very well made, had it for about 15 years now.

[Gregor]

The Whale one is a good buy, well made,solid and takes a hefty hit, had it for about 15 years now.

[Yorick]

The Whale one is a good buy, well made,solid and takes a hefty hit, had it for about 15 years now.

Have you got 2 ?

[Gregor]

The Whale one is a good buy, well made,solid and takes a hefty hit, had it for about 15 years now.

Have you got 2 ?

Gotta get that post count up.

[Gimlet]

Wasn't sure how the Whale worked. just watched a Youtube vid but it only shows it peening solid pins. Will it flare hollow pins as well?

[Gregor]

Yes, the last chain I fitted had pins with hollow ends.

[Gregor]

[Gimlet]

So it does only peen then, not flare?

You can imagine I'm fairly keen to get it right..

By the way, you must stop parking your bike up against the tumble dryer outlet.

[Gregor]

So it does only peen then, not flare?

You can imagine I'm fairly keen to get it right..

By the way, you must stop parking your bike up against the tumble dryer outlet.

I guess I don’t know what you meant by flaring then.

It came with one type of punch, the end of which is concave at the tip.Maybe they supply a different one for flaring.

Best ask the seller.

[GuzziPaul]

When I did the chain on my Tuono I used an angle grinder to get the old chain off and a couple of hammers to peen the rivets over on the new one. Do it without the chain on the sprockets (no back wheel in) so there is plenty of slack and you can get some solid support behind it.

[Skub]

When I did the chain on my Tuono I used an angle grinder to get the old chain off and a couple of hammers to peen the rivets over on the new one. Do it without the chain on the sprockets (no back wheel in) so there is plenty of slack and you can get some solid support behind it.

That's how I've always done mine.

[Gimlet]

Bearing in mind it was the joining link that let go on the last chain I am being a tad fussy to get it right.

[Skub]

Bearing in mind it was the joining link that let go on the last chain I am being a tad fussy to get it right.

Maybe it was put on with a special tool too.

[Druid]

When I did the chain on my Tuono I used an angle grinder to get the old chain off and a couple of hammers to peen the rivets over on the new one. Do it without the chain on the sprockets (no back wheel in) so there is plenty of slack and you can get some solid support behind it.

This is how I used to do it as well, or I used a spring clip but that's another can of worms

However, the last chain & sprocket set I bought had a free chain riveting tool included.





I didn't think it would be much good but thought I might as well give it a try. I used an angle grinder to get the old link off, fitted the new chain and split link as per the instructions. Note that they're hollow pins



Then used the free tool to flare the ends of the link



Pretty good I thought. I don't know how long it would last if I were using it frequently but I guess I replace a chain once every two or three years so it should last me for a while. I don't know if you can still get them free, but they're about £20 on ebay compared to the £100 that the Whale tools cost.

NOTE: I've included close up pics of the rear wheel just to give weeksy a heart attack

[Tomcat]

I've got a pukka DID hollow-end link riveting tool you can borrow.

[Gimlet]

Cheers Tomcat. Don't know where you are. I'm in Dorset.

Is yours the KM500R? I thought about getting one of those. They are £114 though. On the other hand I've got two bikes (three if I ever get my Ducati back on the road) that all run top spec Z-VMX chains. A mechanic is going to charge an hour's labour to fit them so that's going to be a bare minimum of £50 fitting every time so it wouldn't take long to pay for itself.
Could just do without any extra expense at this weird time..

[Scotsrich]

Last chain I did (which was donkeys years ago) I stuck a connecting link on temporarily and took it to a local bike mechanic who took about 10 minutes to replace it with the proper link.

Only cost a few quid.

[Tomcat]

Cheers Tomcat. Don't know where you are. I'm in Dorset.

Is yours the KM500R? I thought about getting one of those. They are £114 though.

That's the one I've got. Bought it for the 520 that's on my bike, I presume it'll do 525 though which is just 1/16" wider rollers.

I'm near Exeter but can post it, PM me if you want to borrow it.

[Gimlet]

Thanks Tomcat, that's a kind offer.

I did order a KM500 "type" riveter yesterday for £42. No doubt I've broken my rule and bought something Chinese but I was in a rush to sort out parts ordering yesterday before going to work.

When it arrives I'd be interested to see what my kit comprises compared with your proper one. If it looks poor I'll send it back.