How to Get Links Out of a Chain

Motorcycles and bicycles use linked chains as a means of propulsion. The large pedal sprocket on bicycles connects to a gear or series of gears on the rear wheel. Motorcycles have a drive gear that comes off the main drive shaft, and this leads to the rear driving wheel. Chains have pins and roller sleeves that can wear out with age or stretch under constant pressure. Chain links can be removed and replaced with new links, or several links can be removed and replaced to adjust chain lengths.

Instructions

1

Lift your motorcycle up and place it on wood blocks, if you have this vehicle. Put it in neutral so the rear wheel can rotate. Place a bicycle on a kickstand. In either case, rotate the wheel until you find the master link that holds the chain together. For a motorcycle where you might need more chain slack, you can use a socket and wrench to remove the chain guard case, then remove the bolt or nut that holds the drive sprocket to the shaft, using a socket.

2

Note which type of bolts hold the chain guard: Allen, metric or standard. Pry the master clip off the chain with a small flat-head screwdriver by wedging the master clip's two small prongs apart. Do the same for the bicycle chain. Take the chain to a workbench.

3

Wipe the chain down with solvent and a rag. Look at the link on either end of the chain. There will be a pin holding the end of the link together. If you need to remove bad links from the middle of the chain, locate those links and identify the pins holding them together. Set the chain on end. Place the chain break tool over the pins in the link you wish to remove. The slotted end of the tools goes on the outside of the chain while the mandrel screw aligns with the other end.

4

Screw the T-shaped mandrel screw clockwise until the screw end touches the pin head. Align the tool squarely. Slowly turn the mandrel screw in. This will force the pin to extract from the other end. Continue screwing until the pin pops free from the other end. Look at the next pin in the link. Set the chain break tool over that pin and screw the mandrel in until it contacts the outer edge of the pin head. Check the alignment. Continuing screwing the mandrel in until the pin extracts.

5

Move the tool down to the edge of the next link. You have just removed one link, so keep in mind how many links you want to remove. Remove the next link with the chain break tool in the same fashion.