07/09/2017 9:45am
To fit a chain rivet link correctly you will require a suitable chain_tool and a degree of patience and care. The joining link kit will contain one joining link, one side plate, four sealing rings and a sachet of chain grease. Fit your new sprockets and pull the chain together ready to be joined. The best place to do this is on the rear sprocket. It’s the most convenient spot because the sprocket helps to hold the chain in the right place.
First, lubricate the sealing rings with the grease then push two rings onto the two pins of the link. Now lubricate the back of the chain plates and push the grease into the chain roller holes. Then push the link through from the back of the chain and try to push back as much grease as you possibly can! You just can’t try too hard with this, it needs all the grease it can get.
Now, put the last two rings onto the front of the link around the side plates and position correctly. The grease will help to hold them in position.
Then we need to press on the outside plate correctly. To do this you will require a suitable tool. The idea is to press on the plate to exactly the same position as all the other chain links so that it is exactly the same width. Some chain tools provide you with spacer blocks to help you do this without over-tightening, but if you don’t have one of those then patience and care will do the trick. Measure the width of the other chain links to the outside of the two side plates. Not the pins, the plates!
Now carefully push on your rivet link plate until the rivet link width is the same as the other chain links. Be careful and patient with your measuring and don’t over tighten it.
Now we just need to rivet the pins. Most pins on modern chains are hollow and need to be opened out with a suitable tapered tool. Solid pin designs need to be riveted over with a suitable tool to replicate the riveting on all the other pins. Either way, just remember that you don’t need to over do this. The riveting is there to make sure the plate can’t come off, but there is no force pushing the plate off unless something is running way out of line anyway. And there you have it, you are done!
Your installed riveted joining link should be the same width and it should be able to move just as freely as all the other links. It shouldn’t be tight or binding in any way. If it is, then you have got it wrong somewhere and you will need to buy a new link and start again.
If you are in any doubt about its installation then consult a professional engineer.
Chain Rivet links. Done!