How to Unlink a Chain

If your bicycle chain has stretched enough to cause the connecting rivets to wear out and the chain to slip, it will need to be replaced. Unlinking a modern bicycle chain for maintenance or replacement requires a specialized chain breaker tool. You should regularly remove the chain from your cycle for routine inspection, cleaning and maintenance to prevent it from wearing out or corroding.

Things You'll Need

  • Chain lubricant
  • Pencil and paper
  • Chain breaker
  • Adjustable wrench
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Instructions

    • 1

      Soak the bicycle chain with lubricant and allow it to penetrate for 30 minutes. Check that the links are moving freely; if the links are extremely stiff, apply the lubricant again and allow it more time to penetrate.

    • 2

      Draw a diagram if necessary to make sure you can replace the chain correctly. Take note of how the chain is routed through the sprockets and gear-change mechanisms.

    • 3

      Engage a chain link into the slotted teeth of the chain breaker tool so the connecting rivet is lined up with the pin of the tool. Screw down the mandrel until it is holding the link in place and check that it is perfectly aligned with the rivet.

    • 4

      Hold the chain tool, with the chain engaged, firmly in one hand and begin to tighten the "T" handle, slowly pushing the rivet out of the links. Some models allow the use of a large wrench on the body of the tool to add leverage.

    • 5

      Continue to wind the rivet out until it is 95 percent removed from the link, but do not push it all the way out or it will be extremely difficult to reinsert.

    • 6

      Remove the tool from the chain by winding the "T" handle in the opposite direction and the chain will come apart, allowing removal from the bicycle