Any question answered...

I'm surprised you assert this. Until I encountered the Shimano quicklink mentioned, I've always joined Shimano chains with the Shimano chain-tool, whose design makes it impossible to drive the pin too far. (I imagine this accounts for a good number of chain failures.)

Shimano chains joined in this 'traditional' fashion ran and changed smoothly and have not yet delivered me to a fiery death. To be fair, neither has the chain joined with the quicklink but it was a devil of a job to fit — I had to take the bike outdoors to ride, and give the pedals a proper kick to get it pull up tight.

The margin for error gets smaller every time the plates get thinner. The joining links have essentially eliminated user error from the equation, which is a good thing. I can't speak for Shimano as I haven't used one of their chains in decades, but certainly KMC and Wippermann joining links are easily worth their price for making the job simpler and quicker, even for a user with the skills and tools to create a riveted joint as good as a factory one.

I didn’t even know you could re-join Shimano and SRAM 10+ speed chains. They seem to have a flush peened end on the pin (rather than a press fit) which seems to shear away when you press it out. Then it’s just loose in the side plate. I thought you had no choice but to use the quick links with those?

Yeah, the chain tools at work usually end up needed all those bits removing from the pin every month or two or they stop pushing far enough.

Something like this might work https://www.profabrics.co.uk/products/gaiter-hook-all0y

Yes it would. Thank you very much.

Great, I've had that bookmarked for years so I'm glad it may be of use

You can use the Shimano joining pins where the end snaps off. Trying to re-use normal pins is not a good plan in my experience. I've had two chains break after having tried to do so.

"Lacing hooks" or "gaiter hooks" are probably the right search term. Pro fabrics have some, the spacing for the fasteners might be tricky though.

Edit: whoops, didn't refresh.

Where could I source a True Temper OX Platinum decal? Tried eBay and top hits on various search engines but not having much luck. True Temper don't seem to have a contact email, might write to them even though they aren't making bike tubes anymore

Try velocals on ebay

Checked that earlier and they've only got OX Comp but will email just in case.

Yeah worth a shot anyway.

KMC and Wippermann joining links are easily worth their price for making the job simpler and quicker

Agree, the KMC chains I have fitted were easy to join with the quicklink, and have been reliable

I had to take the bike outdoors to ride, and give the pedals a proper kick to get it pull up tight.

I’ve found that applying the brakes and slowly standing on one of the pedals at the 3 o’clock position gets the job done easily.

Or, in an emergency, you could always resort to the tool for the job 😀

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If I cut a 24mm diameter circle out of 6mm thick material and then want to rotate an inner circle about the vertical axis, how much smaller does it need to be so it doesnt get stuck?

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Our friend pythagoras says 23.2mm, at least for the horizontal span.

(assuming it's perfectly centred on its mount)

marvellous, thanks

23.2379000772445 approx

23.2mm

If the axis of rotation lies in one of the surface planes. If the axis is in the midplane, its 23.8

Do you mean 20.8mm?

Yes, obviously🙂

I should wake up before attempting maths.

20.8 for an axis on one of the surfaces, 23.2 for a midplane axis.

Yes, I have one of these tools and used it, but it just flexed. I imagine the link was not exactly aligned, so put that down to user error. Also tried brakes on, stamp down at 3 o'clock. Whatever, I got the job done, but it was an inelegant performance.

Hold the back wheel with hand or brake and push the pedal with my hand has worked for hundreds of the things, I think I've put it on the floor for a toughy maybe twice.