Changing Gear

dogsballs [quote]mister k suicide hub!
(unless it's a fixed/fixed hub i guess)
i've been running one for a couple of weeks and it's held out so far. i've got a front brake as well though. going brakeless on a suicide hub sounds a little risky.

couple of weeks hey, great advice, thats well and try tried and tested!!

for the sake of a £25 system-x hub.[/quote]

come on mate!
if he used anything more tried and tested than that, it might be bordering on a 'safe' hub!
how's he supposed to sound like a cool, edgy character if none of his bike parts begin with the word 'suicide'?

So to resurrect a thread that was – at least originally – about changing a sprocket. I have done so this lunchtime. (rotafixing is most satisfying – I actually got my mitts on a chainwhip but it’s shit in comparison).

Whilst I was at it I also fitted a new 1/8” chain (Bianchi Pista stock being 3/32”) and I made a RIGHT bollocks of it. I got the little special linky link in a plastic bag, and did a comically lame open the bag spray the contents across the room effort. Searched for about half an hour and found NOTHING.

So I just cracked open any old link and then put it back together using the tool to push the pin back in.

The link I reassembled is a bit stiff, and the pin is, well, loose. Have been round the block a couple of times (feels amazing in a lower gear) and it stayed in fine – tried to force the chain a bit and still no probs. The pin is sitting where it should be, but it’s loose and I can wobble it with my finger. Is this a problem or am I worrying about nothing?

There’s spare chain, and I have plenty of room in my dropout to remove a link or two as well…

yes its a freaking problem, go buy a new master link

bollocks - i feared that.

BIG problemo, don't ride it please!

erm - do i really need a new master link though? See i'm at work so i gotta get it fixed in the next hour and a half...

got any spare bits from the new chain??

yeah loads

try joining some of those, would be strong enough if done properly, just take your time.

simply by popping out the loose pin and slipping in a normal link eh? will have a careful go in a minute then... Thanks mate.

If the link's too stiff, just bend the chain in your hands from side to side. Usually loosens it ok.

take out the older loose links, replace with the newer ones, you have probably used 2 different chains, so they have different sized parts. good luck

Just to double check - you know you're not supposed to push the pin all the way out right? Push it out just enough to let you break the chain, but leave it embedded in one of the side plates.

fc9k Just to double check - **you know you're not supposed to push the pin all the way out right? **Push it out just enough to let you break the chain, but leave it embedded in one of the side plates.

Done that before.....game over!:-(

i did not know that... handy info... is there a particular direction to push it from, or is either way okay?

well i went outside work with tools and job done. It so happens that a Hungarian bicycle mechanic volunteers here, and he basically just went at it with a hammer on either end of the pin. Lo-tech, but it's no longer stiff and the pin's ROCK SOLID. Class.

hope it holds for you.