Campagnolo 10/11 speed chain tool?

Does anyone have any experience of installing Campagnolo 10 speed chains. The net seems to think that I need a Campagnolo tool to do it reliably, the tool looks like this: http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/productdetail.asp?productcatalogue=CAMPTOOL340000000000

It costs £50 so I don't want to buy one if I don't need one. Does anyone have any experience of doing this with or without the recommended tool?

[ At least I don't have the 11 speed gruppo, as the tool is twice the price ]

use a normal chainbreaker to break the chain and then use a kmc missing. link to join it. Not done it yet but will be doing it tommorow night so I'll report back then

Yeah, I use a standard chainbreaker but use the pin supplied with Campag chains to push the bush through. You have to wind the tool right out to fit it around the chain and pin.

You could probably do it without the pin, but it'll probably damage the bush, but it you don't want to use it again then that's no bother!

If you're short of one of these pins I've got a spare you can have, Matt.

I use:
http://www.parker-international.co.uk/4977/Campagnolo-Record-10-Chain-Ultra-Narrow.html
with
http://www.parker-international.co.uk/4546/KMC-10sp-Missing-Link.html

Very handy for when I had a F-Derailleur problem a while ago and had to take chain apart and reconnect (removing derailleur).

Having read the instructinos which came with the chain it seems there is a danger of serious injury or DEATH if I don't follow them to the letter.

Going to give Condor a call and see how much they'd charge for installation, but given that I didn't buy the chain off them, they might not be keen.

Don't buy the Campag chain - get a KMC or Connex one instead, both of which use sensible joining methods. I realise this might be too late but the chain tool is an unnecessary expense.

+1 Wipperman do good ones too.

I had to break my 10sp campag chain with an ordinary breaker (to get home ghetto SS when my mech exploded) then rejoined it with an ordinary breaker.

I did make sure the pin wasn't pushed out the outer link,so it was easy to re-attach.

Too late, I already bought the chain. Condor said not to worry and you could do it with any high quality chain tool (I think they said they use the Park GT4 - also £50)

Mine is certainly low quality (I think the pusher is an old snapped drill bit), so I think I'll have to get a new one anyway.

RPM you are risking serious injury or DEATH.

Cheapo Topeak chain tool has worked for me for both 9- and 10-speed Campag Chorus chains. Mildly fiddly but by no means beyond the wit of man. I've got one of those massive, cheap Clas Ohlsen(?) red things now, but haven't had occasion to use it yet - can't see any reason it wouldn't work though.

Matt, I'm sure that's just so a) ypu can't sue them if it snaps, and b) you spunk more money on Campag stuff.

I use a £4.99 chainbreaker jobbie from Halfords. Fine on narrow modern chains. Doesn't work so well with 1/8th chains though, it hasn't got enough uuumph.

Just use a cheap breaker and the supplied plastic installation pin type thingy (the reddy/brown thing bottom right in this pic).

Use Campag chain but then buy a Campag specific 10 speed KMC missing link (beware, it HAS to be the one just for Campag) - I have been using them on several bikes (including ones built for others) without any problem. Simply use any chain breaker to shorten the Campag chain to required length and join using the link. If you need to remove the chain for maintenance, no probs.

If using a cheap chain tool to join links make sure you line up the Campag installation pin perfectly. Otherwise it will push to one side and bend or break. No idea why Campag think it's cool to charge so much for a chain tool. Don't Park tools do something cheaper but just as good?

RPM you are risking serious injury or DEATH.

I know, I had no choice at the time. it was that or walk 4 miles in spd-r shoes

If using a cheap chain tool to join links make sure you line up the Campag installation pin perfectly. Otherwise it will push to one side and bend or break. No idea why Campag think it's cool to charge so much for a chain tool. Don't Park tools do something cheaper but just as good?

Actually the Park equivalent seems to be slightly more expensive. Park do a cheaper one (£27), but it doesn't look as beefy.

campag 11 speed chains.. i need a new tools, my park CT5 no good :(

http://www.parktool.com/product/rivet-peening-tool-for-campagnolo-11-speed-chain-CT-11
http://www.parktool.com/product/master-chain-tool-CT-42

i hate campag right now.. anyone got these^

campag 11 speed chains.. i need a new tools, my park CT5 no good :(

http://www.parktool.com/product/rivet-peening-tool-for-campagnolo-11-speed-chain-CT-11
http://www.parktool.com/product/master-chain-tool-CT-42

i hate campag right now.. anyone got these^

I'm on 11 speed right now. I used an ordinary chain tool to shorten the chain (worryingly easy - I swear I could turn the handle with just two fingers pinching lightly), and then put it together with one of these:

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=57321

Have only ridden for about 20 hours on a set of rollers, but I've so far not suffered DEATH. Shifts just fine too.

The KMC links are £5 a pop, and are not reusable, but there's no reason why you can't use new links on the same chain, say for cleaning the chain off the bike. The only alternative is Campag 11sp pins which is more expensive, non-reusable, and you can only use a maximum of two connector pins on the same chain.

Yeah I hate Campag right now too...

good news and thanks^

i've ordered KMC 11x chain link much prefer this route rather than fork out for new chain tools. campag really need to get a grip.. the UT-CN 300
http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/sp/road-track-bike/bike-parts-Campagnolo-UT-CN300-Chain-Tool-11-Spd/CAMPTOOL370000000000
for riveting is jokes. I have a coupling pin with the chorus groupset package. complete nonsense imho.. i clean road bike chains regularly, why would i want to strip replace pin everytime!!

once s/s speedplay pedals arrive, my carbon project should be road ready :)

I don't really know what to think about Campagnolo nowadays. It's great that you can fully rebuild ergopowers and buy replacement cups and cones for their hubs. But it's kinda douchey what you can't buy 11sp chainrings (presumably so that people can't upgrade the rings without buying cranks) or you have to buy a £100 tools to join chains that can only be taken apart twice.

agreed,
very puzzled about the 11 speed cassette arrangement too,
this all looks very short sighted and short term thinking by campagnolo

I don't really know what to think about Campagnolo nowadays. It's great that you can fully rebuild ergopowers and buy replacement cups and cones for their hubs. But it's kinda douchey what you can't buy 11sp chainrings (presumably so that people can't upgrade the rings without buying cranks) or you have to buy a £100 tools to join chains that can only be taken apart twice.

You dont really need 11 speed chainrings though. I'm going with some Q-rings myself, as campy dont do short cranksets, and Rotor do.

I picked up a KMC X11 SL chain, which comes with a quick link. Campy claim that the quick link results in a weak spot in the chain. Personally I would have though people peening their own chain, could lead to worse (defo the sort of thing I could feck up).

I also have the CT-11 from Parktools, and its pretty darn beefy. Its was a impulse buy, and a bargin. Good to have if you're running 11 speed I suppose.

I also have the CT-11 from Parktools, and its pretty darn beefy. Its was a impulse buy, and a bargin. Good to have if you're running 11 speed I suppose.

yes, but not designed to install or remove chain rivets, sole function is to peen and secure end of 11 speed connecting pin.

http://www.parktool.com/product/p/rivet-peening-tool-for-campagnolo-11-speed-chain-CT-11

you don't want to risk serious injury or death.. as read on the campag warning labels lol..

yes, but not designed to install or remove chain rivets, sole function is to peen and secure end of 11 speed connecting pin.

http://www.parktool.com/product/p/rivet-peening-tool-for-campagnolo-11-speed-chain-CT-11

you don't want to risk serious injury or death.. as read on the campag warning labels lol..

Yeah, to be used in conjunction with your standard chain breaker/connector.

PS: I'm already in the Campag death zone. As I ride a bicycle while being over 80Kg!

i think alot of us are in the campag death zone / departure lounge it's getting quite crowded in here

lolz