How to get chain off?

dnme · 10-04-2011 07:44AM #1

I'd like to get my chain off and give it a good clean/degrease but the front derailer is a closed loop around it. Is there anyway to get chain off ?

Many thanks

Hail 2 Da Thief · 10-04-2011 08:00AM

Does your chain have a quick link?

If it doesn't you'll have to break the chain. Watch this vid to see how.

penexpers · 10-04-2011 08:06AM

You might also be able to open the FD cage. Some (all?) of the Shimano ones have a small screw on them that will allow you to open the cage.

blorg · 10-04-2011 08:43AM

Clean it on the bike, it is much less hassle. Easiest with a chain cleaner machine.

Lashed · 10-04-2011 09:27AM

Even if you open the derailleur the chain is still going to be going through the frame. There's no screw for opening that.
Assuming your chain doesn't have a quick-link, I'd buy one and then break the chain as per the above video. Then just take out a link and insert the quick-link for easy removal in future.

dnme · 10-04-2011 10:13AM

thanks very much folks

Canis Lupus · 10-04-2011 10:14AM

If you do take the chain off a nice quick way of cleaning it is pop it into a small coke bottle with some diesel (or degreaser) and giving it a shake and leaving it for a bit.

Don't break the chain often tho unless you have the power link on, I'm of the impression it weakens it (open to correction)

Keep_Her_Lit · 10-04-2011 12:11PM

Your enquiry suggests that chain cleaning might be something that you don't do too often. If so, a word of caution. If your chain has accumulated a lot of wear and tear and is already close to the end of its working life, a thorough cleaning can actually finish it off altogether and render it unusable.

A while ago, I thoroghly degreased and lubricated a chain which was well worn and in pretty manky shape. Prior to cleaning, it was still working absolutely fine - no skipping under load, no problem shifting. After cleaning, it skipped with the slightest provocation and I had to bin it and bring my scheduled drivetrain overhaul forward by a few months.

My theory on this strange result is that the chain ended up slightly longer after I had cleaned it, since every bit of grit and rubbish had been removed from between the load bearing surfaces. Since it was already well worn, that was enough to just push it over the edge. However, I didn't measure the chain before and after, so I can't confirm this.

kona · 10-04-2011 12:28PM

Keep_Her_Lit wrote: »

. However, I didn't measure the chain before and after, so I can't confirm this.

How to get chain off?

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