how to rivet a drive chain

[1984 honda 200s]

Well im starting to get sick and tired of quick links falling off and loosing my chain! They always tend to come off in the mud. Brand new chain, loose the clip UGH and yes the open part of the clip faces towards the rear sprocket when trike is in forward motion.... i found this : http://www.kawiforums.com/how-tos-faqs/121549-diy-chain-rivet-tool.html on a kawi forums site..
What do you all think? How do you rivet a chain link or.. do you? I know i could order a link and wait a week for it to ship in... but, i dont want to wait a week lol When your in a jam, would you use this technique or another? Post link or video if you have one ! Thanks !

[MTS]

center punch and a bfh, they also make hollow pin master links, and a rivit tool, motionpro sells the tool, bout 100bucks.

[tri again]

GF's kids took the chains off 4 or 5 of my trikes for some reason
so there they sit.
I'll need to get expert on chains soon.

Other than that, I've never really had chains and master links mess up.
They even use master links on timing chains for engines....scary.

Maybe your chain alignment is off somehow?

When I shorten them, I use a grinder and a center punch and just pound the
pin right into a log type chopping block.
Going back together, it's a master link.
I don't see why I couldn't just mash over the master link instead of using the clip.

but gotta make sure the links flex and are not too tight and then,
how do they go back on as one piece?
would hafta loosen one of the sprockets somehow or run the axle forward
to be able to get it on both sprockets.

Do the chain breaking tools just break them ? or do they also peen over
new links too. idk

What kind of machine?

edit:
I know that most circlips and snap rings are punched out and usually have a rounded
side and a superflat sharp flat side that I usually put towards the outside.
They say it doesn't matter but physics is physics.
Are you using fresh master links?

is there grass and mud up inside your front sprocket that rubs on the chain as it passes through?

almost gotta be a good reason it's falling off.

Please keep us posted.

[El Camexican]

You can safety wire the clips on as well

[1984 honda 200s]

Yes its exactly what it is, its mud and grit pileing up in the front sprocket causing the circlip to bend and fall off.
The chain breaker tool only pushes the link pin out, it doesnt rivet the end.
What i usually do is when the chain stretches, you only have about 2'' to play with, stretched more the chain is to loose.
So what i do is take a grinder and take a link out then put the master link back in with the clip and its golden BUT somehow the clip falls out as so with the backing plate and there goes the link itself.
So what i did today was install the chain, put the link and backing plate on and use a hammer on each side of the link and mushroom the ends of the link, just like riveting. I did this thismorning and been riding all day with good results. chain hasnt come off at all and is still in tact...

[just ben]

and yes the open part of the clip faces towards the rear sprocket when trike is in forward motion....
theres your problem. in the 25 years I have been riding bikes,trikes and quads I have never had a clip come off

[4x4van]

I, also, have never had a clip come off, riding & racing motorcycles, trikes, quads since the early 70's. Granted, I seldom ride in muddy conditions, but regardless of mud build-up, if the clip is installed correctly, it shouldn't be coming off. Period.

A new chain with a new master link & clip should not come apart, regardless of conditions, if it is installed correctly, and if the sprockets are in good condition and alignment. But if your chain has stretched so much that you need to remove a link to correctly adjust it, then your chain is worn out and needs to be replaced, and so do your sprockets, because they are also worn out.

Any time a chain is replaced because of wear/stretch, the sprockets should be replaced as well, since a stretched chain will have worn the sprockets so that those sprockets will in turn quickly wear out a new chain. Not replacing them as a set is like spitting in the wind. And that may in fact be your underlying problem.

[Scootertrash]

Originally Posted by 1984 honda 200s View Post
and yes the open part of the clip faces towards the rear sprocket when trike is in forward motion....


theres your problem. in the 25 years I have been riding bikes,trikes and quads I have never had a clip come off

Depends on if the master link is on the top or the bottom in reference to the sprockets. If the master link is on top the opening should be facing the rear. If it's on the bottom it should be facing the front.

If you envision the chain rotating, You want anything that may hit the clip on the master link to be hitting the closed end of the clip as the chain rotates.

As I and others have said, aside from really worn sprockets, worn chain, or bad alignment, your mastelink clip should not come off. Some say you should use a new ML once you remove the clip since they can become tweaked when you remove it, I have reused the clips occasionally and never had a problem, but I'm careful when I remove them.

[1984 honda 200s]

Yes it does need sprockets and a chain, but right now its fine, chain is tight...
The clip opening faces the rear when in forward motion, its set right i only own a crf dirtbike, never had a chain come off, only on my honda trike... it must be time to replace all.

[fabiodriven]

theres your problem. in the 25 years I have been riding bikes,trikes and quads I have never had a clip come off

x2. I've never, ever had a master link come off in 20 years of riding.

In your last post you said it might just be time for a whole new chain/sprocket setup. I'd have to second that.

[El Camexican]

Yes it does need sprockets and a chain, but right now its fine, chain is tight...
The clip opening faces the rear when in forward motion, its set right i only own a crf dirtbike, never had a chain come off, only on my honda trike... it must be time to replace all.

Keep in mind that "tight" is not that important unless you are drag racing a solid axle 100+ hp vehicle. In fact over tightening a chain is the fastest way to wear it out. The way you check a chain’s condition is to pull it away from the rear sprocket. Right in the center, as far away from the axle as possible. It should not pull away from the sprocket more than about 1/8”.
A few other things:
-On a suspended vehicle make sure you check that when the front and rear axle are at their furthest point away from each other the chain still has a little up and down play in it or you will wear it, the sprockets and your bearings prematurely
- On a solid axle vehicle you and should run the chain pretty tight.
- You should consider your chains and sprockets as a one part component and change the works at the same time
- Never reuse a clip, buy a couple spares when you buy your chain and make sure you label them as mixing brands is not an option
- Good chains cost money, at least $80 bucks,

[1984 honda 200s]

LOL i knew that !, Ive got about 1'' of play in the chain, just like a motorcycle would. Thats what i was referring to as ''tight''..
I'll just buy a new set of sprockets and chain, no big deal anymore... i was just in a jam for a day lol

[El Camexican]

LOL i knew that !, Ive got about 1'' of play in the chain, just like a motorcycle would. Thats what i was referring to as ''tight''..
I'll just buy a new set of sprockets and chain, no big deal anymore... i was just in a jam for a day lol

Get a good set, O-ring chain and steel sprockets.