Topic: Circlip for motorcycle chain?

[70CB750]

Here is an idea. How about using two circlips to secure connecting link on a chain.

I dare to say it would never fail, unlike the regular clip.  And if one fails, the second one would be more than capable to hold the chain together.

What do you think?

[dave500]

tiny circlips?

[70CB750]

tiny circlips?

Yes, one for each pin.

Pipedream, eh?

[dave500]

could be good,ive only ever seen mini "E" clips though

[70CB750]

Looks like they are from 3mm up.

But i would think the grove will be different too.

[70CB750]

Looks like Mercedes uses (sometimes) two circlips on timing chain.

Nihil novi sub sole

[lrutt]

I supposed but you could also just make darn sure it's in the right direction and fully seated. Do not over spring the clip so it loses grip. And whatever you do, only use the exact clip and link designed for the chain you have. Different brands and models of chains can have slightly different dimensions and some combinations just DON"T fit or fit lose.

[strynboen]

just lockteit the clip klean it carefull before put it on...and heat it before try opning..then the lockteits gets soft..and dont fill it inside the chain

[bjbuchanan]

I have considered small checkups too, not really an appreciable amount of side load on them. I think they would do the job well, just have to have correct pin sizing. Not gonna try it but from an engineering standpoint they serve the same function

[PeWe]

Clip worked fine as it was on my bike back in the 80's.
First chains from the end of 70's had rather loose fit. Later sideplates needed a plier to squeeze it on the master link. The outer clip extra secuirity.

From last year during the restore I bought a rivet link, solid type. Real PITA! Expensive tool for cut and riveting. Sideplate really hard to mount, need a tool to for it. Riveting the solid link, tool from WHALE, hammer the rivet. Chain is one of the toughest out there DC chains 530 MZX-G

If something wrong, it must be broken. After I finally had managed to rivet it I found an x-ring on the floor. Break the just done link and, used spare master link and did it again with all 4 x-rings correctly placed.

No, master link with clip is much easier.

[KiefRichards]

$17, Super expensive. lol.
Sideplate tool <$5

http://www.harborfreight.com/heavy-duty-chain-breaker-66488.html

[Retro Rocket]

$17, Super expensive. lol.
Sideplate tool <$5

http://www.harborfreight.com/heavy-duty-chain-breaker-66488.html

Keif, we don't all live in the US mate... Pewe is from Sweden, also, my chain breaker is more complex than that one and was also more expensive   

[KiefRichards]

$17, Super expensive. lol.
Sideplate tool <$5

http://www.harborfreight.com/heavy-duty-chain-breaker-66488.html

Keif, we don't all live in the US mate... Pewe is from Sweden, also, my chain breaker is more complex than that one and was also more expensive   

....just a little friendly teasing; no offence meant.
But seriously, riveted links are easy once you've done it a couple of times. My cheap tool works fine, too.
I forget others don't have the access to cheap parts/tools like here in the US.  Yeah, I'm a little ethnocentric, at times, lol.

[Retro Rocket]

$17, Super expensive. lol.
Sideplate tool <$5

http://www.harborfreight.com/heavy-duty-chain-breaker-66488.html

Keif, we don't all live in the US mate... Pewe is from Sweden, also, my chain breaker is more complex than that one and was also more expensive   

....just a little friendly teasing; no offence meant.
But seriously, riveted links are easy once you've done it a couple of times. My cheap tool works fine, too.
I forget others don't have the access to cheap parts/tools like here in the US.  Yeah, I'm a little ethnocentric, at times, lol.

Cool, Mine clamps the chain differently from yours but at the end of the day, they all do the same job, well, that probably depends on who's using it....lol 

[KiefRichards]

Now that you mention it, I do have to use an old plate on the back when I dimple the rivets, or it pushes the pins too far and binds the chain.
Maybe my chain tool sucks, afterall.
Haha.

[ekpent]

Now that you mention it, I do have to use an old plate on the back when I dimple the rivets, or it pushes the pins too far and binds the chain.
Maybe my chain tool sucks, afterall.
Haha.

It is from Harbor Freight ---   

[dave500]

I had a really cool and old heavy duty "Reynolds chain" breaker,it disappeared?

[Retro Rocket]

I had a really cool and old heavy duty "Reynolds chain" breaker,it disappeared?

I'll check what brand mine is, its over 30 years old...

[dave500]

it must be mine then?i lost it years ago though.

[Wobbly]

Honda equipped my K7, just like the F2, with an endless chain. I never thought that it would be too outlandish to replace it with just that when needed. To remove the swing arm only takes me a moment (the exhaust does not have to be removed), and it is a good opportunity to clean hard to reach areas. Nor is it too demanding for me to do so about every two years. No clips, no riveting, no whining. Works for me.

[PeWe]

$17, Super expensive. lol.
Sideplate tool <$5

http://www.harborfreight.com/heavy-duty-chain-breaker-66488.html

I was not very clear....
Show me how you rivet a solid link with that tool.  Or a cheap tool doing the job...
Breaking the chain can I do with a grinding tool (drilling machine)  and hammer with a mandrel as I did first time when cutting chain from 104 to 100 links

The tool needed is a riveting tool. Breaking chain is extra bonus, not mandatory.
http://www.motorcycle-road-and-race.co.uk/images/whale-cbt480r-large.jpg
Most cheap riveting tools are made for hollow links. Like the  "Riveter KM500 Style" that cannot rivet solid links. I tried and it broke.

[70CB750]

I like the idea of two round circlips, but quick check with caliper shows the long circlip is thicker.

[lrutt]

Very few things worse than trying to use a CHEAP chain riveting tool. My son had a cheapo one and it just farked up the rivets. POS. Some old axioms always hold true:

- You get what you pay for
- do it right or do it over

[cougar]

70CB750 ; Personally I like the idea of 2 small C-clips and your logic of "if one fails, the second one would be more than capable to hold the chain together" ! ! I think it would look cool as well to anyone who looked hard enough to notice ! I'ld just have to make sure a few particulars were right first.
1.CORRECT size clip for the pin.(thickness of slot and diameter)
2.Facing the correct direction. Oriented to direction of travel. (as mentioned by "Irutt")
3.With the correct side facing out (IMHO). Clips are stamped metal, that means they will have a sharp edge on one side and a rounded edge on the other side. That being said, I believe the rounded edge should fit facing the side plate. This would be so the (sharp) edge doesn't catch/hang on the side plate possibly causing it to work itself off while the chain is pivoting on the pins.

I think that's all, LOL ! ...cougar...

[dave500]

some people seem to over stretch the normal clip fitting it,when you buy a chain get a spare link so when its been removed and replaced a couple of times you can use the fresh tight clip,this fitting procedure causes the least stretch and distortion to the clip.