Bikepacking Chain Repair & Maintenance

[@JeffCowan]

This video has a nice mix of chain hacks/repairs, a few of which I have had to use, but you wont see elsewhere. Having some skill with pushing pins half way out and back in, installing/removing quick links etc is something people should practice at home on an old chain to get the hang of. Also try it with your on-bike tools so you're not figuring it out under duress.

[@kv7005]

Good information. Thank you, we'll done.

[@epzamora]

The tight links upon rebuilding you show at 13:45 can be remedied by using the chain tool's second row of "braces," and just tightening the tool a smidgeon, flipping it, and tightening again. Just enough to loosen the links a tad but not push the pin much overall. Something I learned 30 years ago and just showed to my buddy a month ago. He used to wrench in a good bike shop but was unaware of that technique. Yay me.

[@chrisblacklock9468]

Good video that highlights why you need all this stuff on the bike! I've broken lots of chains and ripped my fair share of derailleurs off! One trick I did that seemed to work well, was when changing the system over to a single speed (I broke 2 hangers during a long and stupidly muddy race) was to set it all up like you showed, then start to force the chain up to the next cog and then use the pedal to force it around the rest of the way...it will be very tight, but still rotate. The benefit being it's really stuck on that gear and can't get off, no matter how hard you push up hills etc. The downside was needing to hacksaw off the chain when your home! No way that sucker was coming off normally! I suspect this method won't work on everything, but I've made it work a couple of times so far and it got me out with no trouble.

[@lebanc571]

For the first technique to check your chain you should show the difference between a new chain and an old chain so someone can better gauge how worn their chain might be without the tool.

[@GeekonaBike]

Before chain checkers we used a 12" ruler, it lines up on two pin centers on a new chain. Calc the distance beyond 12" to get the percentage of stretch.

[@BIKEPACKINGcom]

Old school, Mike! You the man.

[@SteveFullerBikes]

The 60fps threw me for a loop. It's like Neil is in my house!

[@amineroadbikerider1504]

This was really helpful thanks man

[@milesarbour2210]

Very informative video, Neil. Thanks dude!

[@robertjackson2069]

good video thanks for sharing

[@mhargler]

Well done!

[@stevie.trlgeo.b]

Great stuff! Thank you!

[@rogervancleave8670]

Good video. Thanks.

[@nendinosaurus]

Great video! Too bad the chain tool from the Topeak Alien III mutitool is not available to buy separately

[@Biketouring]

Enjoyed the video! Keep it up :)

[@BenzoVodka]

how do you clean or treat your chain while multi-day bikepacking, especially after a rainy day?

[@BIKEPACKINGcom]

I will carry a rag on multi-day trips that are very remote, other times, I'll look for a road side litter, such as a rag or t-shirt when I'm in more of a front-country setting. The big thing for me is not necessary cleaning my chain but making sure it is lubed, chains get dirty, sometimes you can't help that, but you can lubricate them.

[@patrickenglish9593]

great video-thank you. I am familiar with the concept of most of those tips adn tricks but never seen them demonstrated so clearly so this was a great help. One question if I amy. At one point you pull a wire double ended hook from the Alien multi tool and hitch your chain up-I’ve always wondered what this bit of the tool is meant to do? thanks again

[@jessetamez7362]

It’s purpose is to hold both sides of the chain while allowing the ends to hang loose so it is easier to install the quick link.

[@patrickenglish9593]

@@jessetamez7362 thank you

[@Liljoozy]

Is your method for procuring lengths of chain for your toolkit simply to buy a new chain and butcher it down into parts? Or do you use pieces of an old one?

[@swray2112]

If you carry a spare spoke like I do, you can bend it into a u-shape, put it through the chain on either side of the quick link & squeeze with pliers or hands if you don’t have a specialized tool like the Wolftooth. If you squeeze the quick link together it won’t require as much pressure to release.

[@benboo6351]

Toothbrush ftw. On multi day trips I carry an old toothbrush. Rotate the pedals backwards and brush just ahead of the rear derailleur, then lube the chain as usual. I've been on 1000km tours and this was enough of a clean. This from someone who at home will readily take chains off & soak them in paint thinner.

[@Liljoozy]

While it's obvious that the Wolf Tooth pliers would be helpful to close a master link if you are repairing a broken chain, in what scenario would you want to use it to take off a master link that is already installed?

[@db_cooper3941]

Nice tutorial. Slightly off topic...Ebikes, with all that extra torque, eat chains pretty quickly and failures tend to be pretty ugly. Anyone riding ebike far from home should be familiar with the tips you demonstrate. Did you ever consider carrying a chain tensioner on your bikepacking trips to help with emergency single speed setup?

[@tenminutetokyo2643]

Thanks for not shouting.

[@jpeg1000]

🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆

[@daniels6554]

Question, with what must be an obvious answer, but I’m slow; why do you need the quick link wrench to remove your old quick link? Couldn’t you just break the chain anywhere and install your quick links rather than replacing the quick link?

[@BIKEPACKINGcom]

Yep, you certainly can do that. I think sometimes it's nice to have the chain off the bike if you need to make repairs to the bike or chain, so having the ability to break the quick link is nice to know how to do.

[@morshed492]

I almost got smashed by a truck because of my chain failing. :') Man! that really made me worried about chain failing whenever I stand and pedal hard :'))

[@t.j.henderson1234]

having to break the power link with your bare hands is not fun

[@SnootchieBootchies27]

The 0.5 and 0.75 are not out of 100. They are out of 1. So, the 0.5 is 50% worn. If you could check a chain to very fine detail, you would find that most new chains would appear to be worn to about 5% right off the bat. The dial guages give a better detail. A chain that is only worn to 25% or less is worth swapping out preemptively. After 30-35%, for best performance/to keep yourself from going crazy, it's often best to run the whole drivetrain as a team, then replace everything at 65-70%. At 80-100%, your drivetrain is basically garbage.

[@danmitchell3758]

Good information, but talking field repair while working on a bike stand? Who would hav that in the field🤔

[@donaldkane9054]

It's for demo purposes.... Jeez ... yeah, let's do it in the dark , during a storm, laying in a muddy field 😂

[@peruvian05152]

Sorry but between the poor auto focus and a quick edit or two, the instruction for how to break a chain is not very clear and you may want to upload a new vid with just those steps.

[@trev8233]

There's hundreds of videos on KZbin on how to break a chain.... The overall message of this video, how to maintain a chain in the backcountry, was well described imo. Well done bikepacking.com!