How to Fix a Broken Bike Chain

This video shows step by step how to repair a broken bicycle chain. This is an important skill to get you back home if this occurs out on a ride. The repair shown here applies to road, gravel and mountain bikes.

[@freddysorangepill8123]

Thank you so much Mr. Gibbs I repaired my chain on the road 20miles from home!! Chicago IL it was so windy tonight! 26 degrees! You got me home pal!!!

[@workingmothercatlover6699]

I am so glad you did this video. My autistic son has a 3 wheel bike. It has a front chain and a rear chain. The rear chain is nearly broken. Now I know how to fix it before the weather turns to winter. Thank you.

[@workingmothercatlover6699]

It worked! I fixed it! Woohoo!

[@markmcgovern5371]

Hey Clint, I enjoy your channel. I am a long time mechanic and this is a great video for trail side repairs. Be sure to replace the pin you used to install chain back on bike with a new drive pin or a new master link. Most of 9,10,11 and 12 speed chain pins are peened on the end for better retention. The snap you feel when pushing the pin out of the chain is that material flared out from peening. Without that material on there when you reinstall the pin it is more likely to pull through the side plate again in the future. Some single speed and early index chains were not peened so you can push the pics in and out with no worries. Just some helpful info I hope. Thanks for the videos and Enjoy the Ride!!

[@rogervonschleusingen4603]

THANK-YOU FOR THE TIP !!

[@benjagomez4824]

Awesome Tip

[@bobbyhempel1513]

If you have a quick link you can just remove the wide link and use the quick link so as not to make the chain to short. PS don't use the bell brand chain tool from Walmart the pin will brake before the link pin moves. As usual good information and well made video. Thanks Clint

[@mustangjosh94]

Bobby Hempel I always carry a spare quick link in my bag for this reason. I’ve found it to be more reliable as a temporary fix.

[@sistercalhoun4444]

Bobby Hempel What store can I buy the tool?

[@fireman6182]

Absolute easiest bike repair video I've ever watched!

[@broadcasttttable]

Did this for the first time today, following your video. Went to a bike shop and they told me the chain tool they used was only one of "three in the country." Seriously. WTF. I asked how much for one and they said if I found one online it'd cost me between 50-100 bucks. So I "no thanked" 'em went home and found one on ebay for 10 bucks, free shipping. Got here amazingly quick for a free-shipped item (3 days), made of plastic and steel, certainly not heavy duty but did the job. Followed your instructions, and it turned out great. Really liked your tip about not taking the pin all the way out of the link. Thanks!

[@ClintGibbs]

Nice

[@broadcasttttable]

@@ClintGibbs Appreciate the prompt reply...thanks.

[@TropicalZooms]

Thank you. I just followed this video step by step and fixed my broken chain. 😃👍🚴‍♂️🚴‍♂️

[@Theallterraindude]

The other thing you have to be careful with is when you're riding the bike back, don't ride hard and try not to shift into your lowest gear. The chain is shorter so it will stretch the derailleur possibly to its Max or Beyond. This could possibly end up damaging your derailleur. Lots of information in this video, good job dude!

[@AaronSchroder]

That's what narrow wide means. Great to learn new stuff. I had my chain off the other day and had no idea if I had a narrow wide or not. I had better check. Thanks for the video Clint.

[@Kitz025]

That's exactly what I wanted to learn .

[@lmac36]

Thank you so very much for a great explanation! Super easy to do to my Grandson’s bike chain after I watched your step by step tutorial! 👍

[@balinsteenkampcpt8985]

Very helpful clip. Thanks

[@banner67b]

great video. I have learned from replacing many chains. The new thing I learned that I hadn't even thought about was dealing with a narrow-wide chain ring. Going to look now. Well, I do have narrow wide. I never paid attention to that. Thanks for the video and teaching an old dog a new trick.

[@davidparsons6517]

Well done as usual on your channel. Easy to see and great clear and understanding vocabulary.

[@pablodelvalle6181]

Thanks Clint, it has been a while for me so your video helped me get the old MB-1 back on the trail.

[@nikhilgurjar9355]

Nikhil gurjar

[@markortiz104]

Hey Clint, nice job explaining step by step

[@christianlopez6560]

Nice tutorial, your kid is so funny !

[@carlospiso]

Wonderful explanation! It's like I never had any doubt before !

[@mjjohn7715]

Good video!Going to buy a multi tool so I can repair a chain if need to. Thanks Clint

[@greenbills9545]

Great and very useful explanation. Cheers from spain.

[@JFRides]

This is super helpful info thanks Clint!

[@divinemoment5]

Great video. I'm changing to a much smaller chainring, so the current chain will hv quite a few spare. Is it better to use quicklink to join up or use back the original chain to join, ie exactly like your vid. Tks lots.

[@bhridergamingff2286]

Good video good knowledge of bicycle chain repairing of thank a lot of sir.

[@benjagomez4824]

Txs a Lot !!

[@ggammel]

Thank for posting. God job.

[@tito10705]

Thanks for your video. Was really helpful

[@elpina587]

Thanks for the helpful videos

[@kmtb2011]

Dude your a fooking legend. My chain snapped, inserted another pinbut chain link was very stiff, thought it was damaged checked 3 vidoes online and never shown how to loosen the chain by bending the link apart from your video

[@ClintGibbs]

👍

[@Pentazimyn28]

Very helpful! Thank you!

[@johnvu6560]

Awesome tutorial 👍

[@glennoc8585]

If you use a hollow pin chain you can thread through electric fuse wire, the heavy amp stuff. It's really just a field repair tip. I just put a length in.my tool seat bag.as I don't carry a chain too for road riding. I also religiously change my chains at set intervals.

[@arnoldpatriciovlogs8505]

Nice video

[@hanfanhaizasvlog2658]

Thank you

[@ivankang4599]

Do u just use a really small alan key to loosen up the link bolt

[@algmusicuk]

Really helpful

[@user-dz6lv8eg9s]

Thank you thats much help me

[@DryBowser4523]

Umm I know this sounds a bit stupid but what is stopping you from bending the link back to being semi straight as a temporary fix?

[@FlyingFun.]

I've done this in the distant past and it worked fine, I didn't even have any tools ( only tools I carried were 2 spoons to get tyre off , puncture repair kit and pump ), I just sqeased it together and hit it with a rock lol, it carried on working for years without doing anything else.

[@1968196859]

thanks Clint

[@th_js]

Merry chrismas! ⭐☃️

[@Theallterraindude]

Also having an extra quick link can make this process a slight bit faster.

for longer tours... is it better to have an extra chain or would extra chain links be enough?

[@ClintGibbs]

+Matías Guzmán Naranjo yes, for a very long tour, like multiple days, then it would be wise to carry an extra chain.

[@connieback7577]

Thanks! That was presented very clearly and was exactly the info I needed. Did you get the pin out far enough in 3 tries or was that an edit? I’ve not had to repair a broken chain yet but I expect getting that pin just so will be a bit tricky.

[@ClintGibbs]

Can't remember but it's usually three or four.

[@bikesbeardsbeers94]

Great video! Hope I never really need this but it's a great skill to know. Crazy to see an old Trek like that 8 series in your garage when you usually have those nice bikes in the stand! New project for the channel or just an old bike?

[@ClintGibbs]

+christopher.unruh that's my son's bike... About to outgrow it!

[@benbenben1241]

Bravo

[@potbelliedfool]

Clint, what is the chain tool you're using -the one with the blue handle? All I ever see commercially available are hopelessly small ineffectual ones that hurt my hands..the one you have looks like the business. Got a lot of good insights from the film BTW.

[@ClintGibbs]

Park CTE 3.2

[@potbelliedfool]

Many thanks-

[@Kitz025]

Sir, so after joining the chain without the damaged missing link the shifting will be limited?

[@ClintGibbs]

You may just not be able to shift into the largest cog in the back.

[@Kitz025]

@@ClintGibbs Thanks a lot Clint very helpful for my daily bike to work.

[@parasuramubachammanavar6975]

Great

[@Duraltia]

I guess I'm a little bit of a wuss when it comes to strength in my hands so the last time I tried to lengthen a chain with one of those pocket tools at home I quickly found out that without the use of a pipe wrench for more leverage I wasn't able to either break or connect the chain - At least not while the chain was still or back on the bike. Now... With the chain obviously already broken and lying on the field breaking another link wouldn't be an issue as I could simply step on the part of the chain tool that would otherwise require more leverage which leaves us with reconnecting the link once it's back on the bike where - IMHO - I think the ease of use of a spare Quicklink would most likely shine. So instead of breaking away the whole narrow-wide portion ( a whole segment ), I suggest you only break the most likely broken wide portion ( half a segment ) leaving the narrow portion as is and only replace the now missing wide one with the Quicklink.

[@mtadams2009]

Nice video, thanks

[@sistercalhoun4444]

What local store can I by a that tool? Without ordering it online.

[@ClintGibbs]

It's going to have to be a bike shop. It's a specialty item so you're not going to find it at another store I don't believe

[@BhanuPartap-zl3eg]

Nice 🙏🙏🗡️👌🗡️💯🙏🙏

[@leonb9480]

The chain become shorter. Would it still work?

[@ClintGibbs]

Yes it will be shorter but it will get you out of the woods. You just can't use your lowest gear.

[@juwariaimam2937]

How to make chain maker at home?

[@vijisatheesh4025]

How' to by this chain

[@gerryokeefe12]

If I have to fix the chain to get home, does the chain need to be replaced before I do a serious ride?

[@ClintGibbs]

I would definitely replace it

[@amarjyothi1990]

👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

[@hoppy760]

Don’t you need to add a link since one was removed?

[@ClintGibbs]

That's what I discuss from :33 to 1:00

[@bobannedumpara6759]

what to do if we don t have chain breaker

[@ClintGibbs]

Very difficult to do without a chain breaker. The only thing that you could possibly do on a ride is try to bang the pin back in with a rock. But that is very difficult.

[@chilly3528]

Is it unsafe to ride with a broken chain link like that?

[@ClintGibbs]

Not after you repair it

[@nightfrost2437]

How did he know to take that one off??? There is no master link

[@user-dz6lv8eg9s]

I dont have the chain breaker so how can i fxd up

[@ClintGibbs]

I don't see how you could fix a chain without a chain tool. Many cycling multi tools have one built in.

[@user-dz6lv8eg9s]

@@ClintGibbs no , when i get my bike there'sant any tool , yesterday i just broke my bike's chain and i hate my self without my bike i ill try to broke it hit it by stone .. anyway thank you bro√

[@ClintGibbs]

Shamma saiv Well, I wish there was a way I could send you a multi tool right now! Any bike shops nearby?

[@user-dz6lv8eg9s]

@@ClintGibbs oww! That's a sweet of you.. thank you thank you thank you ... No no there's no any shops around hahaha , dont worry i Will fix it without a tool .. umm i was wondering if i can get your Instagram account so i follow you there .. much closer to good people like you CLINT.

[@ClintGibbs]

@@user-dz6lv8eg9s @clintg37

[@minidini10]

Did you have a helper during this video? There's a weird movement at 6:15. Edit: Oh wait. Just saw him at the end of the video.

[@ClintGibbs]

+minidini10 yep

[@utsavtayaamitzood1157]

Cycle ci chan ma pataca castro baja ga

[@mikieson]

QUESTION for you Clint..When shopping for a chain,WHY does it matter what speed you get as long as its long enough? like say you have a 1x8 drivetrain..Can you buy a 12 speed chain and just make it fit by taking links out? It seems something so simple as a chain appears to be so difficult to figure out. AND what does it matter who makes the chain? Doe they all work on all bikes? Just seems like you need to know a lot just to buy a chain..Thanks for any help ..

[@esj200vs]

It's not about the length of the chain. For example a 12 speed chain will be very narrow/thin, whereas 7,8,9 speed chains are much thicker/wider

[@ClintGibbs]

+mikieson different speed cassettes require different width chains. Generally the chains will fit other brands. I know that Shimano says that you should only use their chains but I've used SRAM chains on Shimano drivetrains with no issues. I like KMC chains because they last a long time.

[@mikieson]

ok..so its more about width..

[@mikieson]

ok..i got it..so always buy something closest to what you have gear wise..because of width more then length..I guess that makes sense..Thanks

[@cardboardguy1444]

I broke my clutch chain on my mini bike..... good thing i wasn't far from my house

[@duncankruger7957]

Lol my link snaped in half tho!!

[@7Earthsky]

Don't push the pin completely out.....Well that will explain why i've had no luck pushing it back in for the last hour....Little things they don't mention in all the so call ''professional videos'' on the subject.

[@ClintGibbs]

You can get it back in but it usually takes another set of hands with a pair of needle nose pliers holding it in place.

[@derekwilken9398]

I have a question,yesterday I have taken the Canadian Tire Chain Tool and put the chain on the Tool and I accidently pushed the pin out of the chain,how do you suppose I would easily and safely put the pin back in ? I've tried to put the pin in and tap it with a hammer and then slowly put the chain on the tool that so the pin won't move out of that spot and I just wind the tool pin to match the pin on the chain like you said but,the pin moved out of line of the tool pin to push it back in the chain.Thank's for the detailed step by step Clint!!!!

[@ClintGibbs]

I think you will have to shorten your chain by one link, or buy a new chain. Shimano used to include a pointed starter pin, so maybe see if your local shop has one. But I don’t know if they are available separate from a new chain.

[@sandeeppatnashetti6624]

Dsslsse84fh

[@jasmats]

Mines came all the way out

[@manishapatil7069]

😄

[@SexyBulldozerMan]

none of these videos help, i got the chain tool, i removed the damaged one, added the new one but i cant lock it.

[@ClintGibbs]

Did you add a quick link? If so you have to put the quick link between the cassette and the front chain ring at the top and step hard on the cranks.

[@DesmondErvin]

Waste of $70 don’t buy a bike from a pawn shop smh

[@hasnainshaikh4907]

Yfcbbv

[@uwhatlv]

i bet my pocketbike broke the chain

[@tranquilitychoas8847]

Why didnt you explain what to do if the pin comes out. Pretty useless tutorial.