Is bigger BETTER? Chain breaker FACEOFF

[@Stmp1994]

Great video and does a good job of showing the basics for a tool that all cyclist should own. Gets right to the point without a lot of fluff and hokey background music. I have a CT-5 in my toolbox that I have owned for so long, I honestly can not remember when I purchased it. It works as good now as the day I bought it and easily fits into the top drawer of the small toolbox I keep in my truck. I do want to bring up one situation I recently discovered where the CT-5 does not work very well. I own two singlespeed mountain bikes and have always used a standard 3/32" 8-speed chain, with the KMC X8 Silver being my go-to. The CT-5 tool has always worked great on these, but recently needing a new chain, I decided to try a chain that a fellow singlespeeder highly recommended, the KMC K1SL. A dedicated 3/32" singlespeed chain, I found that it has much thicker sideplates than your 3/32" typical chain designed for geared drivetrains. The CT-5 tool has two fixed support points for a 1/8" chain and a 3/32" chain. I found that the thicker plates on the singlespeed chain would not let it fit into the space for the narrower chains. Look at time 1:53 on the video and observe how the chain is is held in place in the tool. The chain I am using, as well as some other dedicated 3/32" singlespeed chains, will not fit into this spot and while it will fit into the 1/8" spot, there is no support on the outside plate as the pin is pushed through, bending it out enough to damage the chain. Not a problem if you are just removing an old chain, but when breaking a new chain to get the proper length for installation, it is not what you want. I bought a new CT-3.3 tool and the floating shelf, which is the same as on the CT-3.2 version in the video, compensates for the different thickness in the chain and works fine. Definitely a nice tool and to me, when you figure in that it should last a lifetime and how much easier it is to use, makes it worth the additional cost over the smaller tool.

[@onelastlap9302]

Enjoyed reading your comment, thanks for sharing, and glad you liked the video! Ya, the floating shelf is a good feature, and I believe also it is replaceable (if in some case it breaks). Makes chain breaking a no headache operation 👍

[@june8236]

Exactly that I was looking for. Thanks for the video! Very helplful.

[@onelastlap9302]

That’s great, glad it helped you!

[@_Ciiitron_]

Thank you! This was exactly the comparison I was looking for. I think I will go with the CT-5 because it's also small enough to take on a ride.

[@onelastlap9302]

Great, glad we could help 🙂

[@runningsig]

I have both tools, and both tools have their place. Someone on a budget can certainly get by with a CT-5, but I find it even more valuable to throw in the saddle bag for on-the-ride repairs. The CT-3.2 is great for when working at home.

[@onelastlap9302]

My thoughts exactly as well! I still use the smaller one for travel and on the go, but the larger tool is my at home fave. Thanks for sharing your experience 😊

[@runningsig]

@@onelastlap9302 Even more rewarding when a tool in the saddle bag like the CT-5 saves somebody else's ride.

[@holdentrout7193]

Thanks for the great comparison! I noticed when you were using the CT-5 you had the sliding handle distributed 50/50 similar to the handle on the CT-3.2. If you slide it so the full length is all to one side you should have a bit more leverage. I have the CT-5 but I hope to own a CT-3.3 someday, so the mini can stay in my seat bag permanently.

[@onelastlap9302]

Glad you liked it! Ah, good point with the handle, I feel like I loose a bit of accuracy though when leveraging the handle like that, but I’ll give that another try next time I use the CT-5 👌

[@helidude3502]

A little piece of hose, or the body of a bic pen could relieve the pressure on the fingers using the smaller tool. Carry it with you, or find something laying about roadside. I’m fine with it as is myself.

[@onelastlap9302]

Cool idea, ya it’s a good little tool. For workshop level use though, the larger tool is much better to use on regular basis

[@GokkunGuru]

I like the larger tool. I get more leverage so it’s easier to push the pin out. The downside is it’s larger. I have both. I keep the larger one in my toolbox and the smaller one in my hip pack for potential trail side repairs.

[@onelastlap9302]

Great way to describe it, I’ve pretty much done the same thing myself…use the smaller one for travel big one for shop

[@michaelcawley7400]

I had the 3.2 and just upgraded to the abbey and dam it’s not that big of an upgrade over the 3.2 but it just feels so much firmer and more comfortable in the hand that I prefer it plus with plates swaps it can do flat top and single speed chains or screw in the pin that is stored in the base and you can pein campy chains something that nether of those chain tools can do

[@onelastlap9302]

Abbey tools are another level of 😍. I’ve only heard amazing things about their chain tool, but never actually used one myself. Been happy enough with the 3.2…for now haha

[@michaelcawley7400]

It’s a curse of dam it’s super nice and hard to leave behind once you try it

[@raymondchew8894]

I prefer the sturdy bigger CT 3.2.

[@onelastlap9302]

Ya, it’s a really nice tool if you’re doing a lot of chain breaking. Much preferred by me as well!

[@richierich7113]

hey man, i just bought the ct 3.3 yesterday, is it better than 3.2? do you also have a video about 3.3? that would be awesome man, because i dont want to do anything wrong and break that shit because it is damn expensive

[@onelastlap9302]

Hey, the 3.3 is pretty much the exact same, except park tool says it is also compatible with sram 12 speed and campagnolo 13 speed (3.2 was released before these existed). That’s about it, it’s a solid tool, I use mine all the time, and it’s still going strong

[@richierich7113]

@@onelastlap9302 hey man, my 3.3 just arrived yesteday, and i tested it, it is very good, finally a good chain breaker

[@onelastlap9302]

@@richierich7113 awesome 👍. I used mine today too, very solid tool that just keeps going

[@JacksonShiptoskiMusic]

The CT-5 is junk. Used it for years on and off Broke a tab and park tool refused to warranty it. Sad when duch axlarge company refuses to warranty a clearky defective tool that's a cheap tool. How do you have faith to keep purchasing tools from this company after years of loyalty when they eont even honor their warrabty on such a small tool. Hod firbid ut was the failure of a truing stand or something else that has a high dollar price tag!

[@onelastlap9302]

Huh, what was their rational for no warranty? I’m not sure their warranty policy, but curious the reasoning they gave?