How to Fix a Broken Bicycle Chain On-The-Go, by Park Tool on YouTube. 7 min 43 s.
- Video length
- 7 min 43 s
- Time to do it
- 20 minutes
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Steps
- 9
What you need
Steps
Get off the road and find a safe, flat spot. Shift the chain onto the smallest chainring and smallest rear cog to take tension off the chain.
Wipe the broken area with a rag so you can see the plates and pins clearly. Look for the bent or snapped outer plate.
Push the damaged pin out with your chain tool. Seat the chain in the tool's cradle and turn the handle slowly until the pin clears the plates.
Remove the broken link and any twisted plates. Keep the rest of the chain clean and straight so the new join lines up.
If you use a connecting rivet, insert it through both end plates and drive it home with the chain tool. Snap off the guide pin as the maker instructs.
If you use a master link, thread the two ends together and press the link halves on. Pull the chain to seat the pins in the narrow slots.
Check the join. The link should flex freely and the pin should sit flush on both sides. A stiff link will skip, so work it loose by hand.
Lift the rear wheel and turn the cranks to feed the chain through the derailleur. Make sure it runs on the cogs and not off the side.
Lube the new join and wipe off excess. Check the rest of the chain for other bent links before you ride off.
Tips and common mistakes
Carry a chain tool and a spare master link that match your chain speed, since an 11-speed link will not fit a 9-speed chain.
Push the pin only as far as needed. Driving it fully out of the outer plate makes the chain hard to rejoin.
A stiff link after joining causes skipping. Flex it side to side by hand until it moves freely.
Never ride with a chain joined by a partly pushed pin. It can fail under load.
Questions
Can I fix a chain without a chain tool?
Only if you have a master link and the broken link can be removed by hand. A snapped pin usually needs a chain tool to push out and rejoin.
How do I know which master link to buy?
Match it to your chain's speed and brand. A 10-speed chain needs a 10-speed link, and some brands use their own reusable or one-time links.
Should I replace the chain after a roadside fix?
A connecting rivet or master link is a proper repair, so you can keep riding. Replace the chain if it is worn or has several damaged links.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
