Remove Bicycle Chain

The tool needed to remove a bike chain is:

chain breaker (unless the chain has a master link)

The procedure to remove a bicycle chain is:

1. If the chain has a master link, press it together with your fingers and wiggle it just right to disengage the link. No tool needed. If it seems impossible to disengage the master link, it's not--but it is hard. Keep on trying.

A master link has several pieces that can be put together and taken apart by hand.

A BMX master link back chain plate will have 2 chain pins permanently attached to it. The end of the pins will have little grooves that the master link front chain plate will fit. The back chain plate pins are inserted into the holes of 2 chain links to connect the chain in a loop, and the front chain plate is fit onto the pins and moved to lock into the grooves on the pins.

A SRAM master link has a chain pin on each chain plate. The end of the pins have little grooves. The plates are pressed onto each other and scooted a little apart to make them lock.

In the photo, a SRAM master link is on the left, and the right is a BMX master link.

2. If the chain does not have a master link, place the chain breaker as shown in the photograph, in the bottom part of the tool.

3. Twist the chain breaker handle clockwise to force out one of the chain pins, breaking the chain. If you might reinstall this chain, consider how you will reattach the chain links.

a. If it is not a Shimano chain, and if you are not using a master link, when you force the chain pin out, leave enough of the pin inserted in the outside chain plate that you can push the pin back in the opposite direction. This takes a fine touch, but it will save you a big headache when you reinstall the chain.

b. If it is a Shimano chain, you must use a new Shimano chain pin that is correct for your size (speed) chain. Push the pin all the way out of the chain. You can throw the old pin away. See the installation process in the Chain Install section.

c. You can use a new master link to reconnect the chain. If that is your plan, when breaking the chain push the chain pin all the way out.

4. Memorize how the chain is routed, especially through the rear derailleur. Newbies screw up the rear derailleur routing. After memorizing the routing, remove the chain.

5. Clean everything you can reach. This is the best time to clean the rear derailleur jockey wheels.

Back to Introduction to Chains

Install Chain

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