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'Rench

Chain Press/Rivet Tool
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Mark -
You are so right. The common triangular thread is not intended for this purpose. In all cases, if your puller or press tool uses a triangular thread form, then you can extend the life of the tool by lubing the threads with EP gear oil each time before starting.

Richard
Cornelia, GA

Don't hide 'em, Ride 'em !!
Agree on the inadequacy of the standard tools. Even the much acclaimed Motion Pro tool uses a triangular thread form whereas something like a trapezoidal thread is really more appropriate for a lead/power screw application such as this (adjustable wrench and vise typically use this kind of thread). The 60-deg triangular form vectors the majority a longitudinal load into the surround structure which leads to binding, whereas the typically 29-deg (standard metric) or 30-deg (typical US Acme) trapezoidal form vectors the majority of the force along the longitudinal axis, i.e. the direction we want.  For a one-handed job the standard tools work, but even the best are acknowledged to be less than durable, so be prepared to replace components or find an alternative solution such as Wobbly suggests,


Mark
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Current - '74 TR5T : '93 R100R : '99 Gran Canyon : '06 ST3s ~ Past - Variety of British, French, Italian, Czechoslovakian, and German bikes from the '70s, '
The official tool may be more trouble than it's worth. It's single biggest advantage is that one person can do it.The problem is that most of these tools use a screw thread to create the required pressure. This is a very poor use of standard screw threads and most novice users will gall the threads on the first chain rendering the tool unusable.
 
The way we do this at the shop is to assemble the masterlink, then approach both sides of the chain with long heavy steel rods. One rod acting as the anvil, the other as a "drift". Then a right smart rap on the drift upsets both poles of the rivet link. No muss, no fuss. The job is finished in seconds, but it does require 2 people.
 
The first time this was described to me I thought it crude and inelegant, but when you see how fast the work goes you'll find a permanent place on the peg board for that chain tool.
Fitted my new chain and sprockets on my Cagiva Gran Canyon this evening.  This was the first time I had ever riveted a chain, so I took my time. Was straight forwarded, but I was surprised how much torque needed to be applied to flare the rivets. The handle on the riveter body and the slide-bar on the rivet flare pin were totally inadequate. A 12” crescent wrench on the riveter body and a 12” breaker bar/socket combination on the rivet flare pin was a perfect solution.  Even with riveting the chain once, finding it too long, taking out a link and riveting a second time the job only took a little over an hour.

Next job on this bike is to fit an Oberon clutch slave cylinder.  The clutch pull is a little heavy and I think contributes to the fact that I seem to gets cramps in my left hand when riding this bike (had a particularly bad episode riding up a dirt hill during the GMR – a least I got to practice an up hills loose surface start). The Oberon has a larger piston diameter which means lever pull is reduced albeit at the expense of reduced throw at the cylinder for the same amount of lever pull (it’s a pressure/volume thing).  It is a common upgrade on Ducati-engined bikes (Cagiva owned Ducati when my bike was made, and had been fitting Ducati engines into dual-sport frames for many years anyway).  The clutch disengagement on this bike is very good, and there’s plenty of adjustment at the clutch lever so I have no concern about the throw trade off and I think this should be a very worthwhile improvement on ride-ability.

In the meantime, my R100R is getting a lot of daily use….



Mark
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Current - '74 TR5T : '93 R100R : '99 Gran Canyon : '06 ST3s ~ Past - Variety of British, French, Italian, Czechoslovakian, and German bikes from the '70s, '
Geoff, I have used a set of "steel fixers" cutters that I got when overseeing concrete construction in the mid 1980's as my Oetiker clamping tool.  On my list of jobs I have is to replace the fuel disconnects on my Gran Canyon, and to update the fuel lines on my TR5T to Tygon.  I had anticipated using my tool, but now that I know were there's a real tool to be had.....
 
Mark
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Current - '74 TR5T : '93 R100R : '99 Gran Canyon : '06 ST3s ~ Past - Variety of British, French, Italian, Czechoslovakian, and German bikes from the '70s, '

Sorta the same way I ended up with an Oetiker clamp tool. I used it once and now I keep looking for Oetiker clamping opportunities just to prove to my wife it was a good investment. 

__________________
Geoff
2004 K1200GT
2006 R1200GS
OK.  I went ahead and purchased a rivet tool (something about he who dies with the most tools wins).......

Mark
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Current - '74 TR5T : '93 R100R : '99 Gran Canyon : '06 ST3s ~ Past - Variety of British, French, Italian, Czechoslovakian, and German bikes from the '70s, '
Anyone got a Chain Press/Rivet Tool I can borrow?  Thanks in anticipation.

Mark
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Current - '74 TR5T : '93 R100R : '99 Gran Canyon : '06 ST3s ~ Past - Variety of British, French, Italian, Czechoslovakian, and German bikes from the '70s, '
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