Bought a tool to break/rivet chains. Having fitted the new chain, I came to rivet the split link, and can't seem to "mushroom" the rivets - should I clout them with a punch of some kind:
I'm so unlucky that if there is such a thing as re-incarnation I'll come back as me!
Yes they need mushrooming otherwise the chain will come off Try a small ball bearing that is just a bit bigger than the dent. Stick it in the dent with a bit grease then use a G-Clamp to slowly squeeze the ball in which spreads the pin out.
Just make sure the G-clamp is located on the same pin at the back of the chain.
Edit Is that the Yam?
Last edited by Wicky on Sun Jun 21, 2015 5:16 pm, edited 1 time in total.
It may be that your whole purpose in life is simply to serve as a warning to others.
Make sure you don't squeeze the side plate on too far, it should have the same gap as the others or you'll pinch the o ring.You can hold a heavy hammer behind the pin and peen over the pin with a small ball pein hammer.It just needs enough to stop the plate coming off, so it doesn't need to be completely mushroomed over.
rollingthunderx2 wrote:Make sure you don't squeeze the side plate on too far, it should have the same gap as the others or you'll pinch the o ring.You can hold a heavy hammer behind the pin and peen over the pin with a small ball pein hammer.It just needs enough to stop the plate coming off, so it doesn't need to be completely mushroomed over.
Nice one, thanks RT2!
I'm so unlucky that if there is such a thing as re-incarnation I'll come back as me!
I have a Bikemaster chain rivet tool, and it does take a fair bit of force to mushroom the pins properly. The service manual gives the specified finished diameter of the flared end, on the VTR with an RK chain it is 5.45-5.85mm.