Chain broke my chain breaker!

[paalak]

I bought this budget chain breaker off of eBay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=190544099162&viewitem=&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWAX%3AIT#ht_3039wt_1002

When I was trying to break a link in my chain the threaded cylinder that holds the push-rod snapped in half. I was twisting the lever really hard, and still no pin was coming out, even though I could see it was aligned correctly. I'm wondering if I should request a refund for the tool or if I used it wrong. I thought this could be used to break any link on the chain, but now I'm wondering whether I was supposed to find the master link. Should it have worked on any link in the stock chain for the GS? I'm wondering because the bumps on the links don't really look like removable pins, they look like part of the links. In any case, I'm heading out now to pick up a hack saw, which I now wish I had used in the first place 

[Big Rich]

Should be able to press out any link- including the master. Did you grind the edges of the pins off first?

[crzydood17]

buy a dremel and save your arm the work... also dremels are much more useful. unless ya got a heavy duty chain breaker you probably need to weaken then crimp on the pin.

[paalak]

Ah, didn't know I had to grind the pin down first. The video I watched said you had to do 1 or the other--grind the pin or use a breaker. He even used the exact same breaker I had. I'll look into a dremel, but I kind of like the idea of sawing it off anyway 

[Yuri.]

Ah, didn't know I had to grind the pin down first. The video I watched said you had to do 1 or the other--grind the pin or use a breaker. He even used the exact same breaker I had. I'll look into a dremel, but I kind of like the idea of sawing it off anyway 

Why did you get a tool only for this purpose if you already had others that could do it?

[Twisted]

Ah, didn't know I had to grind the pin down first. The video I watched said you had to do 1 or the other--grind the pin or use a breaker. He even used the exact same breaker I had. I'll look into a dremel, but I kind of like the idea of sawing it off anyway  

Why did you get a tool only for this purpose if you already had others that could do it?

He probably didn't realise he could use the dremel until it was suggested. No harm in trying to do things with the correct tools for a first attempt.

[burning1]

A dremmel is a very useful tool, and probably faster than a hack-saw for cutting off your chain. I'd buy one no matter what approach you decided to take.

[sledge]

Faster than a hacksaw, but not as fast as bolt-cutters 

[thecdn]

I bought this RK Chain Breaker/Press Fit And Rivet Tool for around $99 over two years ago - http://www.drivesystemsusa.com/p/387678/rk-chain-breakerpress-fit-and-rivet-tool.html . Expensive, yes, but I've changed at least four chains on different bikes, including cutting without grinding anything and easily pressing the rivets. When you have the right tool, it makes jobs easier.

[paalak]

Faster than a hacksaw, but not as fast as bolt-cutters 

Do you use bolt cutters to remove chains? I'm discovering that these 520 chains are TOUGH. I tried using a hack saw this morning, but the chain kept dulling the blades after about 3 minutes per blade. After going through 3 blades I was barely 1/4 of the way through just one side of the chain. I figured in the end I'd spend as much on blades as it would cost to buy a dremel. So I ditched the hack saw and just picked up a Dremel. I thought about trying bolt cutters but figured they wouldn't work on this type of chain. But bolt cutters would have been a cheaper alternative to the dremel. Dremels are useful for all kinds of tasks though, so it's good to have one now anyway.

[gsJack]

Ordinary common grade hack saw blades won't hardly touch a bike chain.  I tried some I had on hand on the first continuous chain I replaced on my 02 years ago.  Went to Lowes and got a couple high speed blades for cutting alloy steel and one walked right thru the chain in a minute or two.  They were white in color, very good.  Still have that one I used plus the other one unused.  Only cost a couple bucks.  Don't need to cut replacement chains with clip type links. 

When I replaced the chain on my 97 a few years before that I just chiseled the link plate off with chisels and an old screwdriver, no grinding.  I keep my bike in a non electric garage.

[paalak]

Ordinary common grade hack saw blades won't hardly touch a bike chain.  I tried some I had on hand on the first continuous chain I replaced on my 02 years ago.  Went to Lowes and got a couple high speed blades for cutting alloy steel and one walked right thru the chain in a minute or two.  They were white in color, very good.  Still have that one I used plus the other one unused.  Only cost a couple bucks.  Don't need to cut replacement chains with clip type links. 

When I replaced the chain on my 97 a few years before that I just chiseled the link plate off with chisels and an old screwdriver, no grinding.  I keep my bike in a non electric garage.

Wish I'd known that before trying those cheap blades. Should have tried Lowes. That was all they had at Home Depot. I asked a guy working there if they had higher quality blades, and he actually said you're not supposed to use a hack saw on metal 

[pave_spectre]

That was all they had at Home Depot. I asked a guy working there if they had higher quality blades, and he actually said you're not supposed to use a hack saw on metal

I hope you at least gave him a look that told him he was an idiot, assuming you didn't just punch him for his abject stupidity.