Help... Please?
I've got my bike sitting outside w/ a partially installed chain. I cant get the master clip on and I've tried using vice grips to squeeze the face plate on more also the vice and socket set up and nothings working. I cant get the damn thing on there. I'm using needle nose plyers try to force the master clip on and I dont see how your sposed to get any kind of grip on it? :x Heres my previous topic http://www.gstwins.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=11925&highlight=
With all the tips on how to go about it. Looking back I wish I would of just taken it to a shop because now I have a bike I cant take anywhere.
-ash
So do you think the sideplate is on far enough, or no?
As far as the pliers, have you tried using the closer pin (more side height available to push against) or only the "far" pin? Also, have you tried spreading the split part of the master clip with a thin screwdriver blade?
If you look at the picture of the (very dirty) master link in the other thread, you'll see a bunch of scrape marks all over it. Now you know where they came from.... :roll:
PS - Practice with some of the O-rings removed from the master link. That will give you extra space, and an idea of how hard it should be....
the side plate is def. not on far enough. i cant seem to get it on there anymore i'm putting as much force as i can. i'm confused too, I'm sposed to compress the side of it first then try to get the master clip on next right???
Quote from: ashmanI'm sposed to compress the side of it first then try to get the master clip on next right???
That's right.
So if you take the O-rings out from under the loose sideplate, the sideplate should move in farther. Then if you can get the clip to go sideways over the pins you'll at least know that you have THAT part down. All that remains (after you get the clip back off and replace the O-rings) is to get ... that ... blasted ... sideplate pressed on far enough.
I remember "giving up" several times before I got it on. But I finally got it on without a vise. I would have been glad to use one if I'd thought of it, though.
"giving up" VS i actually give up. i'm not sure what to do now, advice to everyone else thinking about doing this yourself, forget it. So not worth it. I guess I'll have to get it towed to a shop? i dunno. what a big mistake @$#%#$ urg! Worst of all I cant do anything with it now. Many curse words repeated many many times is whats going through my head. I need this bike rideable by Friday. OH well @#$% it I gotta go to New Orleans to drop my dog off.
-ash
make sure you're trying to put the chain back together with the masterlink, and not the old chain link you just took out, i just went through that, and after trying for about 5 minutes to push on the side plate, i eventaully pulled it apart, and noticed i was using a peice of the chain i just pulled apart, and not the masterlink, once i started with the masterlink it wasn't a problem,
and not to change the topic, but how do i go about ordering just a few masterlink and chain links? i've got a longer sprocket for my bike, and know i need one or two more links, and i'd like to get some of the nicer rivet masterlinks, i looked around the DID page, but couldn't find anything,
anyone know?
Quote from: tt_fourhow do i go about ordering just a few masterlink and chain links?
I don't know about the regular links, but I added a bunch of master links (both styles) to my
GS500 Chains & Sprockets page a couple weeks ago.
I changed my chain not long ago, also with the clip-style master link. I did not have much problem with it. I used the improvised method (vice + small socket) to push the side plate on. It turned out that the two sockets I was using were not of equal lengths, so I ended up pushing each side of the side plate on alternatingly in a few steps at the end. Maybe you can try pressing each of the pins/side plate individually? I don't remember having any problem putting on the clip with the plier either. Dunno if you know this--if you plier is smallish, you can generate more force by squeezing it near the end of the handles rather than in the middle. The plier I used was largish, IIRC.
HTH
Cheers,
e.
One of the things that I remember when last installing my last master link using channel locks, was the fact that I was pushing the pins through the plate on the other side! After purchasing a new masterlink, I instead used the chainbreaker to alternately work the plate on without pushing the pins out.
Thanks for all the hints/ tips/ advice. I picked up my dads truck last night as a back up plan incase I have to haul it over to a shop. When I get back home I'm going to give it another whirl, hopefully w/ slightly better luck. By then all my new bolt on travel goodies should of arrived. :cheers:
-ash