i just bought a d.i.d oring chain and i cant get the damn clip on. in the past ive had no trouble with regular chains. but i cant seem to figure out the o-ring chain. whenver i try to use pliers it just falls off. what am i doing wrong? help!

Some of the o-ring chains are a little tricky. Most of the ones I've dealt with, it's almost like you have to press the side plate on. I have one of those fancy ass Motion Pro widgets that works really good for this, but I've used just regular chain breakers many times. And actually, a small c-clamp will work fine too. Just find a small socket that is bigger than the pin hole, use the c-clamp, and you can kinda go back and forth, and "walk" it on. Just make sure you don't press the side plate on by squeezing in the middle of the link. Some of the different brand's pin holes are so tight, that you can actually bend the link, if you press in the middle.

Good luck.

take a c-clamp and press the chain link together so it is compressed enough. The loosen the c-clamp enough to fit the clip behind it. I usuallt then just use a screwdriver and tap it on. The c clamp prevent it from slipping / falling off when you are trying to clip it.

O-ring chains require a chain press to install the master link. If you don't use the proper tool you will have problems.

CamP said:

not true. if you have a rivet type master link you need to use a special chain tool. but if you have a clip type, some creativity and some pliers/screwdrivers will get you going.

joman2055 said:

Yea but is so easy with the correct tool and you will never mess it up or press it on too much so it binds.

Might be to late now, but get one of these. Everyone that uses clip style should have one in the toolbox.

http://www.rockymoun...odFamilyId=3002

got that tricky bastard on. broke first clip had to buy a new one. but I needed was some elbow grease not a fancy tool.

I use needle nose vice grips to compress the plates together, then quickly remove the vice grips and get the clip on before the rubber o rings go back to their original shape.

TakeTheSafetyOff said:

Considering that you broke the first one, it sounds like you needed a fancy tool.

price of tool= $10 + $8 s&h=$18 plus having to wait a week.

price of clip= $1.  and no waiting.
I'll go with the clip.

Clean the master link real well and get rid of any oily residue, and spooge some good gasket sealer over the clip. Keeps the clip from popping off.

In a pinch (pun), you can use a 6mm (1/4") nut over the side plate and press it on with a big pair of pliers. Works every time and does not hurt anything.