Thread: drive chain

Anybody know what the correct number of links in a drive chain for a 1970 CT70KO? I bought one recently, and it came with 94 links-and WAY too long. Also, how do you remove links without making a mess of the remaining links?

It doesn't really make much difference how many links the chain has...as long as it's not too short . If you don't have a chain link removal tool, the simplest method for removing a sideplate is to grind the exposed ends of the pins flush with the chain sideplate, then carefully pry the sideplate with a screwdriver.

That's what I thought. I practised on the end link using a dremmel tool and grinder. It didn't look very pretty, and thought there might be a better way. Thanks for getting back to me.

True enough...`t'ain't pretty, but it's effective, and once the excess portion is removed, no one will ever know the difference.

Dremels do work, but a chain breaker is cheap. I bought one from my Honda dealer for $10, and I'm sure they're available at Harbor Freight for even less. They're not much more than a slightly modified C-clamp, so they usually aren't very expensive.

I use both methods together.
A cheap chain breaker used by itself forces the pin through the chain and can damage the chain somewhat.
I grind the ends of the pins down and then force it apart with the breaker. A punch can also be used after grinding the pins flush if you do not have a chain breaker.

I believe Beatrice has chain connecters

i match my old chain up to the new one and use my grinder.

A chain breaker is handy but, as you can see, there are different views. The biggest problem these days is finding a quality chain tool. I used to have a bench-mounted unit that would not only extract the pins, but perfectly reinsert them for a chain without a master link. Back in the day, the hardcore among us considered a master link a weak point. Unfortunately, I bought this tool 35 years ago and when the pin inserts wore out, circa 2000, I couldn't find replacements and that was that

Grinding & gentle prying works better than the cheapie breaker tools I've seen in recent years. Since a chain only needs to be cut once, it's no big deal. Still, I'm keeping an open mind...just in case I happen to find a high quality example.