• There has been a recent cluster of spammers accessing BARFer accounts and posting spam. To safeguard your account, please consider changing your password. It would be even better to take the additional step of enabling 2 Factor Authentication (2FA) on your BARF account. Read more here.

"Clip Type" for my new chain

rick said:
Well, just as an alternate point of view....
I've been using clip-style master links for well over 20 years, 15 different motorcycles and over a decade of racing. Never had a single problem or lost a clip. Hell, on one race bike in particular, I even re-used clips over and over again (had to change the chain w/ the gearing). Plus, you don't *need* any special tools to install or remove the master link. They're nothing but good in my book.

I imagine that in many people that have had problems had it installed wrong, tweaked the clip or something rubbed or was rubbing against it. With that said, I've always kept a spare clip in the kit just in case and most race orgs want you to RTV 'em so, I've always done that on every bike out of habit. Some people even safety wire 'em on.

All-in-all, get whatever makes you feel good. :)
Click to expand...

You are not racing with the AFM :laughing

I've seen tens of master clip chains fall off bikes due to clip problems. I've never seen a rivet master chain fall off due to rivet problems. I've seen three or so motors destroyed by chain windup on the countershaft sprocket. All from master clip chains.
 
cencalballer said:
Rivet is better but clip is fine up to certain power levels. At that point the clip style master link becomes the weak link.
Click to expand...

I have a hard time seeing how power levels have anything to do with it, unless the pins/endplates for a clip-style are actually weaker than a rivet style (are they?). Or does too much power stretch the chain to where the clip doesn't fit correctly over the pins, and is thus susceptible to falling off?
 
Maybe the issue is not about the actual hardware.

I believe the issue is more which system has the most potential for installer error and catastrophic failure due to that poor installation. Probably clips, but I have seen as many buggered up rivet installations as clip installations. Splitting the end of the rivet, not using spacer plates and making the link bind, etc.

I think the clip type lends itself to "I have a beer, a hammer and pliers, I can install this chain" installations, where the rivet type requires (should require) a little more specialized tooling and hence, care.
 
augustiron said:
Maybe the issue is not about the actual hardware.

I believe the issue is more which system has the most potential for installer error and catastrophic failure due to that poor installation. Probably clips, but I have seen as many buggered up rivet installations as clip installations. Splitting the end of the rivet, not using spacer plates and making the link bind, etc.

I think the clip type lends itself to "I have a beer, a hammer and pliers, I can install this chain" installations, where the rivet type requires (should require) a little more specialized tooling and hence, care.
Click to expand...

BINGO! :thumbup

Yes a clip-style master can be trouble free... but...
If I have to install a clip-type master I always use safety-wire, either with or without the clip... which also only helps if it is installed carefully and correctly. :x
 
Last edited:
sckego said:
I have a hard time seeing how power levels have anything to do with it, unless the pins/endplates for a clip-style are actually weaker than a rivet style (are they?). Or does too much power stretch the chain to where the clip doesn't fit correctly over the pins, and is thus susceptible to falling off?
Click to expand...

The riveted ones don't fail for what I think is a variety of reasons. I think the pins are actually stronger on the rivet style chains. The clip never has a chance to come off as well which prevents the sideplate from coming off and all hell breaking loose. I've seen the clip masters break but never a riveted one. Most clip style chains aren;t rated as high as well.
 
has anyone ever seen a chain fail because a pin broke?

all the failures i have seen have been plates cracking, not the pin actually failing. the last failure i saw, the guy had 2 rivet links in it and it failed elsewhere. very weird.
 
I hate rivet links.. but I have the tools. I prefer the clip

there is a special way to not 'sprang' that clip when installing and removing it.. if it's sprang then it's fucked.. it can't ever be bent the wrong way or its garbage.

The only time I ever lost a clip link is after fucking up that clip by not installing it right.
 
motobecane10 said:
any particular reason?
Click to expand...

Disclaimer-
Take my advise with a shot of whisky and a water back. I'm admittedly a B line mechanic, I've been doing this long enough to know myself. I'm not 'A' mechanic material, I don't wrench enough, on enough different motorcycles to be an authority on any of this.

But- I need less tools or no special tools. I can press the link on with hand tools in my bag. I've never had one come off AFTER I learned how to 'set' the clip. Which is really how not to bend it out of shape.

In my youth I was loosing chains and tearing shit up, busting my knuckles and breaking tools. As an adult and somewhat experienced line mechanic; I've never had one come apart on me.

There are some 'A' wrenches here and it's kind of hard to dispute their knowledge. Alan, Steve, Ernie.. etc..

'A' wrench- someone who currently wrenches for $$

'B' wrench- someone who has wrenched for $$ and quit because they can't make $$ doing it. Read: mistakes cost $$
 
cencalballer said:
Most clip style chains aren;t rated as high as well.
Click to expand...
this is incorrect. the master link style has nothing to do with the chains tensil strength rating. a DID 520vx chain has a tensil strength of "x" no matter what master link the owner decides to install.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top