DIY Chain Riveter

[rymac11]

Hello all,

So my friend and I were changing out the stock chain on my '77 GS400X for a pre-measured D.I.D. 530 O-ring chain (it was much needed). Opened up the engine case to check the front and rear sprockets (both looked okay--low miles) and cleaned it out. I was just about to get to the chain all set when I realized it wasn't the classic master-clip type but one that required a special (very expensive) riveting tool mad my D.I.D. Now, I'm sure everyone has found themselves in the "9pm on a Saturday night" situation as I was, and usually this is where you either put it away (booooo!) or become a mad scientist eager to make things work with what he/she has (yaaaaay!). My friend and I chose the latter and after watching a few YouTube videos ( this one in particular was kind of funny but helpful at the same time) here is what we came up with to get the chain attached and the link riveted on.

It consisted of a C-clamp to evenly apply pressure, and (originally) a nut at each end that fit over the holes in the master link so that the pressure was applied to only the area around it. After tightening at each side evenly in sequence a few times, we got it on and it tested fine.

So there you go, a homemade chain riveter.

[trent]

How did you crimp or smash, mushroon pin. I tried that same thing and couldn't mushroom pin.
I ended up buying clip type masterlink, I need to buy the tool unless there is something I didn't do!!!

My c-clamp with all kinds of torque applied wouldn't mushroom pin on master link???

[tkent02]

No it needs a little hammer and anvil action to make it safe.

[chuck hahn]

An old Harley gut showed me how he did drive chains. He had me hold a hammer against the back side as he made an X with a few blows from a chisel. Then, he took the C clamp and put a BB in the center of the X and squeezed that X open just a bit with the force of the BB spreading the wings out just a tad.

[haztoys]

Drill a hole in some vise-grips to seat the chain plates ...Then pinch down on the pin with the vise-grips that does not have the hole and wack the vise-grips with a hammer to mash the pin....

[chuck hahn]

Haz....I was thinking to weld a bead on the jaws of my old crappy vice grips and then grind it to a raised chisel like face and just crimp an X into the ends of the links. I will soon have to do the cam chain on the 73 TX 750. Doesnt need to be much of a crimp..just enough to ensure the face plate never comes off..especially inside the engine!!!

[Steveb64]

I usually use vice grips with a nut (like the G clamp and nut trick by rymac11 - which I like - I'll have to try it sometime!) to squash the plates together, then a big hammer behind the chain link, and a ball-peen hammer to round the top of the rivet link over. Works easier if you have a second body to hold the big hammer against the chain...

The big hammer varies from a 8lb sledge (drive chain) to a large engineers hammer (cam chains).

[tatu]

Some really good suggestions here.
I borrowed a link riveter and it didn't do a good job at all, it was kind of ok but the plate was still slack and I had to anvil and peen it.

[gsgeezer]

hammer and anvil.

That's what I have done in the past.

[derwood]

a tube flaring tool works ok.

[sedelen]

Small ball bearings under the C clamp.