Clipped vs Rivet connecting links

[GSVR]

Heres a question mainly for the guys that have been racing a few years.

How many of you use riveted links vs clipped links.

I've heard a few stories of guys loosing chains with clipped links but was that becuase the chain was babdly worn and the link old or what.

Noticed Jarrod Love lost his chain at Paeroa (wonder if he had a clipped or rivet link or if it just fell off)

Thanks in advance.

[Two Smoker]

On smaller cc bikes clip links are ok.... But on my 400 i quite often lose the clip link due to rough gear changes and rear end chatter etc (even when heavily lockwired)

I highly recommend rivet link over anything else...

[R6_kid:Me]

word i got from the shop was that clip links are only rated to about 160kmh so are ok-ish on bikes up to around 250cc, or those use for gentle commuting. As i was about to put the chain on the R6, i quickly opted for a rivet link!

Also clip links are a weak point in the chain, whereas a rivet link can pretty much be thought of as 'just another link in the chain'

[Motu]

What sort of link do you think Burt Munroe was using?

We used to put the link on the inside on trials bikes - seeing as it's a difficult and skilled sport,it's only fitting that the chain link be a difficult and skilled job to replace.Can't be stuffed with that now....

[Cajun]

i only use rivited

i had a clip chain come off and lock up my rear at about 70km/h i was lucky i was on a straight bit of road, and did not happen in the previous 30kms worth of twistys i had just come out off

[speedpro]

I got a big old DID630 with a clip link and so far it's been good up to 312k. I can't see how the link could be the "weak link" just because it has a clip instead of being peened. How many people have the correct staking tool anyway. Staking? Instead I think it's probably the best link in the chain. How many others get dissasembled,cleaned, lubed, and reassembled? I've always laughed at people who do things like put a little dob of silastic on the clip or even put a bit of lockwire around it. With the forces involved as it whips round the sprockets it isn't going to make any difference.

[Brian d marge]

Sorry v tired at mo , so quick reply !
Think about the forces and the direction of the forces . and the masses .
The clip has greater chance of coming off during say wheel chatter, the rivet well almst impossible to come loose

On saying that I have used a clip for the last three seasons of MX with no prob at all , ( I replace with new everytime I remove it )

I would be using the rivit if I was racing, or had spent a large amount on me bike ,,,

Stephen

[GSVR]

Thanks for all the replies.

Up till now I've always gone to rivet links and o ring chains but now Ive gone to a 520 chain and a clipped link. I never worried alot about the o ring chains just cleaning and lubricating them.

With the non o ring I want to take it off alot and give it a good clean and grease. The rivet link would turn this into a major hassle so for now I'll try the clipped link and keep a good eye on the connecting link.

Next race meet I'll go around a few of the 600 guys who use the same chain and see what they do as they have the same size chain and do heaps more KPH than me.

[gpercivl]

I'd recommend a rivetted link on all race bikes...have seen a few clips ping off over the years and in two cases the chain smashed the back out of the engine and dumped oil on the track. Also Sally Steadman's racing career was ended when she ran over a dropped chain in a 125GP race. It wrapped around the front wheel and she ended up with a fractured skull among other things. So probably a good safety policy for everyone else there too

[GSVR]

I'd recommend a rivetted link on all race bikes...have seen a few clips ping off over the years and in two cases the chain smashed the back out of the engine and dumped oil on the track. Also Sally Steadman's racing career was ended when she ran over a dropped chain in a 125GP race. It wrapped around the front wheel and she ended up with a fractured skull among other things. So probably a good safety policy for everyone else there too

Well further updating my clipped connection. I looked at my chain after a ride and to my surpise the clip was missing. I replaced it with a new connecting link that I had brought as a spare and also cleaned up the sufaces and fitted the new clip with loctite 660 thinking this would really stop the chance of it falling off.

After ones days ride (admittedly long day in the wet) the whole thing is loose and looks like its ready to fall off again. The clip is actually loose and rattlely on the chain now.

So its no more clipped links for me. The risk of a major incident is to great.

[F5 Dave]

I bought the tool for DID chain. Seems like a lot at the time but you'll treasure it for years to come.
Makes it easy for pressing on the plates modern (mid-larger) chains all run.
I run riveted on all my bikes bar the buckets.

Buy a couple of cheap $2 shop brushes to clean the worst of the gunk off on a dirtbike and/or just toothbrush & kero to finish/for road.

[Hoon]

I'm totally sick of losing clips off my chains. I go through one clip every 2-3 visits to the track. At $10 a pop it gets expensive and can put an end to your racing if you run out of spares (thanks gpercivl for covering me that last round!).

The clips don't come lose, they break. I've siliconed and lockwired my clips in place and sometimes a piece of clip gets left in the silicone.

If anyone knows of any good deals for chain riveting tools please let me know as I'm over clips!

[Cajun]

You checked out ebay or simlar Hoon mate? Even local bike shop

I guess for somone like you who would go thru would be handy even if you and a couple of mates chiped in together and paid for it,

[Cajun]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/MOTOR...QQcmdZViewItem (not to sure on buy now but first bit is US$30 even for US$50 its a cheap over all, over cost of live time, and you can charge friends a if they wish to borrow it) or simlar

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Motor...QQcmdZViewItem

[erik]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/MOTOR...QQcmdZViewItem (not to sure on buy now but first bit is US$30 even for US$50 its a cheap over all, over cost of live time, and you can charge friends a if they wish to borrow it) or simlar

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Motor...QQcmdZViewItem

I've got the same tool as in the first link. Got it from Mt Eden Motorcycles, they had to order it in but it only took a day or two. It's in the DIRT GUIDE '06 little pamphelt book thing on page 56 for NZ$79.95. I used it for my cam chain, haven't used it on a drive chain yet.
The rivet tool uses a rounded end and I don't think it's all that hard; I tested it on a normal (drive chain) link to see what would happen and it flattened off a bit. It is a bit hard to make sure the rivet tool stays centred on the pin (for a cam chain at least).
I haven't been able to find out much about the DID tool. just a few links to pictures mostly.
http://www.rsvr.net/pages/performanc...ection=CHAINS#
http://www.mcleodaccessories.com.au/...splay=conlinks