Help ! Chain & Sprockets

[wheeliebin]

OK maybe this should go in the DIY disaster topic

Just fitted Chain & Sprockets that came supplied with a 'soft' rivet link. Also a chance to use the new chain spiltter / press / rivetter bought on e-bay (recommended in another thread).
All goes well until I do the final rivet bit. My ham-fistedness over tightening the above tool, I hear a 'crack' , on closer inspection the 'soft' rivet is nicely folded over but it has a split in in.
Being a total tosser, I did the same bloody thing to the other one .

Now a bit worried the things gonna break up, or is this normal ? Safe to ride or not ?

[wheeliebin]

Anyone ?

Please ?

[YEN_POWELL]

Is the side plate still ok(the bit you have to push on with the press tool), i.e. the O rings aren't squashed up and the plate is out of line with the links each side?

[wheeliebin]

Thanks Yen, thought no-one was listening

Sideplates & O ring look fine, link moves freely. Just the rivets being cracked are the worry

[YEN_POWELL]

Well obviously I can't say for certain but I've ridden an FJ1200 with just the side plate pressed on and it's a very strong joint. The rivet heads themselves are quite thin edged so I wouldn't worry if the turned over edge has a small split in it. As long as the pin that passes through the whole cahin link is okay, I can't imagine you'd have damaged that.

I have seen a guide that gave a torque wrench setting for how tight to turn the rivetting tool and another that said to measure the end of the turned over rivet with a vernier. Have a look in your chain instructions and see if they give a measurement. A new link is cheap, so you can always replace it if you're worried. Make sure you get the same make though as I recently lent someone a DID rivet link of the same size as another companies chain and it didn't fit.

[wheeliebin]

Thanks for your reply, I'm eased a little. I'll keep a watch on it until the weekend, pop down the local dealers for them to look.
Stuck at home with a 2 year old during the day so can't get out, need to use the bike at night.

[YEN_POWELL]

Stuck with a 2 year old, that would explain the rivet tightening frenzy. I remember it well!!

[Recycler]

It's easy for me to say but I'd ride it for a (short) while.
Then I'd check for a tight spot, as if it had split right through it surely would be tight. Remember it's a 'soft link' and probably only split at the lip.
First time I used my 'do it all' Motrax chain tool I forgot to change the bit ready for spreading the pins and bent the plunger - how I laughed.