Is it Chink or Kink in the Chain?
Regardless the term, I think you know what I’m talking about. This happened to me recently when I was working on Burt ReynoldSS. After cutting the chain down, I pushed back the rivet to connect the now shorter chain, but all that did was compress the link causing what you see below.
In order to deal with this, I put into practice one of the tricks I learned while working in an LBS. Ya it would have been easier to just get one of those quick link thingies but I didn’t have one so here we go!
If using your chain tool to push the rivet back and forth still doesn’t work, do this. On the link that is tight, use that as a pivot point and flex the chain as if you’re trying to break a pencil or a pretzel. Oh don’t forget to put in a drop of your favorite chain lube on the bad link before you do this.
Do this on both sides of the chain. Keeping doing so until you start seeing and feeling the chink/kink work itself out.
And that’s it! Afterwards, just spin the cranks make sure the chink/kink isn’t causing any problems and go for a ride!
I’ve been riding and working on bikes for 35+ years…both here and abroad. I have NEVER heard it referred to as a “chink”.
The above is a good and simple tip that works!!!
I think I got that term from Meet the Fockers: “Jack Byrnes: If your family’s circle joins in my family’s circle, they’ll form a chain. I can’t have a chink in my chain.”