Motorcycle Chain

[Social Distortion]

hi everyone

i was hanging out w/ a couple folks who were tinkering w/ thier motorcycles and i ran across a couple things.

I saw 2 set of chains.
i didnt know if they belonged to a motorcycle or a bicycle.
I can only assume that the thicker the chain, the more likely it will be a motorcycle chain.

Anyways- here is my question-
in regards to chains, how do you shorten them?
I saw around that there were these tools that push out the pins in the chains, but for the chain that i was looking at, it seemed that the pins weren't exposed and that there were in housings. The reason why i think this is because when i move the links, i dont see the pin moving.
Any thoughts?

thanks

[mydlyfkryzis]

Pins dont move. They are riveted in place. The rollers (Between the side plates) rotate on the pins.

To break a chain, you usually grind the head of the pin off and push it out with a tool. You do not reuse those pins.

[9000white]

with a chain breaker tool you dont even grind the head of the pins.

[mydlyfkryzis]

Chain Breakers sometime break themselves. Grinding makes the breakers last longer. That's why I said usually....... Either way, the pin is replaced..

[J.R. Bob Dobbs]

The pins are riveted on each side to the outer sideplates. The inner sideplates are free to rotate on the pin, as are the rollers.

Some chains contain one "master link" which is held in place with a removable clip on one side rather than being riveted on both sides.