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Hi all,
I found out I have a stiff chain link today and I'm not sure how to go about fixing it. Firstly, should I try cleaning my chain first? When I touch the chain I get black oil on my hands and I'm not sure if it's dirt or just some kind of black chain oil :confused: Secondly, I searched the web a bit and some websites say using a chain link tool will fix it but I don't have one. I was also wondering how do chain links become stiff?
I'm a newbie so please bear with me!
Definitely go for cleaning first, may have lot's of gunk built up.
One part of the chain link tool allows you to release the pressure between a link, especially after the chain has been opened and put back together.
I had to replace a chain on a friend's bike because it had been sitting and just the ambient moisture caused rust in the pivot, no amount of anything would free her's up, so I had to replace.
I would just replace the chain. There's a reason the link got stiff, and if there's abnormal wear in the one link it's likely to be pervasive. It's not as huge a deal as it is on a motorcycle, but if your chain breaks, you'll either need to put it back together or you're stranded. Meanwhile, your sticky link is damaging your chainrings and rear cogs.
Basically, assuming a good initial installation, the reason links get stiff is lubrication washing out, wear and rust.
You'll need a chain tool to remove the old chain even if you get a new one that installs with a master link, so either get a chain tool and learn to use it, or take it to your local bike shop.
If you're on a budget try cleaning the chain first. There are some youtube videos & instructions that show how to clean your chain. Like this one by Georgena Terry.
Otherwise replace the chain and then clean it frequently. Every time I clean my chain it leaves black gunk on the rag, I clean it until the black coming off the chain onto the rag starts to fade. (I guess I should clean it until the chain stops leaving any black gunk, but it takes forever just to get it to this point. And I do clean my chain frequently. I just use my bike pretty hard, in all weather.)
If you're pretty inexperienced at this feel free to ask us more questions. I could go into a lot more detail about how I do it, but I don't want to bore you if you already know.