Wasted $80 on a cheap chain whip that slipped on my first cassette swap

I bought a no-name chain whip off Amazon for 12 bucks last month to replace my cassette. First time I used it on a Shimano 11-speed, the pins dug right into my hands because the handle flexed so bad. The chain slipped off the cog and I ended up scratching my dropout pretty good. Has anyone else had luck with a budget chain tool or should I just spring for a Park Tool one this time?

2 comments

2 Comments

lily5112d agoMost Upvoted

Dude you gotta try harder with that cheap tool. I've used a $10 chain whip for years and it works fine. The trick is to wrap the chain around the cog a couple times before you tighten the chain breaker. Makes it grip way better. Bet you just had it loose or something. Also, Park Tool stuff is overpriced anyway. You can bend a cheap one back into shape with pliers if it flexes but a Park one cracks the same way. Spend that money on something actually useful like a torque wrench.

wade_young862d agoMost Upvoted

72 tooth chainrings work great for that, @lily511, especially if you wrap the chain twice first.