25 Series Chain

[AdamHeard]

Originally Posted by waialua359

Yeah,
we figured out very soon that a chain tensioner is a must and done properly.
For our West Coast drive chassis, we use #35 bike chain instead. Weight of a 25 chain, but size/strength of a 35.

interesting.... You have a link? What's the weight per foot?

[waialua359]

Originally Posted by AdamHeard

interesting.... You have a link? What's the weight per foot?

Let me find the data and get back to you.
We've been using 35 bike chain since 1997 with our human driven Electric Vehicles and carried it over to our FRC robots in 2007 once we went with the WC drive chassis.

[ajlapp]

We are wondering what teams use for a chain breaker.
We have tried all the standard ones.... and even modified a bicycle one.
None of them work decently... What is everyone else doing to break #25 chain?
The public wants to know!!???

Bar none, this is it.

Dark Soul Breaker

Team RUSH, frc27, uses this device to break and assemble #25 chain. NO MASTER LINKS EVER!

There is a small pin perfectly designed to break the chain. Once you're ready to re-assembly you use the main breaker mandrel to hold the chain, then use a separate screw device to re-insert the formerly removed roller pin.

Eliminating the master link ensures that the chain won't fail because of an improperly installed clip.

[Fe_Will]

Originally Posted by ajlapp

Bar none, this is it.

Dark Soul Breaker

Team RUSH, frc27, uses this device to break and assemble #25 chain. NO MASTER LINKS EVER!

There is a small pin perfectly designed to break the chain. Once you're ready to re-assembly you use the main breaker mandrel to hold the chain, then use a separate screw device to re-insert the formerly removed roller pin.

Eliminating the master link ensures that the chain won't fail because of an improperly installed clip.

I agree that this is a great breaker. The only problem is that they are often sold out or back ordered. If you can get one or two, its worth it.

[Jon Jack]

Originally Posted by ajlapp

Bar none, this is it.

Dark Soul Breaker

Team RUSH, frc27, uses this device to break and assemble #25 chain. NO MASTER LINKS EVER!

There is a small pin perfectly designed to break the chain. Once you're ready to re-assembly you use the main breaker mandrel to hold the chain, then use a separate screw device to re-insert the formerly removed roller pin.

Eliminating the master link ensures that the chain won't fail because of an improperly installed clip.

This is hands down, the best 25 chain break we've ever used. We've been using these for two years now and would be hard pressed to consider using any other chain break.

They are hard to get, though so if you see they have them in stock, jump on it.

[Dad1279]

Originally Posted by Bob Steele

..... What is everyone else doing to break #25 chain?
The public wants to know!!???
......

We use a bench grinder or dremel, and grind off the tips of the pins, then the link pops right out.

[Dick Linn]

Ditto on grinding the pins. It can be done very quickly on a bench grinder though it does get a little hot on the fingers if you hurry it.

[ajlapp]

No doubt that grinding is a quick way of breaking chain...but; the beauty of the Dark Soul unit mentioned above is that it also re-assembles the chain, eliminating master links.

[AdamHeard]

Originally Posted by ajlapp

No doubt that grinding is a quick way of breaking chain...but; the beauty of the Dark Soul unit mentioned above is that it also re-assembles the chain, eliminating master links.

How well does it reassemble? Is it the same strength as stock?

[Teched3]

For those of you that want to buy a Dark Soul chain breaker, I did a search and here's a supplier that has them in stock and ON SALE for $22 until Nov 25th.

http://www.davesmotors.com/s.nl/c.885035/n.1/it.A/id.2258/.f

[Teched3]

If you use the link to go order the Dark Soul chainbreaker, it tells you "it is no longer available". Use the search box in the right upper corner and type in gg220, and it will bring up the sale offer. Sorry for the inconvenience - but I did just order one.

[ajlapp]

How well does it reassemble? Is it the same strength as stock?

It goes back together great. We have never performed an actual strength test, but we have used #25 chain this way for at least 5 seasons of FIRST without failure.

[Alan Anderson]

Originally Posted by Teched3

For those of you that want to buy a Dark Soul chain breaker, I did a search and here's a supplier that has them in stock and ON SALE for $22 until Nov 25th.

http://www.davesmotors.com/s.nl/c.885035/n.1/it.A/id.2258/.f

I found that yesterday and tried to submit an order. It wouldn't let me past the "choose payment" screen.

[Teched3]

Alan,
Did you use the gg220 code in the search box? I got a confirmation of my order back this morning. Youmight want to try again.

[Brandon Holley]

Originally Posted by Teched3

Alan,
Did you use the gg220 code in the search box? I got a confirmation of my order back this morning. Youmight want to try again.

Ditto on being able to order one.

Brando