jerry lee lewis fixes a tight chain link

From the free New York Times archive, an 1895 cold-weather chain FAQ
suggestion that SRAM doesn't want you to read:

"Tight links are more common now [during the winter] than at other
times, and they rack a machine frightfully. You have been told how to
loosen them after removing the chain, but with a stone, a wrench, and
a little ingenuity you can usually remedy the matter without taking
off the chain. Put the stone behind the pin in the link, and pound it
gently. If this is not sufficient, put a little oil on, and touch a
match, and this will burn out, or, at least, soften the caked graphite
and dirt. Before trying the burning scheme, better put some sod or
grass on each side of the seat of trouble to prevent the flame running
along the greasy chain, though it is not likely to do so. A blunderer
will destroy the temper of his chain in attempting to do this, may be,
but it can be done without hurting the steel a little bit. The true
remedy for tight links to clean the whole chain."

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstrac...9D94 649ED7CF

Chain graphite sticks are available from Morely Brothers:

http://www.fixedgeargallery.com/morley/14.jpg

Cheers,

Carl Fogel