Can you 'fix' a broken chain by reusing a pin in an emergency?

Probably as a get you home fix. Trying it would be better than walking.

I've heard of folk using cable ties and ratcheting the cranks to get home

I've done it before. A while ago mind.

I did it years ago, didn't realise that you were meant to use a new pin and forgot about it. It was fine.

Yes. Do it regularly at home with both 10speed and single-speed chains.

Pre-power link I assume this is how chains were always shortened/lengthened as there was no alternative.

Bit of a faff trailside, but done it a few times.

I’ve done it twice - once for me and once for a guy who was marooned with no link.

As a last resort to get you home it’s probably  fine- but don’t go putting the power down on any hills.

the fix on the other guys bike got him most of the way home before snapping again - so his wife still had to come and collect him, according to his Strava ride title!

Yes, unless it's not.

I've found sometimes it goes back together fine and it's indistinguishable from the rest of the chain, other times it snaps barely a few pedal revolutions later. As above, it's a better option to try than having to walk, but not a substitute for taking some spare quick-links and a some chain.

Maybe, but did the 'walker' have any tools or spares at all?

also - it’s way easier if you don’t push the pin all of the way out…. So it still sits in the outer link when you begin the repair.

Maybe, but did the ‘walker’ have any tools or spares at all?

They had tools but not a chain tool and no spare link.  I've given out a few spare links over the years now.  He had an 11 speed bike but my 10speed link seemed ok.

As a last resort to get you home it’s probably  fine- but don’t go putting the power down on any hills

Yep, that's what I thought - thanks.  I would be comfy doing that myself as I always have the tool to take another link out if I need to.  They aren't expensive in the end unless you are buying something fancy.  When I got home went to steal one from one of my stock of chains while waiting to buy a new one and discovered that I'd already done that 🙂

Thanks all, will add that to my stock of 'trailside tips' 🙂

I was wondering though if you could fix the chain old school style by pushing the pin out of a link so it was still in the outer plate and then pushing it back in place

I did exactly this a few weeks ago 4 a lad on an ebike I'd bumped into whilst out riding, he had no tools with him at all but hopefully he got back 2 his van

I had a problem with a Campag chain as the peening is so extreme it can destroy some chain splitters and the remaining rivet is so loose that it doesn't stay in place for long. Old 9 speed chains used to be OK as there was little or no peening over and the replaced rivet was nice and tight.
The downside of a roadside fix is that it's almost impossible to identify which rivet got re-fitted so it's probably a new chain required - and probably cassette because the new chain will skip.

i didn't realise it wasn't a thing until my chains kept separating, presumably at the link id pushed out then in again

I'd do it to get home, but. then probably bin the whole chain off as i wouldn't be able to identify the pin which would likely leave me stranded later

Gave my spare link to someone at SSUK, which obviously guarantees I'll snap my chain before spares arrive and I'll have to test this advice!

I tried it once, and it failed, and jammed in the rear mech resulting in something of an implosion. New mech and chain required...

Done it once. A proper faff. Got me home OK. Have always carried a spare quick-link since.

Did it once, forgot about it and the chain snapped a week later when turning right at a busy junction. So, an emergency fix only.

In olden days (80s) it was, as noted above, how you did it.
modern chains have slightly flared ends on the pins, this doesn’t make it impossible to join successfully, but does make it a bit less likely.
I’d do it, but would take it easy until home.

Edited: I’m talking about derailleur chains, SS chains are totally fine.

My chain snapped on a cairngorm loop group start ride. At the head of feshie.

My spare link that lives under the seat was MIA .

So I rejoined it(Shimano chain) and carried on.

Made it all the way to Blair atholl with no further issues.

Then removed my gears and put my singlespeed set up back on

Sram (Sedis) or KMC chains I’d have a go at and would probably not go back to fix it later. It’s fiddly but with a leatherman holding the pin and a good splitter it’s doable. Old spoke bent into a chain holder helps lots. Shimano chains used to be joined by a special sacrificial rivet. I’ve joined one without this & even once used a bit of leftover sram to makeup an otherwise exploded chain.

Many 10+ speed chains have peined rivets to make them stronger - when you press the pins out, it leaves an oversize hole in the side plate. Re-using them means the riveted pin is no longer held as securely. OK as a last resort, get you home measure, but I prefer to use a chain link.

Yes, but keep your fingers crossed if it's 10speed+

 when you press the pins out, it leaves an oversize hole in the side plate.

I find that it shaves a little ring of metal off the end of the rivet. Either way, it's a last resort, get-me-home type of option for 10 speed and above.

My mate did this in BPW six months ago, it’s still fine. 11spd.

Yep.  Only hoping it is good enough to get me home and it really sounds like it is

In the interests of proper bodging, you can reuse the pins - just be sure to flare them out by ****ting the end with a hammer and drift, then flex the chain sideways to free it up. This works pretty well!

Not sure how practical this would be out on a ride, though.

It was the only option in my day.

As above, in the olden days pins were straight so could pushed back in and re-used.

Modern ones are flared so once they are removed they are 'knackered' and not really designed to go back in. At least not securely.

Might get away with it as a botch to get back home but I wouldn't rely on it.

also – it’s way easier if you don’t push the pin all of the way out…. So it still sits in the outer link when you begin the repair.

Yep - that's how we used to do it as kids long before PowerLinks existed. I still have the tool some 45 years on.

Yeh in the old style pins it's much easier if don't push the pin fully out with a chain tool as it's then already aligned for the return journey.

A modern pin though is almost like a rivet, removing it will damage the pin and potentially the hole in the outer plate as it's forced through.

Also, I've not checked but the diameter of the pin might be smaller too, compared to the holes in the links, as they are relying on the pin being splayed on both ends to hold it all together.

So once you've 'popped the seal' so to speak, it's not going to be held in securely.

The old school pins were just straight cylinders with a very close tollerence to the holes on the plates.

in an emergency? thats how i used to split and join chains, before quicklinks were a thing.
dont push it all the way out, just enough to be able to get the inner plates out.
push it back in and off you go.
Never have i ever used one of those special replacement pins. (though ive used quick links since 2004 ish

Easier to carry an extra spare link if you’re a magnanimous type. The old German riveting chain tool was pretty heavy. And costly.

I always carry two sets of spare links, as once I managed to drop the one I was putting on and couldn't find it (night ride)...

<span style="font-size: 0.8rem;">I always carry two sets of spare links, as once I managed to drop the one I was putting on and couldn’t find it </span>

Actually I'm going to end up doing that anyway now as between my wife,my daughters and I we have a mix of 10,11 and 12 speed.  The 10 and 11 seem interchangeable although it isn't ideal.  I was really just wondering if I could get off with reusing the pin if desperate and the answer seems like a big yes if I'm careful