How To Use A Chain Whip

Park Tool CP-i chain whip pliers tool review

No slip or hand rip

Our rating

4.5 out of 5 star rating four.5

GBP £55.00 RRP | AUD $110.00 | USD $54.00

Published: April 13, 2015 at 10:00 am

Our review

Fuss-costless chain whip alternative that merely works every bit desired

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The CP-1 chain whip pliers are Park Tool's first offering away from a traditional chain whip — The CP-1 chain whip pliers are Park Tool'due south commencement offering abroad from a traditional chain whip

*David Rome / Immediate Media*

Gently rounded tips help the chain to wrap around the cog

*David Rome / Firsthand Media*

The chain whip pliers are spring loaded for quick one-handed use — The chain whip pliers are jump loaded for quick 1-handed apply

*David Rome / Firsthand Media*

Available leverage is very close to Park Tool's shop-grade 'SR2.2' chain whip

*David Rome / Immediate Media*

We've used plenty of chain whips over the years, and this is our favourite so far - although it's a bit too big and heavy for our portable tool box — We've used enough of chain whips over the years, and this is our favourite so far – although it'due south a chip too big and heavy for our portable tool box

*David Rome / Immediate Media*

A chain whip is a simple tool that's used solely to hold a cassette in place to stop it from freewheeling while snapping the lockring loose. Nonetheless, it unsurprisingly sees enough of apply in the workshop.

A chain whip is, traditionally, simply a bar with a couple lengths of chain attached to it. Pedro's inverse all that with the introduction of the Vise Whip pliers – which lock onto the cassette, meaning zip hazard of slippiage nether misuse. For the past few years, Vise Whips have been a pop choice for dedicated mechanics, while Park Tool has stuck with the trusty, albeit dated chainwhip – until now.

Park'south new chain whip pliers are rather elementary with a spring-loaded hinge beingness the only moving office. At the business end of the forged steel pliers are rounded tips with lengths of replaceable ten-speed chain attached to them.

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Gently rounded tips help the chain to wrap around the cog:

Rounded edges give more wrap of the cog

The pliers' operation is every bit simple as their looks. Merely clamp the cassette between a 9-24t cog and squeeze with ane hand. They work with all multi-speed drivetrains from seven-speed upwardly. The larger the cog y'all try to clamp, the wider the grip gets. When clamping common 11, 12 or 13T cogs, the grip is perfectly comfortable, fifty-fifty for those with smaller paws.

The long 35cm (13.7in) length means there is enough of leverage available to help snap gratis even the most stubborn of lockrings with your other paw.

In practical terms, for a pro the pliers won't exist much quicker than using a familiar chainwhip, but they hold deeply and there appears to be less strain on the lengths of chain compared with a more traditional whip.

Lined up side by side to the aforementioned Pedro'south Vise Whip, the Park pliers are quicker to use on a diversity of cassette sizes and afford even more leverage. They don't, however, lock in identify like the Pedro's tool, instead being but as secure equally your grip.

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We've used plenty of chain whips over the years, and this is our favourite so far – although it's a bit too big and heavy for our portable tool box: we've used plenty of chain whips over the years, and this is our favourite so far – although information technology's a bit also big and heavy for our portable tool box

We've used plenty of chain whips over the years (including the Pedro'southward Vise Whip), and this is our favourite so far – just it'south a hard pill to swallow when far cheaper options work nearly as well

Less frequent users are likely to observe the simplicity – and power to completely ignore the angle and side at which you install the pliers – a blessing. For many though, the toll of this workshop tool, which is comparably far higher in the UK and Australia than in its US homeland, may outweigh its convenience. Outside the States, it's an option that'southward best suited to the professional mechanic.