When you make extremely high end precision tools, you can expect to get a number of requests. For years, Jason Quade of Abbey Bike Tools has been getting requests to make a chain tool but in typical Abbey fashion it had to be right. Now, after more than two years of sweating the details, the Decade is finally ready for orders.
Named the Decade, the chain tool gets its name from the rigorous testing that the prototypes went through to get the Abbey seal of approval. Using a single tool with the same pin, Abbey broke more than 10,000 chains using an impact driver to speed up the process. As Jason pointed out, that’s the equivalent of breaking three chains per day, every day, for 10 years.
To help guarantee long life and future drivetrain compatibility, the Mid Pate is removable so you could swap it out for something else if the chain width/pitch ends up changing. As it is, the tool is compatible with 7-12 speed 3/32″ multi-speed chains – no single speed or track stuff yet, but Jason says 1/8″ Mid Plates are coming in the future.
Campagnolo 11 & 12 speed compatibility is provided with a threaded plug that you place in the end of the tool for peening. Jason says that they used an optical comparator to guarantee that the peening had the same deformation as the stock Campagnolo tool as well.
Floating on a ball bearing with a collar to hold them in place, the shock-rated tool steel driving pin is replaceable and the tool even comes with a second that stashes in the handle. But with over 10,000 chain breaks on a single pin, you shouldn’t need to replace it any time soon – unless user error is involved. The tool is also compatible with both Shimano and Campagnolo driving pins for even more versatility.
In order to increase longevity and ease of use, the main body and threaded lead screw are chomoly steel and are treated with a low friction Powder Vapor Deposition Zirconium Nitride coating. This makes the tool incredibly smooth to use and should make a lot of obsessive mechanics happy.
Available now for a pre-order, the tool will cost $175 which includes a replacement pin.
