Installing a new chain gave a run for my money, but I feel accomplished.

Ooooh! Grinding good. Fireworks, then new chain. It just doesn't get much better than that.

 

You might want to take the caliper off of the bike and then press the rear pedal until the pads touch, then clean the pistons real good. With the extended out the far you should be able clean almost the whole piston. If you're worried about popping the pistons out all the way maybe put something a little thinner than a rotor between the pads. You'll of course need to pry the pads open to get it over the rotors.

 

It has worked for me for many years....haven't fucked up a link...ever.

 

There is a part in the factory service manual on how much to "squash" the rivet on the master link. In my EK chain riveting tool set-up I have a gauge that is a GO-NO-GO where you use it on the mushroomed rivet, if it fits its cool, if not, you need to put more pressure on the rivet to mushroom it more. There are also plates that you can put on either side of the link as your "staking" it, that prevent it from being too tight on the master links o-rings.

In the end, if you fuck up the master link, its easy enough to grind off and install a new one, just don't tell your buddies otherwise you blow the whole "chain-god" thing. I love the sound of a new chain on a bike, everything is nice about it. My Kawasaki I replaced the chain slide rubber which makes it sound like a new bike eace: btw I fucked up master link or two in my career, main thing is I never had one let go at speed.

 

This is going to cause a chain cleaning / chain lube thread.....