Whale chain rivet tool ?

[daveorave]

Looking for some guidance , have to change the dakar chain and sprockets tomorrow, got a did gold xring and after doing some research here i decided to splash out on the whale chain cutter and riveter, the chain link i got has hollow ends do i need a link with solid ends or will the whale tool work for both ? just looks to me like the shape of the whale tool might close the end rather than mushroom it. also do i need spacers to keep the correct gap or how do i know when its closed enough ? was thinking of using vernier calipers to check the rivet link against the other links or is there a better solution ?
To view pics on this biker's forum - your post count must be 2 or greater.

[Andrei "The Russian"]

Most/all chain rivet links are mushroomed.
Most good chains come with spacers as well, so you squeeze the link first and then rivet
it.
Also you can squeeze the link bit by bit and just keep checking that it moves like the rest and not tighter or looser,
did a few chains that way on my race bike, no problem.
I bought cheapest rivet tool o fleabay and it does the job,
To cut the old chain i just use the angle grinder.

[Fledermaus]

I ,dunno but i do know that despite the name,the whale is a decent setup,quality loike-happy cuttin'.Seriously the whale is proper....
To view pics on this biker's forum - your post count must be 2 or greater.

[motorgreen]

The whale riveter you have sounds like the one for spreading the head of a solid pin.
Afaik there is a
To view pics on this biker's forum - your post count must be 2 or greater.
.
I went with Andrei's solution for riveter of hollow pins on ebay but have used use
To view pics on this biker's forum - your post count must be 2 or greater.
to push side plate over the pin and ball pein hammer to spread the rivet too. Found the ebay tool easier. I have only done 2 chain and sprockets (one each method) so am not an expert, just telling you what I've used for hollow pins.