Repairman takes chance -- I'm off (8)
I believe the answer is:
mechanic
'repairman' is the definition.
(mechanic is a kind of repairman)
'chance i'm off' is the wordplay.
'off' indicates anagramming the letters.
'chance'+'im'='chanceim'
'chanceim' is an anagram of 'MECHANIC'.
'takes' is the link.
(Other definitions for mechanic that I've seen before include "Worker skilled in machinery and cars" , "Mender of machines" , "Car repairer" , "Manual worker" , "One repairs cars, say" .)