any downside to Wippermann Connex link?
 

I'm thinking of getting a Wippermann Connex (or equivalent quick-
disconnect link) to make cleaning my chain & drivetrain easier. Is
there any downside to these gizmos?

I've read 1 or 2 anecdotes about quick-disconnect links coming undone
at the starting line of a race (!) but as far as I can determine
that's not a common enough occurence for me to worry about. I'm more
concerned with whether they affect longevity/durability of the chain
or cogs, or if they affect shifting, or... well, anything that might
be viewed as a negative.

Any reason I shouldn't consider one?

any downside to Wippermann Connex link?
 

On May 16, 6:56 am, Bob Ross wrote:
I'm thinking of getting a Wippermann Connex (or equivalent quick-
disconnect link) to make cleaning my chain & drivetrain easier. Is
there any downside to these gizmos?

I've read 1 or 2 anecdotes about quick-disconnect links coming undone
at the starting line of a race (!) but as far as I can determine
that's not a common enough occurence for me to worry about. I'm more
concerned with whether they affect longevity/durability of the chain
or cogs, or if they affect shifting, or... well, anything that might
be viewed as a negative.

Any reason I shouldn't consider one?

I swore off the Wipperman ones after one broke as I was taking off
from a 4-way stop last year. I was barely moving, but I went down
pretty hard. Since then, I've stuck with KMC and SRAM quick links,
more out of superstition than any empirical quality concerns.

Like you say, it's not a common occurrence, but once is really all it
takes.

any downside to Wippermann Connex link?
 

Hank wrote:

On May 16, 6:56 am, Bob Ross wrote:
I'm thinking of getting a Wippermann Connex (or equivalent
quick- disconnect link) to make cleaning my chain &
drivetrain easier. Is there any downside to these gizmos?

I've read 1 or 2 anecdotes about quick-disconnect links
coming undone at the starting line of a race (!) but as far
as I can determine that's not a common enough occurence for
me to worry about. I'm more concerned with whether they
affect longevity/durability of the chain or cogs, or if they
affect shifting, or... well, anything that might be viewed as
a negative.

Any reason I shouldn't consider one?

I swore off the Wipperman ones after one broke as I was taking
off from a 4-way stop last year. I was barely moving, but I
went down pretty hard. Since then, I've stuck with KMC and
SRAM quick links, more out of superstition than any empirical
quality concerns.

Like you say, it's not a common occurrence, but once is really
all it takes.

Seconded. There are 6 cyclists in this family, and I use
various width SRAM Powerlinks (black, silver or gold, depending
on the chain width) without any problems whatsoever.

I've used Wipperman conneX links only twice, and a side plate
failed on one of those, breaking the chain.

John

any downside to Wippermann Connex link?
 

On May 16, 2:56*pm, Bob Ross wrote:
I'm thinking of getting a Wippermann Connex (or equivalent quick-
disconnect link) to make cleaning my chain & drivetrain easier. Is
there any downside to these gizmos?

I've read 1 or 2 anecdotes about quick-disconnect links coming undone
at the starting line of a race (!) but as far as I can determine
that's not a common enough occurence for me to worry about. I'm more
concerned with whether they affect longevity/durability of the chain
or cogs, or if they affect shifting, or... well, anything that might
be viewed as a negative.

Any reason I shouldn't consider one?

I have a Wipperman link but it's on a new, as yet unfitted chain. My
SRAM quick-disconnect links have so far lasted 3200km on one bike and
2200km on another bike, in each case on the original chain. The chains
are in full crankcases, so there is no dirt to set up a grinding
action. I use White Lightning dry wax lube, so it is easy to see in
the bottom of the crankcase where the little balls of wax collect what
it is that they surround -- and on these bikes is mostly oil that
didn't all quite get cleaned off the the chain before I applied the
wax, not dirt. I gave both those bikes their six-monthly service a
while ago and inspected the SRAM links somewhat cursorily without
disassembling the chains; they were obviously fine, not thinned out
anywhere. For perspective, my open chains last about a thousand miles
and a bit, say not quite up to 2000km, and the SRAM quick links on
those have always seen the chain out.

After the comments here perhaps I won't even try the Wipperman quick-
link, and instead use the proven SRAM quick-link on the Wipperman
chain. Or it may be that it is a chain hygiene matter, that a properly
clean and lubricated Connex link will last as well as the SRAM one.
How well did you fellows with the Connex breakages look after your
chains?

I'm definitely a convert to the benefits of fully enclosed crankcases.

HTH.

Andre Jute
http://members.lycos.co.uk/fiultra/B...20CYCLING.html

any downside to Wippermann Connex link?
 

On May 16, 10:34 am, Andre Jute wrote:
On May 16, 2:56 pm, Bob Ross wrote:

I'm thinking of getting a Wippermann Connex (or equivalent quick-
disconnect link) to make cleaning my chain & drivetrain easier. Is
there any downside to these gizmos?



I have a Wipperman link but it's on a new, as yet unfitted chain. My
SRAM quick-disconnect links have so far lasted 3200km on one bike and
2200km on another bike, in each case on the original chain. The chains
are in full crankcases...

... For perspective, my open chains last about a thousand miles
and a bit, say not quite up to 2000km, and the SRAM quick links on
those have always seen the chain out.



I'm definitely a convert to the benefits of fully enclosed crankcases.


Does that have a derailer inside?

any downside to Wippermann Connex link?
 

Andre Jute wrote:
On May 16, 2:56 pm, Bob Ross wrote:
I'm thinking of getting a Wippermann Connex (or equivalent quick-
disconnect link) to make cleaning my chain & drivetrain easier. Is
there any downside to these gizmos?

I've read 1 or 2 anecdotes about quick-disconnect links coming undone
at the starting line of a race (!) but as far as I can determine
that's not a common enough occurence for me to worry about. I'm more
concerned with whether they affect longevity/durability of the chain
or cogs, or if they affect shifting, or... well, anything that might
be viewed as a negative.

Any reason I shouldn't consider one?

I have a Wipperman link but it's on a new, as yet unfitted chain. My
SRAM quick-disconnect links have so far lasted 3200km on one bike and
2200km on another bike, in each case on the original chain. The chains
are in full crankcases, so there is no dirt to set up a grinding
action. I use White Lightning dry wax lube, so it is easy to see in
the bottom of the crankcase where the little balls of wax collect what
it is that they surround -- and on these bikes is mostly oil that
didn't all quite get cleaned off the the chain before I applied the
wax, not dirt. I gave both those bikes their six-monthly service a
while ago and inspected the SRAM links somewhat cursorily without
disassembling the chains; they were obviously fine, not thinned out
anywhere. For perspective, my open chains last about a thousand miles
and a bit, say not quite up to 2000km, and the SRAM quick links on
those have always seen the chain out.

After the comments here perhaps I won't even try the Wipperman quick-
link, and instead use the proven SRAM quick-link on the Wipperman
chain. Or it may be that it is a chain hygiene matter, that a properly
clean and lubricated Connex link will last as well as the SRAM one.
How well did you fellows with the Connex breakages look after your
chains?

I'm definitely a convert to the benefits of fully enclosed crankcases.

HTH.

Andre Jute
http://members.lycos.co.uk/fiultra/B...20CYCLING.html


Wipperman Connex links are fine. Never had any problems with them and
I'm using them for almost 10 years on my road bikes. They are easier to
open then the SRAM links and are better made IMO. Only downside? They
are more expensive when you buy them separately.

Lou

any downside to Wippermann Connex link?
 

On May 16, 6:44*pm, Dan O wrote:
On May 16, 10:34 am, Andre Jute wrote:



On May 16, 2:56 pm, Bob Ross wrote:

I'm thinking of getting a Wippermann Connex (or equivalent quick-
disconnect link) to make cleaning my chain & drivetrain easier. Is
there any downside to these gizmos?

I have a Wipperman link but it's on a new, as yet unfitted chain. My
SRAM quick-disconnect links have so far lasted 3200km on one bike and
2200km on another bike, in each case on the original chain. The chains
are in full crankcases...
... For perspective, my open chains last about a thousand miles
and a bit, say not quite up to 2000km, and the SRAM quick links on
those have always seen the chain out.

I'm definitely a convert to the benefits of fully enclosed crankcases.

Does that have a derailer inside?

No. These are singlespeed/8speed chains. The gearboxes are Shimano's
Nexus 8 speed hub gears, zero deraileurs, just a control cable,
mechanical in one case, electronic in the other. There are a lot of
pics of one of the electronically controlled bikes he
http://members.lycos.co.uk/fiultra/B...%20Smover.html
and a pic of the mechanically controlled bike he
http://members.lycos.co.uk/fiultra/B...20Bauhaus.html
Enjoy!

I wish now I'd taken a photo of the little balls of wax inside the
crankcase at the end of six months of winter riding, which show either
that White Lightning dry wax is bleeding marvellous or that we should
immediately petition the President to make full chain cases compulsory
for all bikes (to save rising water, high quality oil and energy).

Andre Jute
http://members.lycos.co.uk/fiultra/B...%20HUMOUR.html

any downside to Wippermann Connex link?
 

On May 16, 10:34*am, Andre Jute wrote:

How well did you fellows with the Connex breakages look after your
chains?


In my case, the bike was only 2 months old, and had 300-400 miles on
it. I didn't have fenders on it at the time, so I'm pretty sure it had
never been ridden in the rain (I had my fendered touring bike for rain
days). I was in a 34-17 gear, starting from a dead stop, IIRC.

any downside to Wippermann Connex link?
 

Lou Holtman wrote:


Wipperman Connex links are fine. Never had any problems with them and
I'm using them for almost 10 years on my road bikes. They are easier to
open then the SRAM links and are better made IMO. Only downside? They
are more expensive when you buy them separately.

Lou

I've just thrown away a Connex link as the pin wasn't riveted square
with the outer plate. If used I can imagine it would have been the weak
link. Other than that my experiences with them are fine. They don't open
as easily as SRAM links when flopping about in a carboot (only of a
concern if you clean your chain ;)). Look for the shifting chamfer on
the linkplates to install them the right way up
--
/Marten

info(apestaartje)m-gineering(punt)nl

any downside to Wippermann Connex link?
 

M-gineering wrote:
Lou Holtman wrote:


Wipperman Connex links are fine. Never had any problems with them and
I'm using them for almost 10 years on my road bikes. They are easier
to open then the SRAM links and are better made IMO. Only downside?
They are more expensive when you buy them separately.

Lou

I've just thrown away a Connex link as the pin wasn't riveted square
with the outer plate. If used I can imagine it would have been the weak
link. Other than that my experiences with them are fine. They don't open
as easily as SRAM links when flopping about in a carboot (only of a
concern if you clean your chain ;)). Look for the shifting chamfer on
the linkplates to install them the right way up


My experience with the SRAM goldlinks lately are that I have to fiddle
with them for 15 minutes before installing to remove the sharp edges of
the slots, which makes opening a big PIA.

Lou