On Saturday, May 11, 2013 4:15:10 PM UTC+1, Jay Beattie wrote:
For some unknown reason, I bought a Shimano chain. What a pain in the
ass with the single-use pin. I assume there is an after-market "quick
link" for these things? I suppose I could Google it, but if there is
a preferred product, I would appreciate knowing that.
-- Jay Beattie.
First you need to measure very carefully to discover the width across links because even with a single "speed" there may be differences. Once you have the width of the chain, I recommend the KMC quick links. The Connex ones also work well enough. My experience with the SRAM quick links is that they don't last as long as a quality chain, which can be a nuisance (I use KMC X8 chains). I have reused a KMC quick link without any problem.
Unless you have experience opening quick links, I suggest you practice before you have to do it on the road. My hands are soft -- I don't leave the house without gloves -- so I use a purpose made tool to break and refit quick links.
Christ, 11-speed quick-links are pricey:
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/M...?ModelID=57321
Here are some more, including the wrong one for my version of the KMC X8,
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/M...?ModelID=25439
Here are some more on the pages where I found the right one for my chain
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/?s=chain+link
Here are the official KMC quick link tool, a pair for opening and closing:
http://www.wiggle.co.uk/kmc-chain-link-pliers/
But I use this one instead, a single tool rather than a pair:
http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/M...?ModelID=47439
Andre Jute