Actual Tech: Quick Links

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.

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.

Get a Revolver, or name the exact type of chain you bought.

On Saturday, May 11, 2013 4:49:54 PM UTC+1, Sepp Ruf wrote:
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.



Get a Revolver, or name the exact type of chain you bought.

Nice, if you can afford it, but I thought I saw where Rohloff stopped making the Revolver.

Andre Jute

Andre Jute wrote:
On Saturday, May 11, 2013 4:49:54 PM UTC+1, Sepp Ruf wrote:
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.

Get a Revolver, or name the exact type of chain you bought.

Nice, if you can afford it, but I thought I saw where Rohloff stopped making the Revolver.

stopped making chains, yes.

http://www.rohloff.de/en/products/revolver_3/index.html
in stock at semi-randomly selected supplier; and yes, EUR 123 shipped
buys a number of decent chains including quick links:
http://www.bike24.com/1.php?content=8;navigation=1;menu=1000,185,191;pro duct=20245

On Sunday, May 12, 2013 12:29:36 PM UTC+1, Sepp Ruf wrote:
Andre Jute wrote:

On Saturday, May 11, 2013 4:49:54 PM UTC+1, Sepp Ruf wrote:

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.



Get a Revolver, or name the exact type of chain you bought.



Nice, if you can afford it, but I thought I saw where Rohloff stopped making the Revolver.



stopped making chains, yes.



http://www.rohloff.de/en/products/revolver_3/index.html

in stock at semi-randomly selected supplier; and yes, EUR 123 shipped

buys a number of decent chains including quick links:

http://www.bike24.com/1.php?content=8;navigation=1;menu=1000,185,191;pro duct=20245

A tool to keep in a display cabinet and admire. Thanks for that, Sepp. But the necessity passed me by when I discovered quick links, and now that all my chains run inside chain cases or chaingliders or whatever, and I ride only on puncture-proof tyres, and I bought a bunch of KMC chains wholesale, I need to split the chain so infrequently, I have to read the instructions for my quick links when I fit a new chain...

I should probably explain that from new to worn out, I don't clean my chains at all, because they don't need it. In fact, I'm currently running an experiment with factory lube only, no added lube, inside a Hebie Chainglider, and its getting on for 2000km, and the factory lube is doing fine. The setup is Surly Stainless 38T chainring, KMC X8-99 chain with KMC quick link, Rohloff 16T sprocket, Hebie Chainglider all-round cover (extra-long version to suit my long wheelbase Utopia Kranich, special Rohloff rear section).

Of course, you can't do away with the traditional chainbreaker tool. You still need to shorten new chains when you fit them.

Andre Jute

On May 11, 8:15 am, Jay Beattie wrote:
For some unknown reason, I bought a Shimano chain.

It was on sale?

What a pain in the
ass with the single-use pin.

Uh-huh.

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.


Sorry I'm no help - all SRAM here. Quite satisfactory.

On 5/11/2013 10:15 AM, 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.


The various major brands all work well. Measure across the
chain or look on the package; get that width link, 6.6mm,
6.2mm, whatever.

Generally, 4, 5, 6 derailleur chain may be easily joined
with a rivet tool. 8, 9, 10, 11 should use a snap link for
reasons you just intimately discovered. Sevens can go either
way, as you prefer.

--
Andrew Muzi
www.yellowjersey.org/
Open every day since 1 April, 1971

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

Andre Jute writes:

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

Thanks for providing the links. Occasionally I've found the
quicklinks to be a bit of a pain to open, so a tool would
be useful. Didn't know they existed.

--
Joe Riel

Op 12-5-2013 6:55, Joe Riel schreef:
Andre Jute writes:

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

Thanks for providing the links. Occasionally I've found the
quicklinks to be a bit of a pain to open, so a tool would
be useful. Didn't know they existed.



With a Connex link you never ever need a tool to open them. Use them for
10 years now on my 10 speed road bikes. Never had any problems with them.

Lou