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chain quick-link

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01 / Original postchain quick-linkScott C · 22 Jul 2003 02 / This pagePosts 1–6Page 1 of 1 · chronological order 03 / Latest replyPost #6Werehatrack · 23 Jul 2003

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Original section
Cycling Equipment
Published
22 July 2003
Last activity
23 July 2003
Original author
Scott C
Posts
6
Discussion status
Public discussion
Total views
998
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0
Topics
Indoor trainers

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  1. Original post
    Scott C
    Archived post
    #1

    Last night I used my chain tool for the 1st time and removed 2 pins, and inserted a quick-link. It
    was painless. Upon inserting the quick-link (and I got the 8 speed one for the bike) it was very
    hard to close, due to the width of the original chain. I finally got it started (to close) and then
    pushed the pedal fairly hard to close the quick-link all the way. My issue is, it may not come
    apart! Is there a best way to remove this quick-link? My thinking now is I will have to get the
    chain in such a way as to get pliers on the link to push it together - but this does not sound like
    the right way.

    Suggestions?

    Thanks

    Scott

    Report
  2. Pete Biggs
    Archived post
    #2
    Scott C said:

    Last night I used my chain tool for the 1st time and removed 2 pins, and inserted a quick-link.

    What make? SRAM?

    Quoted message said:

    It was painless. Upon inserting the quick-link (and I got the 8 speed one for the bike) it was
    very hard to close

    Did you have any slack in the chain? Much easier with chain off the chainrings (then hook back on
    after chain has been joined).

    Quoted message said:

    , due to the width of the original chain.

    Is it an 8-speed chain?

    Quoted message said:

    I finally got it started (to close) and then pushed the pedal fairly hard to close the quick-link
    all the way. My issue is, it may not come apart! Is there a best way to remove this quick-link? My
    thinking now is I will have to get the chain in such a way as to get pliers on the link to push it
    together - but this does not sound like the right way.

    I find SRAM/Sachs/Sedis Powerlinks easy to fit and remove with fingers and thumbs alone. I have not
    had to resort to plyers. A gritty chain may make it more difficult - but I've yet to experience that
    problem myself, even with dirty chain.

    There's a knack to removing. Links must be squeezed in and pushed together hard, and wiggled, all at
    the same time. You should get it with a bit of practice - which is worth doing now!

    ~PB

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  3. Peter Cole
    Archived post
    #3

    "Scott C" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:jpdTa.118683$Ph3.15423@sccrnsc04...

    Quoted message said:

    Last night I used my chain tool for the 1st time and removed 2 pins, and inserted a quick-link. It
    was painless. Upon inserting the quick-link (and I got the 8 speed one for the bike) it was very
    hard to close, due to the width of the original chain. I finally got it started (to close) and
    then pushed the pedal fairly hard to close the quick-link all the way. My issue is, it may not
    come apart! Is there a best way to remove this quick-link? My thinking now is I will have to get
    the chain in such a way as to get pliers on the link to push it together - but this does not sound
    like the right way.

    Some of them are really hard to remove, you may need pliers. The good news is that they become
    easier to remove as they wear. Make sure you don't have a tight link now.

    Report
  4. Paul Kopit
    Archived post
    #4
    Scott C said:

    I finally got it started (to close) and then pushed the pedal fairly hard to close the quick-link
    all the way. My issue is, it may not come apart! Is there a best way to remove this quick-link? My
    thinking now is I will have to get the chain in such a way as to get pliers on the link to push it
    together - but this does not sound like the right way.

    Suggestions?

    I've been successful with bending a spoke into a "V" and inserting the spoke between the links that
    need to be pushed together. Squeeze the spoke and put a little pressure on a needle nose pliers and
    the link opens.

    Most often I don't need the spoke at all. I shoot the spoke with carbuerator cleaner and use my
    fingers. The newer links seem to work more smoothly than the older ones.

    Report
  5. Scott C
    Archived post
    #5

    Thanks for the replies.. I'll give it more of a try..

    Quoted message said:

    What make? SRAM?

    *** Yes

    Quoted message said:

    Is it an 8-speed chain?

    *** Yes

    Report
  6. Werehatrack
    Archived post
    #6
    Scott C' may have said:

    Last night I used my chain tool for the 1st time and removed 2 pins, and inserted a quick-link. It
    was painless. Upon inserting the quick-link (and I got the 8 speed one for the bike) it was very
    hard to close, due to the width of the original chain. I finally got it started (to close) and then
    pushed the pedal fairly hard to close the quick-link all the way. My issue is, it may not come
    apart! Is there a best way to remove this quick-link? My thinking now is I will have to get the
    chain in such a way as to get pliers on the link to push it together - but this does not sound like
    the right way.

    Suggestions?

    Some mass-market bikes come with chains that act like this; the SRAM links are hard to latch on
    them, but they *will* latch, and they don't bind in my experience. The links latch onto a better
    grade of chain a bit more readily, but the difference is really not all that much. Unlatching them
    is a bit tricky the first few times. It's easier if you have a pair of really narrow needlenose
    pliers to stick into the link and squeeze the rollers toward each other, but those jaws need to be
    narrow enough that they don't put *any* sideforce on the link or you may bend the sideplates; this
    is Generally Recognized As Bad. With a bit of experimentation, you can probably find (as I did) ways
    of using whatever's at hand to unlatch the link. My favorite method now is to pull the chain around
    to where the link is toward the front of the big ring on the chainwheel, drop the pulled section
    into the teeth with the connector link sticking up in a V, and then give it a bit of a nudge in the
    right direction with a stick, a pocket screwdriver, or some other not terribly blunt instrument.
    I've done it with my car keys. After you have a few miles on the link, the process gets a lot
    easier. I've become a big believer in those SRAM connectors; they make working on the chain just
    entirely too easy.

    --
    My email address is antispammed; pull WEEDS if replying via e-mail. Yes, I have a killfile. If I
    don't respond to something, it's also possible that I'm busy.

    Report

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