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SRAM recalls 10-speed PowerLock chain connector links

Recall affects only 10-speed PowerLock connector links NOT chains

Component manufacturer SRAM has issued an immediate voluntary recall of their 10 speed PowerLock chain connector but they are emphatic that this is NOT a recall of their 10-speed chains ONLY the PowerLock connector link, PowerLinks on 8 and 9 speed chains are also unaffected.

One particular batch of the links is affected which the company says may develop a crack during installation or initial use which could cause the link and then chain to fail resulting in potential accident or injury. The affected batch are those with a date stamp (located on the outer face of the plates) with a code ending in either M or N. The batch in question may have been fitted as original equipment to chains or have been sold as an aftermarket replacement.

Only the PowerLock 10 speed connector links are affected, no other PowerLock links are part of the recall, nor are any SRAM chains or non PowerLock

SRAM's voluntary recall notice advises consumers to stop using this product immediately. "Failure of the SRAM 10 speed chain PowerLock connector link, while in use, may result in loss of bicycle control and possible injury." and advises consumers to take their bike to their local SRAM dealer to have the link code verified to see whether it is one of the batch affected (see the diagram above for checking where the relevant code stamp on a PowerLock connector). According to the company the likely failure rate for the faulty batch is "2.5 connector plates out of 1000"

If you do have one of the connectors affected by the recall on your chain SRAM will give you a free replacement.

road.cc's founder and first editor, nowadays to be found riding a spreadsheet. Tony's journey in cycling media started in 1997 as production editor and then deputy editor of Total Bike, acting editor of Total Mountain Bike and then seven years as editor of Cycling Plus. He launched his first cycling website - the Cycling Plus Forum at the turn of the century. In 2006 he left C+ to head up the launch team for Bike Radar which he edited until 2008, when he co-launched the multi-award winning road.cc - finally handing on the reins in 2021 to Jack Sexty. His favourite ride is his ‘commute’ - which he does most days inc weekends and he’s been cycle-commuting since 1994. His favourite bikes are titanium and have disc brakes, though he'd like to own a carbon bike one day.

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10 comments

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Wardy74 | 11 years ago
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Ah, I've just ordered a pair of these from CRC. Hopefully they won't have sent me duff set.  39

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chiv30 replied to Wardy74 | 10 years ago
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Wardy74 wrote:

Ah, I've just ordered a pair of these from CRC. Hopefully they won't have sent me duff set.  39

I doubt it .....this was 4 yrs ago.......  7

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DaSy | 14 years ago
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Oh, okay. I didn't know you could drive the pins out of the connector, I always assumed they were permanently attached.

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Tony Farrelly | 14 years ago
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You can use a chain tool to get the link off and put a new one on… well a SRAM dealer can anyway. Here's the bit on the recall info for dealers dealing with just that. Dunno if I should preface this with "don't try this at home"  39

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DaSy | 14 years ago
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But that must mean a replacement chain surely?

You aren't supposed to link the chains using a chain tool any more, so would either mean a new section of chain held in by 2 of the replacement links, or a new chain and single link.

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Tony Farrelly | 14 years ago
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I think the idea is you take your bike in to your local SRAM dealer, they verify whether you have one of the potentially faulty links, and if you do they change it.

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DaSy | 14 years ago
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I wonder how you are supposed to get it off?

They are one use only, and can't see how you could take it off without having to remove the links of chain either side...

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Tony Farrelly | 14 years ago
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Nope, just spoken to SRAM and they tell me Cancellara's problem on the Koppenberg wasn't caused by a faulty PowerLock.

"In Cancellara's case it was not a PowerLock failure, the chain unfortunately failed in very hard racing conditions." says the man from SRAM Europe.

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Tony Farrelly | 14 years ago
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Good point, I'll ask…

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lapize | 14 years ago
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Is this what Cancallara broke on the Koppenberg?

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