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Do you reuse quick links?

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  • June 8, 2017 at 1:35 am #27206
    Leviathan

    I’ve been trying to change my chain more often to reduce wear in my drivetrain. I am now changing after 2500-2600km, but was wondering if you have any view on reusing quicklinks? There are after all just one link in the chain. I know they can wear out, but I just put a new one on my last chain and it seems a shame to have to throw it out with the old chain, especially as we are talking about the price of a pint of beer here.

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Viewing 15 replies - 1 through 15 (of 28 total)
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  • October 5, 2017 at 9:46 pm #894861
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    ktache

    Ribble have 11 speed sram

    Ribble have 11 speed sram powerlinks for 2.29, you must have cheap pubs?

     

    October 5, 2017 at 8:45 pm #894859
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    srchar

    wycombewheeler wrote:

    wycombewheeler wrote:
    Just buy sram chains, come with their own split link, and outlast Shimano chains.

    Campag man here I’m afraid.

    To those of you worrying about the split link popping apart, that wasn’t the failure mode I experienced; mine simply broke in two.

    October 5, 2017 at 7:30 pm #894857
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    hawkinspeter

    I haven’t had any issues with

    I haven’t had any issues with KMC 11 speed links yet and I just re-use them each time I swap/clean my chain (about every 2 weeks or so with paraffin wax).

    October 5, 2017 at 6:55 pm #894855
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    VeloUSA

    @CoIT – My experience &

    @CoIT – My experience & answer to your questions is no. Yes, the 11 speed chain tolerance are different than 9 & 10 speed as the 11 speed width is slighty narrower – 5.4mm for 11 speed versus 5.9 mm for 10 speed ones. Is it more fragile? Again, a no. IMO I feel the marketing/sales pitch to say ‘nonresuable’ is to sell more product. But that’s just my opinion, do what you feel is best suited for you.

    October 5, 2017 at 9:33 am #894853
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    TypeVertigo

    wycombewheeler wrote:

    wycombewheeler wrote:
    Just buy sram chains, come with their own split link, and outlast Shimano chains.

    KMC chains also come with their own master links in the package. FYI

    October 5, 2017 at 9:25 am #894851
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    SteveAustin

    Only ones i dont re-use are

    Only ones i dont re-use are sram quicklinks. Split chain, take offending sram link and place in bin. Fit KMC quicklink.

    October 5, 2017 at 9:10 am #894849
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    ColT
    VeloUSA wrote:
    @CoIT – A worn link may pop off (disengage) when going over bumps or rough surfaces.

    Well, yes, but this surely applies to all cases.

    My point is more to do with why 11 speed appear to be so much more fragile. Are the tolerances that much different to 9 or 10 speed? Is opening an 11speed link inherently more risky because it’s going to cause damage? Surely if it clicks into place with the application of the appropriate force, it can’t be disengaged? (It takes me a fair amount of effort to split the links.)

    October 5, 2017 at 3:49 am #894847
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    VeloUSA

    I have reused 10 & 11 KMC

    I have reused 10 & 11 KMC Missing Links until I no longer hear/feel the click of the pins snugging against the ends when reinstalling the link. Normally I replace after 5-6 times.

     @CoIT – A worn link may pop off (disengage) when going over bumps or rough surfaces.

    October 5, 2017 at 12:58 am #894845
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    ColT

    I’d like to see the rationale

    I’d like to see the rationale behind the ‘don’t re-use 11 speed’ mantra.  What is actually happening to compromise the link if it is opened and then re-used, compared to the 9 and 10 speed versions?

    The cynic in me says “sales/profits” rather than “rider safety”, but I ain’t no engineer so am willing to be convinced otherwise. 😉

    October 4, 2017 at 10:58 pm #894843
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    RMurphy195

    If you mean do I reuse the

    If you mean do I reuse the quick link from an old chain on a new chain – no!

    If you mean do I reuse the link when I remove my chain for cleaning then put it back onto the same chain – then yes.

    I keep a spare, unused quick link as part of my toolkit, along with a chain tool, just in case.

    October 4, 2017 at 8:37 pm #894841
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    HLaB

    A new chain comes with a new

    A new chain comes with a new quick link so I use it.  I do carry the old quick link so I will reuse it in the case of an emergency.

    October 4, 2017 at 8:31 pm #894839
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    wycombewheeler

    srchar wrote:

    srchar wrote:

    Just thought I would revisit this thread, as my KMC 11-speed quick link failed today on the way into work. So, they do fail, although this one has probably been through three years of all-weather commuting.

    I’ll probably make a new quick link an annual purchase and continue to reuse them.

     

    Just buy sram chains, come with their own split link, and outlast Shimano chains.

    October 4, 2017 at 6:52 pm #894837
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    srchar

    Just thought I would revisit

    Just thought I would revisit this thread, as my KMC 11-speed quick link failed today on the way into work. So, they do fail, although this one has probably been through three years of all-weather commuting.

    I’ll probably make a new quick link an annual purchase and continue to reuse them.

     

    June 8, 2017 at 9:12 pm #894835
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    Leviathan

    Great replies (more engaging

    Great replies (more engaging than the election.) I normally get more than 2500kms; I realize I need to change it then don’t get around to it for a couple of weeks, so end up on 2850.

    The real reason I am asking is that I bought a chain which I made a muck up of splitting for the right length and bent the last link trying to get the pin in and now it’s too short. I will look for chains with free links in the future.

    June 8, 2017 at 5:28 pm #894833
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    srchar

    I’ve always reused mine

    I’ve always reused mine including 11-speed, no problems.

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