Can you add extra links to a Shimano 12 speed chain.

[Alex321]

It isnt - they have 114-118 half links.

At the rule of thumb of 1% stretch/elongation that's only a half link. anyone not being able to tell the difference between an inner and outer plate/link shouldn't be let near a chain breaker.

Plus if hung up / side by side you can see the elongation along the length and pulled the old change up/back a bit a half way to line up the links.

I think you knew this really

I've never thought of them as half links, I have always just thought of them as inner or outer links. Thinking of them as half links probably makes more sense, and does make you realise that it isn't going to be enough longer to be a "full" link.

I did wonder at the OP talking of 54 links, and was wondering what bike they had to use such a short chain

I've always just counted the links in the old chain, and split the new one to the same number.

 

[Webbo2]

When I replace chains I lay the old one along side the new one. It is quite easy to see where the new chain should be broken without the need for counting the links, and maybe miss counting.

Ok I did this but my mistake was the old chain hadn’t elongated by that much. So I took a link off too many despite my counting as well. I clearly was having a bad day. As for the old chain being the right length, it did big to big. However being old school I only ever did this by error so never used it for more than a few seconds.
So given my inability to put on a chain of the right length, what do you reckon on my chances of changing my disc brake pads or getting to grips with this chain waxing game.😳

 

[Punkawallah]

Time for a beer, methinks.

 

[C R]

Time for a beer, methinks.

Isn't always time for a beer?

 

[Ming the Merciless]

Ok I did this but my mistake was the old chain hadn’t elongated by that much. So I took a link off too many despite my counting as well. I clearly was having a bad day. As for the old chain being the right length, it did big to big. However being old school I only ever did this by error so never used it for more than a few seconds.
So given my inability to put on a chain of the right length, what do you reckon on my chances of changing my disc brake pads or getting to grips with this chain waxing game.😳

Wax your disc pads, and bed in the chain with some sharp accelerations.

 

[Punkawallah]

Isn't always time for a beer?

Of course, but it still bears repeating for those who might forget :-)

 

[Jameshow]

There is no ‘science’ behind my opinion. But ‘a chain is only as strong as its weakest link’, and while the designer might have allowed for the quick link to replace one link in the chain, it may not have been designed to replace two.

YMMV, T&CA, DTTAH.

That's just a saying you know!

 

[Punkawallah]

That's just a saying you know!

Hence the inverted commas.