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

[Webbo2]

Can this be done or do you end up joining two bits with two quick links?

 

[Punkawallah]

While it -can- be done, I’m not sure it -should- be done. Emergency use excepted, of course.

 

[fossyant]

I wouldn't on modern chains due to the way the pins are made.

 

[T4tomo]

Can this be done or do you end up joining two bits with two quick links?

Yes & Yes
i.e the best way to lengthen a (12 speed*) chain is to join two bits with two quick links

*speed is irrelevant, save for you could pop pins in and out on was is 10 or 9 speed and below, but never sure how reliable a fix that was.

 

[Webbo2]

Thanks for the replies.

 

[Dadam]

While it -can- be done, I’m not sure it -should- be done. Emergency use excepted, of course.

Why? Genuine question, I was musing on this the other day.

Advice from many is to carry a spare quick link to fix a broken chain. Very sage advice. But if you had two quick links together on the chain, if the chain breaks you can just move one to bridge the gap. No chance of forgetting to carry a spare as it's on your chain already

They're both under the same load so no more likely to snap surely.

 

[Punkawallah]

Why? Genuine question, I was musing on this the other day.

Advice from many is to carry a spare quick link to fix a broken chain. Very sage advice. But if you had two quick links together on the chain, if the chain breaks you can just move one to bridge the gap. No chance of forgetting to carry a spare as it's on your chain already

They're both under the same load so no more likely to snap surely.

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.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

if you had two quick links together on the chain, if the chain breaks you can just move one to bridge the gap.

You cannot move a quick link from elsewhere on the chain to fix a broken chain. Think about it!

 

[Dadam]

You cannot move a quick link from elsewhere on the chain to fix a broken chain. Think about it!

Ah, but if you have two quick links together, you can move one of them.