What chain?? Recommendations please

[Ball]

I have a new SRAM chain (8 speed) which has come with what I think is a Power link. For the life of me I can get the links through the plates, but they simply will not move apart. I have tried puting pressure on the middle fo the plates when pulling, but to no avail.

Any thoughts as to what I am doing wrong?

If it's the same problem I was having it's because 'power links' aren't designed to be taken off once they're on, which, as I think someone above said, makes them completely and utterly pointless.

What I did was buy a SRAM chain but instead of securing it with a SRAM 'power link' instead bought a KMC 'missing link', which IS designed to be reused, i.e. you can easily take it off and on again in order to clean both chain and bike.

You will be able to get the power link off but not without either this special tool, or a lot of hard work with some pliers and potential damage to the chain.

 

[Monsieur Remings]

I have a new SRAM chain (8 speed) which has come with what I think is a Power link. For the life of me I can get the links through the plates, but they simply will not move apart. I have tried puting pressure on the middle fo the plates when pulling, but to no avail.

Any thoughts as to what I am doing wrong?

They're a nightmare but watch on youtube for technique and you might find that a little pressure here or there might do the trick. I know that sounds ridiculous but it's worth a look if you're really stuck.

The 8 and 9 speed SRAM chains come with Powerlink, which believe it or not, are easier than the Powerlock that comes with the 10-speed chain. I happily use 10-speed SRAM links but won't buy their complete chains no more.

 

[Monsieur Remings]

If it's the same problem I was having it's because 'power links' aren't designed to be taken off once they're on, which, as I think someone above said, makes them completely and utterly pointless.

What I did was buy a SRAM chain but instead of securing it with a SRAM 'power link' instead bought a KMC 'missing link', which IS designed to be reused, i.e. you can easily take it off and on again in order to clean both chain and bike.

You will be able to get the power link off but not without either this special tool, or a lot of hard work with some pliers and potential damage to the chain.

I thought, I may be wrong, that it was the other way around - that Powerlock were not designed to come off making them completely pointless.

 

[lejogger]

They're a nightmare but watch on youtube for technique and you might find that a little pressure here or there might do the trick. I know that sounds ridiculous but it's worth a look if you're really stuck.

The 8 and 9 speed SRAM chains come with Powerlink, which believe it or not, are easier than the Powerlock that comes with the 10-speed chain. I happily use 10-speed SRAM links but won't buy their complete chains no more.

I bought 10 spd KMC chains for both of my regularly used bikes. On one of them I used the missing link that came with the chain and for the other I used one of the spare KMC links that I bought in a pack of three.

The chain held together by the separately bought spare link is an absolute doddle to get off, yet the chain held together by the link supplied... well I just can't remove it for love nor money. I've taken to wiping it down while still on the bike, which is just about bearable, but makes cleaning the rear mech jockey wheels a pain in the posterior.

I will always now use separately supplied links but I'm still stuck with the current problem. I don't know whether to invest in a tool to make sure I can get it off properly, or just break the link with a chain breaker and cut my losses, reattaching with the alternative link.

Hmmm.

 

[Monsieur Remings]

I bought 10 spd KMC chains for both of my regularly used bikes. On one of them I used the missing link that came with the chain and for the other I used one of the spare KMC links that I bought in a pack of three.

The chain held together by the separately bought spare link is an absolute doddle to get off, yet the chain held together by the link supplied... well I just can't remove it for love nor money. I've taken to wiping it down while still on the bike, which is just about bearable, but makes cleaning the rear mech jockey wheels a pain in the posterior.

I will always now use separately supplied links but I'm still stuck with the current problem. I don't know whether to invest in a tool to make sure I can get it off properly, or just break the link with a chain breaker and cut my losses, reattaching with the alternative link.

Hmmm.

Yeah, I remember the same problem tbh mate, with the supplied link. I'd cut your losses and use the spare link and just get another one.

 

[womblechops]

Thanks for the advice. I will try and improvise some sort of lever to force the links apart and failing that I'll pop down the local bike shop (clunk clunk over the jockey wheels) and see if I can borrow a link forcer aparter.

Failing that I have a link removal tool so I'll just ditch the Ppowerlink!