SRAM powerlink

I've never tried it on a Shimano chain, as I've been using only SRAM chains for a while now. I think Shimano chains have a special pin that you use to rejoin the ends.

cydewaze said:

I've never tried it on a Shimano chain, as I've been using only SRAM chains for a while now. I think Shimano chains have a special pin that you use to rejoin the ends.

Yes there is a pin for rejoining the chain but I haven't been able to found it with my dealers, I live in Costa Rica, and ordering a piece from the internet would be like paying a lot of money just for shipping, better buy a new chain but this one is only about 100-150 km old, i want to take it off the frame to clean it since I'm installing a new crankset.
Would it work if I just rejoin it with the same pin removed for taking it off?

Shimano say never reuse a connecting pin, its here in print
http://cycle.shimano-eu.com/publish/content/cycle/seh/nl/en/technical_service/faq_s/general_faq_s/assembly_instructions.html
so wether this is just to make you buy a new chain, i don't know - but there is an old saying (also used by sram) a chain is as strong as it's weakest link.
The concept of using a powerlink on a shimano chain, is feasable in concept 😕 but nowhere have I seen it recommended. My personal advice is bite the bullet and by a new chain! you can afford a new crankset, why not price in a new chain and have some peice of mind. Most of the riders I know (inc myself) use sram chains, and would recommend them over shimano (so does our LBS) i've only had shimano chains snap on me and u can take the sram ones off and on as you please.
Just picture it, u r out on ur lovely new crank, u get 15k away from base and ur bodged chain snaps!! it is up to you
Cheers 🙂

I think I may try to clean the chain attached to the frame :o And my next chain may be an SRAM if it is compatible with the rest of the driveline.

Solanog said:

I think I may try to clean the chain attached to the frame :o And my next chain may be an SRAM if it is compatible with the rest of the driveline.

I've been using SRAM chains with Shimano drivetrain components on both road and mountain for quite some time now. Never had a problem.

If you reuse the old Shimano pin, the chain will fail on you - just like it did on me - right in the middle of a steep climb. Luckily I didn't lose any skin, but I had to take the rest of the ride easy after I made a field repair on the chain.

Solanog said:

Does someone know how does this work? Can this be used on Shimano chains? I need to cut my Shimano LX chain (hg73?) but have not been able to find the pin to put it back together, the SRAM powerlink was offered to me but I don't know if it will work with Shimano. If not what can I do? Can I reuse the pin I remove for taking the chain from the frame?

PowerLink™ 2 connector works great with any Shimano 9 speed chain.
You get one with the SRAM chains, but you can buy just the connector and use it with your existing Shimano chain.

a powerlink will work on a shimano chain (silver=8spd, gold=9spd), dont reuse a pin it WILL fail. i dunno aobut prices wherever you are but SRAM chains are cheaper and i think better quality, my bike has all SRAM drivetrain on it and i love it, dont know how wear resistant it is yet.. its too new lol but we'll see hopefully it lasts, i'll be dissapointed if it doesnt

I use one with my Shimano chain, no problems.

Weisse Luft said:

I use one with my Shimano chain, no problems.

Well Thanks, I think I'll be buying a Powerlink for my Shimano chain 😉
Is it easy to take apart and put back together as they say, with no tools? This Powerlink is available while the plain Shimano pins aren't 😕

Fits fine on my Rohloff chain but is there a nack for getting them to open, I got one a few weeks ago but I sat there for 15 minutes the otherday trying to get it to open then gave up & retryed a few minutes later & it popped off first try..
Handy little things though for the winter when your constantlly going out & getting the chain filthy & it needs cleaning after every ride.

Solanog said:

Well Thanks, I think I'll be buying a Powerlink for my Shimano chain 😉
Is it easy to take apart and put back together as they say, with no tools? This Powerlink is available while the plain Shimano pins aren't 😕

They are easier than using a chain tool...if the chain is really dirty, it can be tricky. A blast of aerosol lube helps to clean grit from the parts. Follow the instructions and all will be fine..

BTW, love the avatar!

I have used the existing link pin from shimano chains many times. if you can extract the pin with your chain tool just enough to have a portion of it remain into the side linkplate you may then press it back in at the required length,
then insert it a little too much, then spread the link with the shlf of the tool to eliminate the tight link condition.
I must note i do not mtb, but shift sti even standing while climbing and this has always held without fail.

Solanog said:

Does someone know how does this work? Can this be used on Shimano chains? I need to cut my Shimano LX chain (hg73?) but have not been able to find the pin to put it back together, the SRAM powerlink was offered to me but I don't know if it will work with Shimano. If not what can I do? Can I reuse the pin I remove for taking the chain from the frame?

Hypnospin said:

I have used the existing link pin from shimano chains many times. if you can extract the pin with your chain tool just enough to have a portion of it remain into the side linkplate you may then press it back in at the required length, then insert it a little too much, then spread the link with the shlf of the tool to eliminate the tight link condition.
I must note i do not mtb, but shift sti even standing while climbing and this has always held without fail.

Before my first one failed, I had also reused old pins many times. It's like a lottery. I got lucky a few times, and then it finally came loose. After the first failure, I assumed I hadn't reassembled it correctly, and I kept reusing pins. I got lucky a few more times, then had another failure.

Each time the thing failed, there was a potential for losing a lot of skin, but I lucked out. I decided that it wasn't worth playing roulette with one of the least expensive components on my bike.

Weisse Luft said:

BTW, love the avatar!

Those are my friends 😄 Glock, Beretta, Sig (not on the picture and Taurus).

I once reuse a pin, it failed on my Road Bike but I was going on the flat road so it didn't break all of a sudden it began making a strange noise so I stopped and with a couple of stones (as hammers) I managed to put it back together then at home took of the bad link and put the chain back together, it work for long time.
I think I'll get the powerlink so I'll be able to clean the chain more regularly my usual trail is very dusty and after a couple of miles the chain is dry and messy.
Which oil do you use for this conditions? I used Pedros Ice Wax and other one, waxy too. Then some chain lube, a liquid one which seems to hold on better but is a lot more messy to 😠

I switched to an SRAM chain on my 7 speed shimano setup (I'm oldskool you see..) and ever since I did that the shifting on the front hasnt been quite right. If I am in top then either the chain rubs slightly or I cant get down to second. I might need realign the front mech but I doubt it.

I finally got the golden Power Link a while back, haven't installed it, for my Mountain bike (Shimano chain) and yesterday I bought an SRAM chain for my road bike, it's 8 speed (old 105) but still going on strong, the chain includes the Power Link, hope it works well with the Shimano.