HowardSteele said:[font=Comic Sans MS]I’ve used magic links for a number of years, but they are specific to the width of the chain, 7,8,9 speed requires narrower links accordingly.[/font]
[font=Times New Roman][font=Comic Sans MS]The best link is the one that closes as you lock it in place from both sides so they do not have a front or back, the older links had to be installed in a certain direction or they didn't track well.[/font][/font]
hmmm..You are talking about the "keyhole" type?
When I was "shopping" I could not find a "magic link" that suited Shimano.
There was Campo, and SRAM, and Wipperman made them to suit their chains. Would one of these fit a Shim chain of the same size? I was concerned about pin size etc. I am sure companies are pretty precious about making sure you are locked into their setup.
This one was a Wipperman to suit Shimano, and it looks exactly like the "master link" I had on my bike 30 years ago, with an elongated circlip covering both pins on one side. It will definitely need to go in the right direction. What I was worried about is the fact that now it has to fit in with lifting over sprocket teeth, and that might either stop changes or even open the chain.