Breaking a KMC chain; How to?

On KMC's web page I couldn't find any mention of a "Z-44" chain. Give
them a try at
[email hidden]
I use KMC 9sp chains. I always use SRAM powerlinks to connect the
chain. When I need to install a new chain I usually need to shorten it
first and it seems that the way the chain is connstructed using the old
fashioned way to connect it would work just as well.

On KMC's web page I couldn't find any mention of a "Z-44" chain. Give
them a try at
[email hidden]
I use KMC 9sp chains. I always use SRAM powerlinks to connect the
chain. When I need to install a new chain I usually need to shorten it
first and it seems that the way the chain is constructed using the old
fashioned way to connect it would work just as well.

I don't know why they truncated the email address. Must be an anti-spam
feature. So go here and you'll see the link.

http://home.earthlink.net/~kmcchain/english/

Kenny said:

On KMC's web page I couldn't find any mention of a "Z-44" chain. Give
them a try at
[email hidden]
I use KMC 9sp chains. I always use SRAM powerlinks to connect the
chain. When I need to install a new chain I usually need to shorten it
first and it seems that the way the chain is constructed using the old
fashioned way to connect it would work just as well.

The reason those powerlinks are necessary is that pushing out and back in
a pin on a modern chain just doesn't work as well. I had a KMC chain come
from together on a ride after less than 500 miles. Not impressive.

I would go for the black pin, to answer the OP's question. But I would
get a powerlink if I could, or, better yet, a chain which supplies one in
the package, like SRAM.

--

David L. Johnson

__o | When you are up to your ass in alligators, it's hard to remember
_`\(,_ | that your initial objective was to drain the swamp. -- LBJ
(_)/ (_) |

David L. Johnson said:

I would go for the black pin, to answer the OP's question. But I would
get a powerlink if I could, or, better yet, a chain which supplies one in
the package, like SRAM.

Many better KMC chains actually come with the Missing Link (tm), which
is mostly identical to SRAM PowerLink. I've used the X-10 chain on a
bike with Campagnolo 10-speed drivetrain without any trouble.

-as

Antti Salonen said:

Many better KMC chains actually come with the Missing Link (tm)

The one I bought last week certainly had the link in a small plastic
envelope in the box with the chain.

TomYoung said:

(I posted this earlier but really didn't get specific answeres to my
specific questions, so I thought I'd try again.)

Hi all:

Can't quite get a straight answer on this so I thought I'd ask here. I
have a KMC chain. The plates are marked "KMC", "Narrow", "Z" and
"Z-44". There doesn't appear to be a master link. All the pins, save
one, look exactly the same; the one "odd" one is a black pin.

So, how does one seperate the chain to remove it from the bike?

1)In the old-fashioned way of partially pushing out a pin and pushing
the pin back in to re-assemble? If so, is the black pin to be avoided
in this exercise, or is that "the one" pin you *can* partially push
out?

2)Completely pushing out a pin and then using a special replacement pin
like on Shimano chains? Is that what that one black link on the KMC
chain is? Will Shimano replacement pins work?

TIA.

Tom Young

Following the links provided by Kenny I contacted KMC via email and
copied the above post, asking if they could answer the questions. The
reply was a little vague, but here's what they said:

"Most bike manufacturers do not use master links for KMC high end
multiple
speed
chains. They normally use a special connecting pin provided by KMC.
Since
all the pins are specially riveted, they are not reusable. In this
case, you
may remove any outer link, and then use KMC MissingLink II to reconnect
the
chain."

(Tom Young note: this sounds like my situation; I'm assuming the one
black pin is the "special connecting pin" mentioned above and the
reference to "all the pins" refers to the all the pins in the chain
except the black one. Ergo, push out one of the non-black pins and go
buy a master link.)

"For a 12 speed, or 15 speed bikes, the bike manufacturers may use the
chain
pin to assemble the chain. In this case, you may push the pin half way
out,
then reassemble the chain with that pin. But the position of the pin is
very
critical, please make sure that the pin is evenly placed between two
outer
link plates. To be safe, we suggest that you use MissingLink to
reconnect
the chain. Please consult qualified mechanics of the bike shop to
ensure
proper installation."

(Tom Young note: this part of the reply is a little unclear; I'm
assuming the "chain pin" mentioned here is a regular pin (i.e., not the
black one) so pins can be partially pushed out to break the chain and
then the chain can be re-assembled by pushing the pin back in. Since
the chain in question is on an 8-speed bike I'm guessing I can't do
that here.)

Give the above I guess I completely push out any pin except the black
one and then go and buy a master link to re-assemble.

Tom Young

TomYoung said:

(Tom Young note: this part of the reply is a little unclear; I'm
assuming the "chain pin" mentioned here is a regular pin (i.e., not the
black one) so pins can be partially pushed out to break the chain and
then the chain can be re-assembled by pushing the pin back in. Since
the chain in question is on an 8-speed bike I'm guessing I can't do
that here.)

Since they say 12 or 15 speed bikes, which I believe means 2x6 or 3x5, aka
*very* low end, these'll be very oldfashioned 'standard' derailer chains
rather than 7/8-sp specific, 9sp specific, or 10sp specific. Presumably
they make KMC chains for 5/6 speed use in the opldfashioned way without
peening the rivets.

Jasper