I've never had a problem with Powerlinks before - I've always found them reasonably easy to take apart, but yesterday after struggling to remove one I eventually had to resort to using a hacksaw on it...
LBS was out of replacement Powerlinks, so I got a Taya Sigma connector instead. It was a devil to fit - just flex the chain a little until it snaps into place? Yeah, right! But it looks sturdy enough - anyone have any experience of this make? Reliable?
Anyway, had an interesting chat with LBS man - he said, contrary to what I have been told in the past in this NG, that Powerlinks are not meant to be re-used. This surprised me. His explanation sounded plausible - that the constant "clicking" in and out weakens the securing part of the link, but I wonder how much this matters if the chain is kept under tension during use. So, does he have a point, or is he talking out of his fundament?
I've never had a problem with Powerlinks before - I've always found them reasonably easy to take apart, but yesterday after struggling to remove one I eventually had to resort to using a hacksaw on it...
Was it dirty? Did it fall apart after you'd sawn through it, or was it still seized?
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LBS was out of replacement Powerlinks, so I got a Taya Sigma connector instead. It was a devil to fit - just flex the chain a little until it snaps into place? Yeah, right! But it looks sturdy enough - anyone have any experience of this make? Reliable?
Yes, they're fine but unlike the Powerlinks they should not be re-used. The flexing to uncouple them alters the properties of the side plate. I've re-used one once and got away with it, but it looked a little wonky.
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Anyway, had an interesting chat with LBS man - he said, contrary to what I have been told in the past in this NG, that Powerlinks are not meant to be re-used. This surprised me. His explanation sounded plausible - that the constant "clicking" in and out weakens the securing part of the link, but I wonder how much this matters if the chain is kept under tension during use. So, does he have a point, or is he talking out of his fundament?
The latter. The whole point of Powerlinks is the reusability.
Anyway, had an interesting chat with LBS man - he said, contrary to what I have been told in the past in this NG, that Powerlinks are not meant to be re-used.
Well, according to the manual my fully suspended built-like-a-tank bike isn't "meant" to be ridden down kerbs as it is DANGEROUS. What is "meant" and what will work perfectly acceptably in practice aren't necessarily the same thing...
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This surprised me. His explanation sounded plausible - that the constant "clicking" in and out weakens the securing part of the link, but I wonder how much this matters if the chain is kept under tension during use. So, does he have a point, or is he talking out of his fundament?
I'm pretty sure lots of people here use them (I use lots thanks to the long chains on the 'bent and 8 freight) and I don't recall anyone woefully reporting the horrible demise of their Powerlinks, or those of their friends or FOAFs. Not a /huge/ sample base, but I'd take that block of empirical data over a bit of what sounds like cautious perfectionism.
Pete. -- Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK net [email hidden] http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/
Anyway, had an interesting chat with LBS man - he said, contrary to what I have been told in the past in this NG, that Powerlinks are not meant to be re-used.
I'd always been under the impression that new chain = new Powerlink, but forget where I read this. If a chain's been on the bike a good while without cause to remove it, the pins tend to 'bed in' to the slots in the Powerlink in any case, so removal means resorting to a chain rivet tool after all.
I've never had a problem with Powerlinks before - I've always found them reasonably easy to take apart, but yesterday after struggling to remove one I eventually had to resort to using a hacksaw on it...
I always find powerlinks a complete PITA to get off. Frequently I don't remove them at all, but just bin the chain. The main reason I use them is that I like Sachs chains and it's easier to fit them with a powerlink than to try and join on a pin.
I've never had a problem with Powerlinks before - I've always found them reasonably easy to take apart, but yesterday after struggling to remove one I eventually had to resort to using a hacksaw on it...
LBS was out of replacement Powerlinks, so I got a Taya Sigma connector instead. It was a devil to fit - just flex the chain a little until it snaps into place? Yeah, right! But it looks sturdy enough - anyone have any experience of this make? Reliable?
Anyway, had an interesting chat with LBS man - he said, contrary to what I have been told in the past in this NG, that Powerlinks are not meant to be re-used. This surprised me. His explanation sounded plausible - that the constant "clicking" in and out weakens the securing part of the link, but I wonder how much this matters if the chain is kept under tension during use. So, does he have a point, or is he talking out of his fundament?
I carry a pair of Sigma connectors in each of my bike's toolkits, just in case a link fails out on the road, but I've never had to use one. As to Powerlinks, I've used them for ages with no problems at all, but then I'm not subjecting them to "constant" clicking in and out. I perhaps take each chain off twice a year for thorough cleaning.
LBS was out of replacement Powerlinks, so I got a Taya Sigma connector instead. It was a devil to fit - just flex the chain a little until it snaps into place? Yeah, right! But it looks sturdy enough - anyone have any experience of this make? Reliable?
Snaps into place, sure. Snaps in place, does that too. Probably not a good idea to run one on the tandem. I prefer the powerlinks, and I have a small pot of them in my barbag.
Was it dirty? Did it fall apart after you'd sawn through it, or was it still seized?
Thanks to last Saturday's ride, it was /very/ dirty (I was trying to get the chain off to clean it) but I had sprayed a bit of WD40 on the link and most of the dirt had come off. Maybe there was a bit of grit stuck in there jamming it.
I don't think it could have "bedded in" as David B. suggested, as it's only a couple of weeks since I last took the chain off for cleaning.
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The latter. The whole point of Powerlinks is the reusability.
That's what I thought. And like Pete says, the evidence from experience suggests it's OK to re-use them.
I'd always been under the impression that new chain = new Powerlink, but forget where I read this.
Sounds like a sensible idea, and since SRAM chains mostly seem to come with a Powerlink (except current chain which was bought from Parker and came without) I'd probably as a matter of course put the new link on with the new chain anyway, and keep the old one in reserve as an emergency replacement.
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the pins tend to 'bed in' to the slots in the Powerlink
Maybe, but it's only a couple of weeks since I last had it off (and the chain) so probably not that in this case.
Anyway, had an interesting chat with LBS man - he said, contrary to what I have been told in the past in this NG, that Powerlinks are not meant to be re-used.
I'd always been under the impression that new chain = new Powerlink, but forget where I read this. If a chain's been on the bike a good while without cause to remove it, the pins tend to 'bed in' to the slots in the Powerlink in any case, so removal means resorting to a chain rivet tool after all.
Oops - got my wires crossed here a bit! The link itself *ought to* be re-usable [1] with the chain it was originally paired with (but old chains/new links should't be mixed & vice versa, which is what I meant); I'd interpreted the original post incorrectly.
David Belcher
[1] Provided pins haven't bedded-in, as in my first post.
LBS was out of replacement Powerlinks, so I got a Taya Sigma connector instead. It was a devil to fit - just flex the chain a little until it snaps into place? Yeah, right! But it looks sturdy enough - anyone have any experience of this make? Reliable?
Snaps into place, sure. Snaps in place, does that too. Probably not a good idea to run one on the tandem. I prefer the powerlinks, and I have a small pot of them in my barbag.
I should clarify that. I have had a sigma connector break on teh tandem. I have not had a powerlink break.
Powerlinks are good because they are symmetrical and don't require bending to get in/out. Sigma connectors are good because you can hook both ends of the chain together very easily, a godsend if your hands are cold and numb.
I've never had a problem with Powerlinks before - I've always found them reasonably easy to take apart, but yesterday after struggling to remove one I eventually had to resort to using a hacksaw on it...
When I've come across a particularly awkward powerlink I've always managed to get it apart by bracing it against the chainring (so the powerlink itself is perpendicular to the circumference of the chainring), squeezing the side plates together in the normal fashion, and then tapping the unsupported half with whatever tool is closest. Apologies if this method is self-evident. 🙂
Alternatively, Jobst Brandt describes another technique here:
But I've always found that more fiddly than the one described above.
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Anyway, had an interesting chat with LBS man - he said, contrary to what I have been told in the past in this NG, that Powerlinks are not meant to be re-used. This surprised me. His explanation sounded plausible - that the constant "clicking" in and out weakens the securing part of the link, but I wonder how much this matters if the chain is kept under tension during use. So, does he have a point, or is he talking out of his fundament?
It's been years since I've actually listened to any 'advice' given in an LBS, now I generally just pretend to listen and nod politely.
Anyway, had an interesting chat with LBS man - he said, contrary to what I have been told in the past in this NG, that Powerlinks are not meant to be re-used. This surprised me. His explanation sounded plausible - that the constant "clicking" in and out weakens the securing part of the link, but I wonder how much this matters if the chain is kept under tension during use. So, does he have a point, or is he talking out of his fundament?
LBS man wants to sell you lots of new ones... The manual on SRAM's web site says to use a new one with a new chain, but makes no mention of not re-using one on an old chain.
Slip it off the chainwheel first. It's much easier when it's not under tension.
That's /far/ too obvious! (disappears shaking head wondering why hadn't thought of himself...)
Pete. -- Peter Clinch Medical Physics IT Officer Tel 44 1382 660111 ext. 33637 Univ. of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital Fax 44 1382 640177 Dundee DD1 9SY Scotland UK net [email hidden] http://www.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/
Not to me it wasn't, but it sounds good. I shall bear it in mind for next time, thanks.
I forgot to mention: with a bit of fiddling you can get the chain to 'bunch up' for a few links on the leading edge of chainring. This means that the powerlink is held at the required angle to the chainring and that there is no tension on that part of the chain. You need to ensure that the cranks aren't free to rotate or the chainring will turn (just when you're reaching for something to tap the link), freeing the chain and pulling the link back together.
That's /far/ too obvious! (disappears shaking head wondering why hadn't thought of himself...)
It is, in fact, the very same technique I often use - but I don't usually remember it until I have had several failed attempts at getting it together with the chain on the rings...
