Ultegra chains - pop a link or replace the pin?

[Bopomofo]

As per the title... I've got a nice new Ultegra groupset on the new beasty, but on my roadie I replaced the Ulty chain some time back with a chain that has a split link in it - and I find this rather handy for cleaning.

Also, If I were to bust a link in my new Ulty chain with my enormous torque I'd be needing to pop a link and put a special Shimano tapered pin in it... or do I pop a link and put a split link in.

I may not be being clear:

- Is it worth putting a split link in my chain NOW, for maintenance purposes?

- In my on-bike tool bag should I keep a Shimano pin - if the chain busts I pop the link, replace the pin and ride one link short (possibly losing 53/25 which I can live without), OR...
... If the chain busts I pop the link out and replace with a split link?

Any ideas?

[andyb99]

put the missing link in now!!! it saves loads of hassle

[Sir Jibbenstein]

Missing link in now for maintenance purposes. Put a spare one in your saddle bag in case it breaks would be my approach.

[Bopomofo]

So the split links are definitely OK for using all the time? I know it is OK in my other chain, but that one is designed to split i.e. it came with a split link in it.

I'll need to do some investigating to see if it is OK to ride an Ulty chain with a 3rd party split link... unless this is what you are doing? Any experience of this?

[Sir Jibbenstein]

I buy KMC chains because they come with split links. KMC in fact make Shimano chains. A lot of people run Shimano chains with KMC links I think as they are so much easier to put together. Don't get the SRAM link and don't get the EXTREME/PRO version of the KMC link as they are not re-usable.

[andyb99]

yeah it will be fine all KMC chains come with this now...be reet

[Worrying Will]

Just do it. Jay on the maitnance course said it was worth doing and with the KMC chain tool (posh pair of plyers that open the quick link with ease) it is well worth doing.

If you dont have a pair of these get them http://www.wiggle.co.uk/kmc-chain-link-pliers/

[ris]

i've mixed kmc/sram quicklinks with shimano chains in the past with no problems.

worth noting that a lot of 10spd quicklinks aren't removable (the readily available sram ones, for example, are lock-links, and the reusable sram ones are a fair bit more expensive).

kmc 10spd quicklinks were a fair price on chainreaction a few months ago.

[andyb99]

i've mixed kmc/sram quicklinks with shimano chains in the past with no problems.

worth noting that a lot of 10spd quicklinks aren't removable (the readily available sram ones, for example, are lock-links, and the reusable sram ones are a fair bit more expensive).

kmc 10spd quicklinks were a fair price on chainreaction a few months ago.

they are all removable...only thing shimano do is supply the chain with the right amount of links with a missing link fixed in...you can still remove it with a chain tool...buy a kmc one and you have to drop a few links out.

kmc chains on ebay are cheaper than CRC...by a lot

[Kevy427]

If you dont have a pair of these get them [url]http://www.wiggle.co.uk/kmc-chain-link-pliers/[/url]

Shortly after reading the URL, Bopo exploded