[nicklin]

Ok ,so I have a basic, basic question:
If i need to take off a few links off my chain, can I start on any link? I have a shimano 8 speed chain on my hard tail and I want to take off a few links and convert it into a single speed.

Thanks in advance.

 

[binary visions]

Most Shimano chains have a "master link" that has a gold pin. I'm not sure what's special about the gold pin, but Shimano recommends you start there.

If you do not have a gold pin (I couldn't find one on mine when I bought it), you can start anywhere.

 

[Old_Dude]

I'd highly recommend getting and using a SRAM Powerlink with every chain you have - I use one on each bike and it makes disconnecting the chain really easy & quick. This means you can clean your chain really well & really quick. With the chain off, it's also easier to clean the rest of your bike - cassette, chainrings, et cetera.

The SRAM Powerlink will work with 8 or 9 speed chains and works with either SRAM and Shimano chains.

 

[binary visions]

Originally posted by Old_Dude
I'd highly recommend getting and using a SRAM Powerlink with every chain you have - I use one on each bike and it makes disconnecting the chain really easy & quick. This means you can clean your chain really well & really quick. With the chain off, it's also easier to clean the rest of your bike - cassette, chainrings, et cetera.

The SRAM Powerlink will work with 8 or 9 speed chains and works with either SRAM and Shimano chains.

An excellent suggestion. Up until my most recent chain, I always had a bunch of powerlinks and put one on my chain for quick disconnect.

Also, you don't weaken the links this way - the constant removal of pins isn't good for the chain.

 

[nicklin]

good idea, i think I'll geta sram chain soon. Just curious, why the "I'm with stupid"? Am I missing a joke or somehthing?

 

[Matt D]

The "I'm with stupid" is just saying that he agrees with the person who posted before him. The power link is a good idea, though I just use the shimano replacement pins.

The biggest thing to remember is that if you don't use the power link, you HAVE to use a new shimano replacement pin. If you reuse the pin you pushed though, the chain will be weak at that point. In a pinch (i.e. emergency trailside repair) it's okay, but otherwise you should get the shimano pin.

A gold pin in Shimano chains huh? I've been worked on hundreds bikes of all types for 3 years and have never seen that. Care to explain some more or show a pic?

 

[binary visions]

Originally posted by Matt D
A gold pin in Shimano chains huh? I've been worked on hundreds bikes of all types for 3 years and have never seen that. Care to explain some more or show a pic?

See, that's what I said. I've taken a lot of chains apart and have never seen a gold pin.

I'll see if I can find the little instruction book that came with the chain when I get home - the little Shimano instruction thing that comes with all Shimano parts says that there's a gold pin and that's the one you should use.

I looked and looked, found no gold pin. So I looked at my other chains, then at my friend's chains, and found no evidence of gold pins.

Oh well.

 

[oldfart]

With a shimano chain you can push out any pin, except the replacement one. It looks different than the others so you can identify it. There is no master link though. The pins are colour coded to indicate whether or not they are 8,9 or 10 speed length. I think the 9 speed are black, 8 speed silver and 10 gold. But don't quote me as I'm going from memory.

 

[Old_Dude]

Just a footnote:

Tossing a SRAM Powerlink in with your spare tube comes in really handy when you have a broken chain - and they're very light weight and compact. They come in a little square paper container and work with 8 & 9 speed chains.

Happy riding,

OD

 

[CanadianWorm]

Sram is not the only company who makes chains with quick-release links. I bought a Taya chain and it had one. The link is usually a different colour than the rest of the chain. (My chain is black and the special link is silver.

 

[D_D]

The sram links are a lot better than most of the others. The taya ones can't really be reused as the bit that clips onto the pins gets worn and can ping off mid ride.

 

[CanadianWorm]

That's true. But the Taya chain is 7 bux, the Sram one is probably quite a bit more expensive.

 

[wahoofishything]

i still have trouble taking apart the sram powerlinks. whats the best way to get these apart?

 

[Old_Dude]

i still have trouble taking apart the sram powerlinks. whats the best way to get these apart?

1 - Find the powerlink and position it where it would be about halfway between the rear derailleur and the chain ring

2 - With each hand, grab part of the chain on either side of the powerlink so there's no tension on the powelink

3 - push the sides of the powerlink towards each other - towards the center of the chain - while doing this the link posts should slip off the side pieces rather easily

Takes a little practice and it's easier to do if the link is clean.

Cleaning the chain?
=======================
I don't buy that stupid idea of putting the chain into a plastic soda bottle - too difficult to get the chain out - even with a used spoke. This method makes it too easy for the chain to get tangled up. I use a thoroughly cleaned plastic peanut butter jar with either non-diluted Simple Green or the citrus equivalent from Zep.

After soaking & swishing in this solution for a while (you can put the closed lid jar with the chain & degreaser on the washing machine - I just swish it around) remove the chain and put it on a 2x6 on your driveway, grab a hose and a brush, and scrub all four sides of the chain - again using non-diluted degreaser. Rinse thoroughly and let dry.

When dry, I take ~8 continuous paper towells and fold them over to a width of about 4 inches and lay this out on the railing of my deck, then I lay out the chain on the paper towells. I prefer the old lube I was using (Lightning?) but now I'm using Pedro's Ice Wax - take the bottle of Ice Wax and remove the top of the bottle. Put the bottle of Ice Wax into the microwave for about 20 seconds at a setting of "3" (out of 10).

Screw on the top of the bottle and make sure the bottle vent (?) is closed and shake the Ice Wax thoroughly. Then apply a drop of Ice Wax to each roller in the chain and let it soak in. Pick up and then slam down small portions of the chain to help the Ice Wax drop down into the chain rollers - I start at one end and move down the chain line until it's complete.

Take the paper towell and gently remove any excess Ice Wax - install chain and wipe off excess with a clean, lint-free rag. Spin the chain about 100 times and you're done.

Did I leave anything out?

Make sure before you install your chain you clean the other parts of your drivetrain - chainrings, cassette and cables. To obtain a "partial cleaning" of your cables you don't have to remove them from the derailleurs - just get the cables slack and slide out the housings, clean the cables, lube them with Phil greas (or equivalent) and reinstall. When necessary, there is no substitute for a proper cable cleaning, but this shortcut is great for those times when just a quick cleaning will do.

I sure love a clean, drivetrain. Who doesn't?

Ride happy,

OD