how many quick links allowed on a chain

[jackthelad]

guys was doing heavy duty hills on the older bike with a 9 speed sram 971 chain.The chain is fairly new but it broke and I had to fit a quick link to get back home.The chain now has 2 quick links,is this ok to use regular or should the chain be changed , and this one kept for emergency

 

[Rob500]

If it was me I'd be getting a new chain.

 

[Sittingduck]

I have used 2 or 3 in the past and it's been ok but I would say that you must get to a point where it's not as reliable as 'pure' chain. What that point is though... I have no idea! My guess is something like 4+ quick links, prob less unless they are all spanking new....

 

[Rickshaw Phil]

I've got 3 on my knockabout bike at the moment. It doesn't seem to cause any issues.

Edit: They weren't fitted due to breaking the chain though.

 

[jackthelad]

thanks for the replies guys the chain is fairly new, my head tells me to chance it ,but my miserable side tells me to get some use out of it,this could end up as a live and learn experience.

 

[HovR]

I've got two on my commuter from lengthening the chain when switching from SS to gears.Has worked fine for the last few hundred miles.

 

[HLaB]

Lol, A while back I went up 1 tooth on a cassette (changed from a 12-25 to an 11-26) and thought the same length of chain would be ok but it wasn't; I ended up bursting the deraileur jockey wheel cage (the hanger stayed true ). The chain was less than 30 miles old and I had quicklinks; it two to lengthen the chain and there was the original (3 in total); I ran the chain for 3,500miles no problem.

 

[Profpointy]

they say "a chain is only as strong as its weakest link", therefore it doesn't really matter how many of the links are weaker, providing they are only acceptably weak, even assuming quick links are weaker; they may or may not be.

That said, if lots of links have bust hence the quicklinks, then I guess the underlying chain is itself shagged, but that's a different question

 

[Poacher]

they say "a chain is only as strong as its weakest link", therefore it doesn't really matter how many of the links are weaker, providing they are only acceptably weak, even assuming quick links are weaker; they may or may not be.

That said, if lots of links have bust hence the quicklinks, then I guess the underlying chain is itself shagged, but that's a different question

Could replace all the original links with quicklinks? Would still be a viable chain, and no problem finding where to break it.

 

[ufkacbln]

I always have at least 3

Mainly because a recumbent chain length is 2+ normal chains and have 3 joins

Besides which, they are probably safer than a chain that has been joined using a chain tool on a poor visibility dark wet night and cold hands!

 

[GrasB]

How many are allowed... well how many outer links have you got?

 

[subaqua]

How many are allowed... well how many outer links have you got?

thats technically correct. however if a chain has bust a link i would be looking at replacing the chain as once one goes its generally not long till another goes. somebody posted pics of a chain where one had gone and on further inspection a lot more links were goosed.

a chain is what £10 ?

 

[Sittingduck]

Let me know where you get your chains, if you pick them up for a tenner^

Sometimes you have to break and re-join links for other reasons, than having had a link break. I have a chain hanging up in the kitchen that has at least 4 quick links, due to various reasons and it has about 100 miles on it, tops!

 

[youngoldbloke]

Let me know where you get your chains, if you pick them up for a tenner^

9 speed?

 

[Sittingduck]

10!