Quick links are optional, right?

[HovR]

What do people think of re-using quick-links? I need to swap my chain shortly, do I need to get another quick link or can I take the one in my current chain across?

With a new chain, it's best to get a new quick link. The old quick link will have worn and stretched with the rest of your chain, so if you were to fit an old quick link with a new chain, the quick link would be more worn than the rest of the chain.

Quite a few quality chains will come with quick links anyway. You could always put the old link in your saddle bag as a spare just in case of chain failure. Unlikely to happen, but you'll be thankful of having spare links if it does!

 

[Blue Hills]

But can KMC links be taken off and then put back on the same chain?

As I often do with SRAM for cleaning.

I accept the point that when a chain is changed/dumped, the old link should be ditched with the old chain.

 

[HovR]

But can KMC links be taken off and then put back on the same chain?

As I often do with SRAM for cleaning.

I accept the point that when a chain is changed/dumped, the old link should be ditched with the old chain.

Sorry, I have no experience with KMC quick links. I'd suspect that they must have a reason for saying they're one use, and I'd advise getting a new quick link for the same number of speeds as your bike, that is reusable.

 

[CopperCyclist]

Before I start a new thread, can someone answer Hawk's question?

I have been using SRAM chains for years and understand that the SRAM chain links can be taken off and put back on - something I find useful as I take my chains completely off the bike to clean them. Their chains usually come with a link so when the chain is worn and removed for good I throw the whole lot away and fit a new chain with its new link.

(by the by since I'm on this subject I know that some SRAM chains don't come with a link - is it wise to take the link from chain to chain?)

I recently fitted a 7/8 speed KMC chain onto a bike and the instructions said that the link should be replaced every time it was taken off. Seems to remove a major advantage of the thing. Is this true or are KMC just being ultra conservative./covering themselves.

Considering moving to KMC chains as they do seem to be very good value and lots of folk on here seem to advocate using the cheapest decent chain.

Fraid I haven't any experience with KMC links either, but I will point out that I spent a lot of time and effort with my last SRAM chain trying to undo the powerlink, before finally discovering that if you have a 10 speed SRAM chain the powerlink is a 'use once' deal hat doesn't come undone!

 

[Blue Hills]

OK - any advance on this?

If the links can't be re-used when you temporarily take the chain off, despite KMC's many benefits touted on here I'll have to forget them - too attached to my chain cleaning system.

 

[Hawk]

OK - any advance on this?

If the links can't be re-used when you temporarily take the chain off, despite KMC's many benefits touted on here I'll have to forget them - too attached to my chain cleaning system.

You can definitely remove the chain using the quicklink and then re-attach it for cleaning etc. The question is whether, when you get a new chain, you can continue to use an old quick-link (which it seems is ill-advised)