Spare chain link advice

[dodss]

Help please, my chain separated yesterday on my road bike. I had a link splitter and spare link and managed to fix the chain to ride home. I now need spare links for my repair kit. I have looked online and need to know about 7,8.9 speeds; I am not sure about that question. and don`t know what to order.
I have two bikes, the old road bike and a Carrera mountain bike ,these have rear cassettes of seven and eight speeds respectively; are those the things that are being asked about.
Apologies for my ignorance. I have rode for a good while since my triathlon days and fortunately not had this issue for a long while. I took it to the bike shop when the chain separated a few years back. I cannot remember being asked about speeds when I got the splitter; must have been lucky.

 

[fossyant]

You just need an 8 speed link. Chains are the same size upto 8 speed, then they get slightly narrower. I carry 3 different links !!

 

[T4tomo]

yes. 7 and 8 speed use same split link so get one that says either 8 speed or 6/7/8 speed

 

[ColinJ]

You just need an 8 speed link. Chains are the same size upto 8 speed, then they get slightly narrower. I carry 3 different links !!

Ditto - I carry 8, 10 and 11 speed links. Once my mountain bike is back in use I will need 9 speed too (assuming that it won't work with 10 speed?).

 

[Buck]

Try and get the reusable ones as well - much easier for chain maintenance/clenaing.

KMC or Wipperman Connex are good.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

Wippermann Connex links are good and can removed / fitted without tools. Reusable many times. I.e. take from chain to chain till they eventually wear out.

 

[fossyant]

Ditto - I carry 8, 10 and 11 speed links. Once my mountain bike is back in use I will need 9 speed too (assuming that it won't work with 10 speed?).

Ah that reminds me, must put a quick link in my panniers for when commuting.

 

[DaveReading]

You just need an 8 speed link.

8-speed quicklinks come in two widths: 7.1 mm and 7.3 mm. Make sure you get the right one for your chain. I didn't.

 

[dodss]

Thanks all, great advice.

 

[ColinJ]

8-speed quicklinks come in two widths: 7.1 mm and 7.3 mm. Make sure you get the right one for your chain. I didn't.

Hmm... I didn't know that!

I just did a search and found an eBay ad...

Available in two pin lengths:

• 7.1 mm compatible with - KMC Z8 and Z8RB / SRAM 7 and 8-speed chains
• 7.3 mm compatible with - KMC e1 EPT, X8 EPT, X8, Z8 EPT, Z8, Z7 and Z6 chains / Shimano UG51 and HG40/50/70/90 chains

I'll have to check what I have and what I need!

I can imagine that buying the shorter type when you need the longer could be a problem. Surely having 0.2 mm extra pin length would NOT be though?

 

[neil_merseyside]

I usually carry one each of 4 sizes (8,9,10,11) and have used 4 over the last ten years, never any for me (yet). I can now see I'll break my chain in two places this weekend now I've said that! 3 newbies and a seriously heavy/strong rider needed help. I have been paid in beer and chocolate and even had a peck on the cheek (no I wasn't bending over) but what goes around comes around, I probably have 2 karma cards in hand - but can karma count, and is it karma'esque to expect favours?

 

[PpPete]

IME (with KMC and SRAM quick links) is that the greater the number of speeds, the harder they are to fit and remove. 9 speed usually manageable without tools unless the link really gunged-up. 11 speed, even perfectly clean and lubed, virtually impossible without the appropriate pliers. Very happy I had a spare link and such a tool with me when I bust my rear mech here. Single speeding back to Machynlleth was no fun, but infinitely preferable to walking. Since then I've learned that Wiipperman Connex can be used sans tools.