Difficulty remove Chain link

General cycling advice ( NOT technical ! )
AlastairS
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Joined: 15 Aug 2011, 3:24pm
Location: Aberdeen

Difficulty remove Chain link

Post by AlastairS »

Hi, I have a KMC 10 chain on my bike. It has a link which looks like it can be separated, however I can't separate it.
Clean it with degreaser, then try to push the outside links towards the special link, but the special link does not budge.
Very grateful for any help
KimBowers
Posts: 7
Joined: 2 Aug 2007, 5:26pm

Re: Difficulty remove Chain link

Post by KimBowers »

Try squeezing the side-plates of the link together first, then push the pins in towards each other.
It shouldn't need ant tools to undo, just your fingers.
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Vetus Ossa
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Joined: 22 Oct 2012, 7:32pm
Location: Plymouth

Re: Difficulty remove Chain link

Post by Vetus Ossa »

Some power links are very east to push together to separate, and some most definitely are not, especially if you have weak hands as I do. In the the latter case pliers designed for the job make it a doddle.
I use Park Tool Master Link Pliers - MLP1.2
Beauty will save the world.
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jezer
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Joined: 29 Sep 2007, 5:16pm
Location: North Wiltshire

Re: Difficulty remove Chain link

Post by jezer »

I use the specially designed tool for the job, as referred to above. Makes removing and fitting very easy.
Power to the pedals
pete75
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Joined: 24 Jul 2007, 2:37pm

Re: Difficulty remove Chain link

Post by pete75 »

12 quid for some masterlink pliers - what an extravagance. Just get some snipe nosed pliers from the pound shop and grind a curved indent on the inside of the tips.
'Give me my bike, a bit of sunshine - and a stop-off for a lunchtime pint - and I'm a happy man.' - Reg Baker
rfryer
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Joined: 7 Feb 2013, 3:58pm

Re: Difficulty remove Chain link

Post by rfryer »

One technique is to feed the chain onto the outer chainring with one tooth of slack where the quick link is, so that the link is almost perpendicular to the chainring. You can then use any tool, or a handy rock, on the end of the link to push it apart.
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cycleruk
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Joined: 17 Jan 2009, 9:30pm
Location: Lancashire

Re: Difficulty remove Chain link

Post by cycleruk »

We presume you have a quicklink style.
There are various makes but if it's a KMC then I use pliers on the diagonal edges.
Some of the other designs though require a different technique.

Link1 (Large).JPG


Link (Large).JPG
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Vantage
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Re: Difficulty remove Chain link

Post by Vantage »

I lost my patience with one of those stupid things when swapping everything over to the new build. After an hour I gave up and cut it off with a dremel.
I'll be trying sram next time.
Bill


“Ride as much or as little, or as long or as short as you feel. But ride.” ~ Eddy Merckx
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Mick F
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Location: Tamar Valley, Cornwall

Re: Difficulty remove Chain link

Post by Mick F »

rfryer wrote:One technique is to feed the chain onto the outer chainring with one tooth of slack where the quick link is, so that the link is almost perpendicular to the chainring. You can then use any tool, or a handy rock, on the end of the link to push it apart.
Absolutely.

Easy, simple, quick, foolproof. :D
Mick F. Cornwall
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jezer
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Joined: 29 Sep 2007, 5:16pm
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Re: Difficulty remove Chain link

Post by jezer »

Perhaps I'm old fashioned, but I prefer to use properly designed tools for my pride and joys.
Power to the pedals
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Mick F
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Re: Difficulty remove Chain link

Post by Mick F »

CJ had a thread about the method of pulling an extra link onto the chainwheel. He had photographs too.
Simple and easy, and no tools required.

Maybe someone will find the thread and piccies?
Mick F. Cornwall
Mattyfez
Posts: 354
Joined: 22 Dec 2014, 7:24pm

Re: Difficulty remove Chain link

Post by Mattyfez »

One tip I picked up which i find sooo handy for removing and replacing the chain, all you need is a thick large paperclip, or a bit of bent spoke or simmilar bit of metal...keeps the chain in place and frees both hands to faf with the link!


Image
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jezer
Posts: 1581
Joined: 29 Sep 2007, 5:16pm
Location: North Wiltshire

Re: Difficulty remove Chain link

Post by jezer »

Also a plastic clip around the chain stay and the arm mech relieves pressure on the chain, enabling easy fitting of the chain.
Power to the pedals
scottg
Posts: 1218
Joined: 10 Jan 2008, 8:44pm
Location: Highland Heights Kentucky,, USA

Re: Difficulty remove Chain link

Post by scottg »

pete75 wrote:12 quid for some masterlink pliers - what an extravagance. Just get some snipe nosed pliers from the pound shop and grind a curved indent on the inside of the tips.



I think Aldi has a master link kit for 2 quid, two nails and a block of wood. :)

Back on topic, the links wear in, after a few hundred miles of dirty chain,
they come apart easier.
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Deutsche Luftschiffahrts-AG
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nosmarbaj
Posts: 366
Joined: 17 Aug 2011, 3:02pm
Location: West Berks

Re: Difficulty remove Chain link

Post by nosmarbaj »

Vantage wrote:I lost my patience with one of those stupid things when swapping everything over to the new build. After an hour I gave up and cut it off with a dremel.
I'll be trying sram next time.
IME Sram (9-speed) quick links are a pig to undo ...

... unless you use the method suggested by rfryer.
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