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Getting back into mtb so getting bits together that I might need to make repairs on the trail and confused with chain tools, spare links, etc. Seems that the things to have are a chain tool and a spare quick link. My understanding is that the chain tool can push pins in or out of the chain so this can be used to take the chain apart or put it back together. If so, why would you need a quick link and quick link remover? Why not just have a spare link and do away with the quick link and the quick link tool? Don’t you need the chain tool to install a quick link anyway? Why would you need to remove a quick link on the trail?
Sorry for the noob questions. Thanks.
sometimes it breaks at the wrong point and you need 1/2 link removing so you can join the correct bits.
You don't need a chain tool to installl a quick link
You may need to remove a quick link if you've mullered your mech for example and want to SS it to get home.
Seems that the things to have are a chain tool and a spare quick link
If the chain has snapped something has broken or so warn it no longer hilds together. You will need to remove said broken bits. The quick link is just very convenient although i have re pinned a chain before and not thought about it again. I do have some actual repair pins mainly because they fit in the handle of my chaintool but its not ideal as you'll probably have yo shorten the chain.
You don’t need a chain tool to installl a quick link
I thought you need to remove the two sides of the broken link and then add in the two sides of the quick link, using the pins and chain tool, and then join the quick links by hand?
My understanding is that the chain tool can push pins in or out of the chain so this can be used to take the chain apart or put it back together. If so, why would you need a quick link and quick link remover?
I've been biking for a long time, I started before quick links were invented but chains still came long and you had to shorten them, even going back to when 7sp was top of the line. So I (like everyone from those days!) became pretty good at joining chains. I've fixed both 9 and 10sp chains at the road and trailside with a tool and everything's been fine. Recently I shortened an 11sp MTB chain in the same way, because I didn't have a quick link available, and the outer plate popped off after about 10km. So I fixed it again at the roadside as perfectly as I could manage using my years of expertise, and it popped off again a few km later.
So in the days of 11sp I no longer consider a chain tool to be a universally viable option. Which reminds me, whilst I have one quick link in my road kit I need to order more for each of my trail kits.
Oh and as above - you still need a tool to remove the broken link.
I just watched a couple more videos showing how to use quick links. I understand a bit more now. The pins on the quick link just slide into the chain without needing a chain tool. You would need a chain tool to remove links to leave two thin links on the chain first though.
So a chain tool is a must have item for sure but I’m still thinking it would be better to install a ‘proper’ link rather than a quick link?
How would you install a ’proper link’? With 11 and 12 speed you shouldn’t reuse pins - they’ll fail again quite quickly if you do.
Unless you use Shimano’s over size replacement pins (I assume they made these for 11 speed but not sure forn12 speed) - a quick link is your only option.
I’ve never broken a quick link -
In fact I rarely break chains at all to be fair.
Recently I shortened an 11sp MTB chain in the same way, because I didn’t have a quick link available, and the outer plate popped off after about 10km. So I fixed it again at the roadside as perfectly as I could manage using my years of expertise, and it popped off again a few km later.
Okay, so you’re saying that fixing a chain with a spare link rather than a quick link no longer works. The chain tool is still required to remove links to leave 2 thin chain links that you then join with a quick link?
Once back home would you replace the chain completely? If not, is it possible to just keep repairing the same chain with quick links? Is there a limit? Is it possible to remove the quick link and repair the chain properly without the quick link? Can the quick link then be reused?
Okay, so you’re saying that fixing a chain with a spare link rather than a quick link no longer works.
I struggled, and this is the conclusion I came to. Others may have had success I don't know.
The chain tool is still required to remove links to leave 2 thin chain links that you then join with a quick link?
Yes.
Once back home would you replace the chain completely?
No, and I didn't, and it's been fine for a 1000km or so after that. A chain is a collection of individual links, and if one fails I don't see a reason why the others would be compromised. Although this may not always be the case. The only times I've ever had an actual chain failure were twice with SRAM chains during the period they changed their manufacturing and they just weren't strong enough (somewhere around 2005-6 ish wasn't it?); and once with a KMC chain - their early quick link design had to be opened by flexing it, and on a climb (road bike) the chain came off and got wrapped around in such a way that it popped the quick link open and I lost half of it.
If not, is it possible to just keep repairing the same chain with quick links?
In theory I suppose so but snapping chains is extremely rare - those instances I described are the only times it's happened to me in nearly 30 years of riding, and outside the well-known bad batch of SRAM there's never been an actual breakage*. If course it can still happen - but even if it happens to you the chance of it happening again before the chain wears out is probably extremely small.
Is it possible to remove the quick link and repair the chain properly without the quick link?
I don't think so. I think that the problem I had with my 11sp chain was that the outer plates were so narrow that they'd use some pin riveting to make it work, and that had widened the holes in the outer plates, similar to the warnings you have always had on Shimano chains. But I don't think there's anything I could do in the workshop that I couldn't do on the trail so no I wouldn't remove the quick link.
* There was that one time I needed a chain tool though when the chain got stuck between my very worn jockey wheels and the mech cage and ripped the mech off - then I needed the chain tool to shorten the chain so I could single-speed it. To be honest this is a more likely requirement for a chain tool than a chain breakage, in my opinion - but of course then you can re-use the quick link you already have. But still carry one 🙂
@molgrips Thanks for answering/explaining that so thoroughly. It’s very much appreciated.
I’ve ordered the Stash chain tool and tubeless repair kit and will get a quick link and removal tool. I’m thinking I might as well get it all as the law of sod dictates I’ll only need the tool I don’t have!