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Now then, local ride this morning (just look how dry the trails are, lovely!), however on standing on the pedals to crank my way out a fun wee chute, the chain went BANG and almost had me over the bars.
Only a few minor injuries to me, and thankfully my top tube pack somewhat saved my nuts from a high speed stem interface. No further damage to bike.
On looking at the photos, it appears that the quick link snapped. This is a first for me, in fact, its the first broken chain I've had for a very long time. This I can prove, as the spare quick link I've carried forever was 9spd. Turns out it'll get you home on an 11spd set up, just don't push too hard.
So, would anyone like to suggest why this XT 11spd setup snapped? options below:
a) Link on wrong way round
b) Link on right way round, but chain on wrong way round (nods to Eric Morecambe)
c) Link of indeterminate age, quite possibly re-used many many times, on more than one chain
d) Huge fat knacker of a rider causing premature wear on every ****ing component
e) Combination/all of the above?
Good news, as above, 9spd links will get you home and are a heck of a lot easier to install & remove than 11spd (remember the days when you didn't need another bloody tool?). Also, Pedros mini chain breaker worked just great to remove damaged bits.
In summary: ouch! but not as ouch as it could have been.
f) Link not capable of taking the force of the 2000 watts of power you were generating on that climb ?
Only KMC links are capable of being reused (something to do with a patent they own), Shimano/Sram are use only once then bin IIRC
My default response is "chain too short for chain growth" but then I notified your rather lovely hardtail frame - what is it?
Only KMC links are capable of being reused (something to do with a patent they own), Shimano/Sram are use only once then bin IIRC
Never seen a shimano link, thought they still used that daft pin?.
I've had a quicklink crack across there, it would have snapped as yours did eventually.
Could have been a number of things, I wouldn't think too much about it.
Fairly certain that you shouldn’t reuse 11-speed quick links.
I’m sure someone will be along in a moment to say that you can get away with it, but your own situation says that it’s literally quite a ballsy risk to take.
For the relatively small cost I always replace with a new one.
As above - don't reuse quick links, or in the case of an 11 speed chain, buy a Wippermann quick link that is reusable.
Unfortunately despite most people 'getting away with it', SRAM, KMC and Shimano quick links are not reusable.
Fairly certain that you shouldn’t reuse 11-speed quick links.
Pretty sure that KMC do different kinds for 11 speed. Some you can re-use, some you cant (but probably can really).
Pretty sure that KMC do different kinds for 11 speed. Some you can re-use, some you cant (but probably can really).
They do, as do SRAM. I've one myself.
The last time I snapped a chain it was because a boot lace got caught in it.
Try crocs next time?
I know some manufacturers say you can’t, but why can’t you reuse certain quick-links? And what about those links would make them likely to snap when reused?
I’ve only snapped one chain in my quick link days - and that was on a fairly flat pedally bit of singletrack when sprinting out of a corner during a moment of turbo mode on the Levo when descending. A lot of torque!
That failure is very odd, as it looks like both an inner and outer link have failed simultaneously in the same manner.
I know some manufacturers say you can’t, but why can’t you reuse certain quick-links? And what about those links would make them likely to snap when reused?
The ones I have seen fail were where repeated reuse has made the pins loose in the side plates (they are only pressed in) which then drop out. They failed when opening again though, rather than when in use.
That failure is very odd, as it looks like both an inner and outer link have failed simultaneously in the same manner.
Or a moment apart. One side fails, double the force on the other which breaks at the same, weakest, point on the link
Personally I've reused loads without any issue - list price of them is nearly £4 each.
I folded the cage of an SLX mech last week, again on smooth and dry trail. No contact with spokes - just pedalling up hill from the saddle.
I suspect age + teh awesomzs thigh power killed it.
It does seem odd to be snapped in the same place on both sides, but as mentioned, I suspect this quicklink was a lot older than the chain. Since 9spd days I’ve just been so used to using them repeatedly.
Anyhoo - won’t make that mistake again, thankfully nothing else on me or bike damaged.
But, like, yeah, obviously the sheer power output was the main problem 🙂
@honourablegeorge it’s a ChiTi special of my own design. Ironically, over the last year of ownership I expected it would be the thing to snap, but instead almost everything that hangs off it has gone tits up in some way or other instead. But yes, it is lovely, and huge.
Had 4 bikes in this year with Shimano quick links snapped exactly like that .it's unprecedented.