SRAM quick link release, g-r-r-r-r-r

[George Schick]

This afternoon I struggled to get a easy-link (or whatever SRAM calls it) to "release" so I could clean the chain on one of my bikes.  Granted, this chain has been in use for quite a few years before I got around to removing and cleaning it, but sheesh you'd think it would still come apart relatively easily.  Nope, I tried dosing it with TriFlow, then with Liquid Wrench, and finally with good old reliable PB Blaster, but none of them loosened it up enough to allow the easy link to be squeezed together to the point where it would come apart.  I wound up resorting to the use of a chain tool to forcefully get it apart.  Anyone have any recommendations of either a solvent or a tool that will aid in the removal of these so-called easy links?

[Jeremy Till]

https://www.parktool.com/product/master-link-pliers-mlp-1-2

My go to when I was a mechanic and when I'm at home. I view trying to release them by hand as an emergency-only option, for when you're on the side of the road with a busted derailleur or similar. 

In my experience, the 8 and 9 speed ones were easier to open by hand, the 10 and 11's pretty much needed the pliers. 12 speed was coming in just as I stopped wrenching so no first-hand experience. 

-Jeremy Till

Sacramento, CA

[Steve Palincsar]

Park makes a tool for that.   $16

On 6/11/19 5:37 PM, George Schick wrote:

This afternoon I struggled to get a easy-link (or whatever SRAM calls it) to "release" so I could clean the chain on one of my bikes.  Granted, this chain has been in use for quite a few years before I got around to removing and cleaning it, but sheesh you'd think it would still come apart relatively easily.  Nope, I tried dosing it with TriFlow, then with Liquid Wrench, and finally with good old reliable PB Blaster, but none of them loosened it up enough to allow the easy link to be squeezed together to the point where it would come apart.  I wound up resorting to the use of a chain tool to forcefully get it apart.  Anyone have any recommendations of either a solvent or a tool that will aid in the removal of these so-called easy links?

-- 
Steve Palincsar
Alexandria, Virginia 
USA

[Bill Lindsay]

And they make a CC-3.2 to check your chain for wear.  If it has really been in use for quite a few years, it should be worn out and should be replaced, not cleaned. 

Bill Lindsay

El Cerrito, CA

[Joe Bernard]

That plier thingy is a lifesaver. Don't touch your chain without it.

[Joe Bunik]

Howdy all,

I've got an extra set of the MLP-1 pliers that I'd forward on for $12
shipped CONUS
https://www.flickr.com/photos/joe_bunik/47938025237/

=- Joe Bunik
Walnut Creek, CA

On 6/11/19, Joe Bernard <joer...@gmail.com> wrote:
> That plier thingy is a lifesaver. Don't touch your chain without it.
>

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[Brewster Fong]

And if you don't like Park, KMC makes a similar tool too:

On Tuesday, June 11, 2019 at 2:46:29 PM UTC-7, Steve Palincsar wrote:

[ted]

Another route is to use whipperman chains whose connex quick links are easily worked without a tool. I’ve heard kmc are good too but have not used those.

[Patrick Moore]

George: Was this a 10-speed or narrower chain? I have consistently over the years had no problems releasing SRAM masterlinks with delicate use of my fingers. KMC and others, problems, yes, but SRAM masterlinks just supinely fall apart under my hands, even on dirty chains (tho' I do use dry lubes or, now, wax).

It was only with 10-speed chains that I needed a masterlink pliers, and I read that 10 speed chains are not designed to release without pliers, unlike 9 and earlier ones.

On Tue, Jun 11, 2019 at 3:38 PM George Schick <bhi...@gmail.com> wrote:

This afternoon I struggled to get a easy-link (or whatever SRAM calls it) to "release" so I could clean the chain on one of my bikes.  Granted, this chain has been in use for quite a few years before I got around to removing and cleaning it, but sheesh you'd think it would still come apart relatively easily.  Nope, I tried dosing it with TriFlow, then with Liquid Wrench, and finally with good old reliable PB Blaster, but none of them loosened it up enough to allow the easy link to be squeezed together to the point where it would come apart.  I wound up resorting to the use of a chain tool to forcefully get it apart.  Anyone have any recommendations of either a solvent or a tool that will aid in the removal of these so-called easy links?

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Alburquerque, Nuevo Mexico, Etats Unis d'Amerique

[Daniel D.]

My experience as well 10 speed wipperman links are easy to work with Sram's not so much.  And KMC 9-speed is why I have quicklink pliers.

[Ian A]

I wanted a portable/road side-link pliers. I had a pair of small pliers and access to a bench grinder. A bit of grinding and I have a link-plier in my on bike tool kit.

[Shoji Takahashi]

I also use chain pliers. That said, in theory, pressing the links together will facilitate removal by hand. Below is a link. I remember doing this with intermittent success, but nowadays I grab the pliers. 

It seems like 10+ speed chain links are much more difficult.

https://youtu.be/1GnlOS5Bgn0

good luck!

shoji

Arlington MA

[eddietheflay]

make sure if your moving to 11 speed chain that you get the latest version of the Park tool. Old version works great for removing link but does not work for installing link. For installing it is nearly impossible (for me) to pull the two ends apart to get the link to click into place. Newest tool has extra indents on the outside of the jaws that makes it a "snap" to pull both handles outward and snap the link into place.

On Tuesday, June 11, 2019 at 2:37:58 PM UTC-7, George Schick wrote:

[Kellie]

I just used this method last week when installing  a new chain. Worked wonderfully!

https://youtu.be/z4aHi7jxY2I

On Tuesday, June 11, 2019 at 2:37:58 PM UTC-7, George Schick wrote:

[George Schick]

Thanks y'all for the advice about the chain pliers.  Those would be helpful.  I had to do some checking to answer some of the poster's questions.  The chain with the problem was a SRAM PC-830, an 8-speed.  Normally, I don't have too much of a problem getting these links to come apart, usually with a bit of penetrating oil to loosen things up.  But over the years I have noticed that the longer these chain links are left unserviced, the more difficult it is to get them to separate.  The one I was working with yesterday was on my general purpose utility bike and it had not been removed or cleaned for quite a number of years.  The bike is set up as a single speed which is why I installed the 8-speed chain on it.  The chain being used on my 9-speed comes apart relatively easy, but then I remove, clean, and re-lubricate it much more frequently.

[Patrick Moore]

If the chain is for 8 speeds, the problem is very certainly dirt (unless the links or chain are damaged).

FWIW -- you may know this -- you don't need a 8 or 7 or 5 or special ss speed chains on ss's if you use a 3/32" cog; I use 9 speed chains on my fixies because I use Dingles which require a chain this narrow, but these work just as well on singles. Hell, I've used 10 speed chains on 3/32 single cogs too; and I daresay even 11 speed ones would work.

On Wed, Jun 12, 2019 at 9:53 AM George Schick <bhi...@gmail.com> wrote:

...  The chain with the problem was a SRAM PC-830, an 8-speed.  Normally, I don't have too much of a problem getting these links to come apart, usually with a bit of penetrating oil to loosen things up.  But over the years I have noticed that the longer these chain links are left unserviced, the more difficult it is to get them to separate.  The one I was working with yesterday was on my general purpose utility bike and it had not been removed or cleaned for quite a number of years.  The bike is set up as a single speed which is why I installed the 8-speed chain on it.  The chain being used on my 9-speed comes apart relatively easy, but then I remove, clean, and re-lubricate it much more frequently.