Quick links

[reuben]

Old roadie here, catching up on lost decades.

I'm buying a new Shimano Ultegra 11 speed cassette and chain. LBS has nothing and can get nothing, so I'm resorting to Ye Olde Internete.

I've seen glimpses of more knowledgeable and up-to-date folks here mentioning KMC Missing Link as the quick link to get to replace the factory quick link. Yes, no?

Thanks.

[unterhausen]

That's what my LBS sells for Shimano chains.

[Velocipede]

Originally Posted by reuben

Old roadie here, catching up on lost decades.

I'm buying a new Shimano Ultegra 11 speed cassette and chain. LBS has nothing and can get nothing, so I'm resorting to Ye Olde Internete.

I've seen glimpses of more knowledgeable and up-to-date folks here mentioning KMC Missing Link as the quick link to get to replace the factory quick link. Yes, no?

Thanks.

KMC, Shimano, SRAM, Campagnolo, FSA, Taya, Wipperman, Yban... they all make a quick link now. They are all based off relatively the same original patent. They all work fine. Some are closer to the original chain width than others. KMC and Yban usually work best on the Shimano chains. KMC used to make all the chains for Shimano and now only make the lower end ones. So they will be the closest.

[tepextate]

What's wrong with the Shimano quick link?

Only limitation in my mind is that they say it's one-time use only.

[FlashUNC]

So are most of them on the labeling.

[herb5998]

Wipperman 11 speed chain (11SO or 11SX) works across all manufacturers, and is fairly indestructible, some online vendors in the states have them in stock

[p nut]

Note, SRAM links cannot be reused. I usually use KMC, which the instructions say you can use 3 times.

[reuben]

Originally Posted by FlashUNC

So are most of them on the labeling.

Yeah, from what I've gathered, there are both reusable and one time KMC links.

This wasn't an issue when dinosaurs paddled up out of the oceans.

[MagicHour]

If its a new current Ultegra chain it should come with a single use Quicklink. Be forewarned the Shimano Quicklinks take some force to install. I need to use a pair of Park quicklink pliers to engage to get it to click, whereas I've been able to install the KMC links just by pulling chain taught by hand.

[Velocipede]

SRAM, KMC, Shimano, Campy, Taya, FSA, Yban, they all make a version that is not-reusable. SRAM, KMC and Taya also make a version that is reusable. The only one that is always reusable, Wipperman. It's due to their design.

[AngryScientist]

man, it's a sad state of affairs when the LBS says they dont have a replacement chain for you and cant get one.

i feel for them. that's a bad position to be in.

[Dave]

A quick link fits if the clearance between the inner and outer plates is vin the .004-.008 inch range. I will reuse a quick link if it has some snap to it when reinstalled, but of course never use one for more than the life of a single chain.

I've seen a sram axs link still snap after 10 uses.

[merlinmurph]

Originally Posted by AngryScientist

man, it's a sad state of affairs when the LBS says they dont have a replacement chain for you and cant get one.

i feel for them. that's a bad position to be in.

No kidding. I was in my LBS this week and the stories I heard were just plain sad. Since there's very few bikes to sell, all they have is service. But, how do you do service if you can't even get shifter cables? Or any drivetrain parts? Brutal.

[Veloo]

I've owned a Wipperman (Mavic) 10 speed chain.
I really liked it but one issue I experienced when loading the bike into the trunk with wheels off, the slack in the chain resulted in the link separating. Spent more time than I would have wanted looking for the fallen link. It resulted in a stressful drive to the race.

Maybe it's part of the design that the Wipperman link is a bit looser than the others but from what I saw, that meant it could come apart on its own when you don't necessarily want it to.

[reuben]

Originally Posted by merlinmurph

No kidding. I was in my LBS this week and the stories I heard were just plain sad. Since there's very few bikes to sell, all they have is service. But, how do you do service if you can't even get shifter cables? Or any drivetrain parts? Brutal.

One of my LBS is constantly unpacking new bikes. I see a lot of Liv boxes, but don't really keep track of what they're getting. So some of it may depend on the manufacturer, and how much and to who they sub various parts of the manufacturing process.