Shimano Chain

[PS_LDN]

So, I installed a new HG70 chain late yesterday but was rushing it and bent the plates very slightly on the original connecting link.
Bent them back using pliers and then connected the chain OK.

I had to shorten the chain originally and so have some spare links. Was wondering if I’ve weakened it and so am best to replace the original joining section altogether (removing links either side and reinserting the spare links) or to just cut my losses and replace the chain entirely, being more careful next time when installing it. :roll:

Any advice is greatly appreciated.

Cheers

 

[Tad]

It'll probably be fine though if it's ever going to break it'll be about where you bent it. It's not difficult to do so I'd do it right rather than bodge it and use some of the spare links to fix it.

You'll only kick yourself if it breaks in the middle of no where or snaps when you're really leaning on the cranks, climbing a hill and end up walloping your knee in to the top tube crippling yourself or both of the above options happen together.

 

[legrandefromage]

shimano joining pins are pointless. Just carefully use the 'normal' links as you would any other chain.

 

[bm0p700f]

You say they are pointless but every shimno chain I have tried to join without one broke pretty quickly. Every sram chain I have joined with the existing pins hasn't. That tells me the shimano connecting pins may be useful. This is the reason why I don't use shimano chains.

 

[kaiser]

What not use a magic link? KMC or SRAM ones or whatever.

 

[legrandefromage]

Take it from a busy workshop, shimano 'joining' pins are worth dick.

SRAM chains are far better. every shimano chain we see break are at the 'joining' pins.

 

[Reluctant]

+ 1 for what Kaiser says. Remove the damaged link, which will almost certainly fail at some point and replace with a powerlink type thing. I've had good results with KMCs.
Shimano HG pins work very well creating a strong join if they're fitted right - get it wrong and it'll damage the side plates and break.

 

[PS_LDN]

Thanks very much for all the replies and advice; it's greatly appreciated.

As i believe in fixies suggested I've carefully swapped out the section containing the damaged link with a section of spare links. Took my time this time! I used shimano joining pins as I had some to hand and wanted to get the bike back working asap.

Hopefully this will now be OK. Rode into work today and all seems as it should.

Will definitely look at SRAM and / or KMC when replacing a chain in future though.

Cheers

 

[02gf74]

with the nomral pin I found they will not go back into the hole and end up bending the plate ... so what I have done in the past is to use a round needle file and put a small chamfer on the inner side of the plate to allow the pin to centre itself and pass easier into the hole.

 

[Rampage]

with the nomral pin I found they will not go back into the hole and end up bending the plate ... so what I have done in the past is to use a round needle file and put a small chamfer on the inner side of the plate to allow the pin to centre itself and pass easier into the hole.

Or you could buy a SRAM chain?!

Those Shimano joining pins just seem to make hard work out of what would be an easy job. You need to carry spares with you and then you need. Rock or something to break off th extra bit.

Also, SRAM Powerlinks won't work on a Shimano 7 speed chain.