Bicycle Mechanics - HELP! Powerlink's driving me crazy!

I bought a SRAM PC-59 a week or 2 ago, it needs to be cleaned after a VERY muddy race and it's not working! What's the deal, how do I get it apart?

Please help me.

-Middi-zon

Well, the first times are always a bit of a struggle, no worries :D

first set the chain to the smallest rings (rear & front), this will relieve some presure on the link.

Clean the part with the P-link, take the link in both hands, put some pressure on it (reversed) and it should come off!




Note: Patience is a good thing, it didn`t work to me the first time so i used a wrench (not recommended)



cheers :beer:

Twist, squeeze, push it together....sometimes they are an absolute ***** to get off.

I find sometimes they come apart real easy other times it is a complete pain I thought it was just me glad it is not :)

Srams' have always come apart easy for me but I took my Wipperman apart yesterday and it like to drove me crazy.

If the previous posts haven't helped, my method is to grab the
chain, fold it into a "U" with the power link at the top/bottom
and use a needle nose plyers to squeeze the link into the open position. Steve

From all the stuff here, it seems like using a PC-5 chain tool is easier ... just my opinion.

gotta remember to push them in and then they'll come off. drove me crazy for a while before because i forgot to push them in...

Ok heres one...kinda funny.

I got an SRAM chain on my road bike...and I could have sworn that I had a powerlink on it...I CANT FIND IT!! I have backpedaled a million times...I can't find it! it is an SRAM PC-69 or 59, I forget.

I find sometimes they come apart real easy other ...

Last weekend I had to friends have their link fall off in the middle of a race. They now are going with the standard pin method



:beer: :beer:

The problem with the chain tool, is you cant' reuse the same pin so either you are buying extra pins.. or cutting it down a link every time. If link is being a pain can always use needle nose pliers to get it apart and that always works.

Maybe I'm doing it wrong, but the Park tool manual asks to reuse the pin. I've reused them a few times and I haven't had any problems. :confused:

I'm a bit late chipping in on this one. But, yup, the link can be a bit stiff.

Something else I read that proved really useful when removing/fitting the chain is to take a 6" length of coat hanger or other stiff wire, bend the ends towards each other, say about 120 degrees and use it to take in and hold some slack on the chain while you're fiddling with the link. Sure, no Nobel Prize for that but a darned useful maintenance tip.

First, press the sides of the link together.
Then press the two ends together.
It helps to clean up the powerlink first, and relieve tension on the chain, put it onto the small/small cogs. Use a piece of wire to hold the chain tight, and leave a central section (containing the powerlink) totally lose.

I install my SRAM chains in the traditional fashion and save the power link for on-road emergency repairs only. I never remove a chain except to replace it, since it is very easy to clean it while it hangs from the frame. (Cleaning by dipping in a solution becomes a two-step process, at worst.) This avoids any potential problems with pin reuse, etc.

The Power-Links can be toughies..Go to have "stick-to-it-tivity." Sometimes I'll use a spoke bent into a Z, if you can place it right, it takes all the tension off the Power-Link, and that makes life a little easier. If I don't do the spoke thing, I take the rear wheel off, and the take the chain off the chainrings.