Bicycle Mechanics - chain question

do brand new chains normally not come with a connector pin? do i have to supply this myself? kinda annoying if you ask me...

What do you mean? What kind of chain are you talking about?

New chains are usually too long, and you need to remove several links. That's where your pin comes from. Unless it's a Shimano chain and you are supposed to use a special break-off pin.

right that's what i meant... i have a brand new dura ace chain.... i have to go the the LBS to buy myself a new chain pin? i can't reuse one of the ones i throw away?

The new chain should come with a new reinforcing pin in a bag. Park Tool's chain tools have an internal stop which allows the pins to be reused by not pushing them out all the way through the rivet hole.

I always reuse the chain pins I remove. I've never had to use the reinforcing pin that came with the chain.

If you like to do your own work, invest in a chain tool (not expensive) and learn how to use it properly (easy). The existence of "reinforcing pins" makes me even more suspicious of Shimano chains; I have heard more chain breakage horror stories for Shimano than for SRAM, which is my preferred brand.

I set a chain to the proper length upon initial installation, use White Lightning or Raceday, and remove it only to replace it when it has stretched by 1/2 percent.

Shimano chains require that you use a chain tool. SRAM chains have a master link, but you still need a tool to shorten them. If you got a new DA chain, it should have come with 2 replacement pins in a little plastic bag (as Chi mentioned). Unlike Chi, I would advise against re-using the removed pins. Regardless, never, ever, break a hyperglide chain twice in the same place. The pins are so tight that they damage the sideplates. On the second re-assembly, the pins will be loose and the chain will fail (how do I know this?). For the same reason, when you shorten the chain for your bike, take the excess off the end so that you will be disposing of the piece with the outer sideplates, rather than re-using them.

roadbuzz is right about never reusing pins, but I'm too damn cheap to go to Performance and get new pins. I've only had one problem with the chain, but it wasn't pin related ... it was a link that had bent due to a pin reinstallation and it had slid off the pin that was supposed to hold it in place.

I guess it was a pin problem ... now that I think about it. :p Luckily I found this problem on the way back home on my commute, and not going up a 20% grade in the middle of nowhere. Chain didn't break, just skipped gear teeth.

hmmm.... my thing didn't come with the pins.... i guess i'll have to call performance :mad:

Someone may have stolen the pin bag while browsing the store. So ghetto ... :mad:

Originally posted by deliriou5
my thing didn't come with the pins....

Same story here. :mad:

The Shimano chain that was part of an Ultegra build kit (installed by LBS) also did not come with the pin. Neither did a chain I bought long ago. Bad customer service...

It took me a while to find out that those snap-off pins actually exist. Before that, I wasted my time (and lost my temper) re-using pins from the chain. Those replacement pins are a bit pricey, but--if purchased in advance--they are quite handy. They should be standard with every Shimano or compatible chain.

BTW, the LBS where I have bought a new chain or two usually does provide them in an open plastic bag. Hard to tell whether that is the original package...

My experience is the same as chi's. It's not uncommon for the pins to be missing when you buy a new HG chain. The pins come in a pretty tiny pack, so maybe the fall out unnoticed when people open the box, or maybe they get "borrowed." In any case, always check before purchasing.

Those replacement pins are a bit pricey...

Yep, they're about $2/each at retail. Employees can get them for maybe $1.50 with employee discount, but they are free on "5-finger discount". Always, always check components from a bike shop to be sure nobody stole parts off of them.

Hence my cheapskateness on the subject. ;)