Bicycle Mechanics - Shimano chain pins

Does anyone know if Dura Ace chain pins work with 105 chains? I tried linking a 105 chain with a dura ace pin and it fell apart after less than 50 miles. Just trying to figure out if it's my bad mechanics causing the problem or if they won't work together.

Thanks!

They do not. Every model number chain has its own pin. - TF

If the pins are for the same "speed" chain, they all work the same. I.e. you must use pins made for a 9-speed chain with a 9-speed chain.

If your 105 chain fell apart after 50 miles with a "Dura Ace" pin, then either the pin wasn't installed correctly or you used the wrong pin.

Go to Sram chain with power link and problem solved with the pin. Plus you do not have to worry about the pin breaking during a ride which they do. So the pin might not have fallen out just broke.

or just buy a spare materlink and use it with your Shimano chain.

Hey thanks for all the replies. I was using a 10 speed chain pin with a 10 speed chain. I got a stiff link after I linked it so I pushed the pin in further. It's possible I pushed it too far.

However, I am intrigued by the Sram chain. Will the 10 speed Sram chain work with 105?

Pushing the pin in too far can have the consequences you experienced.

SRAM 10-speed chains are fine with Shimano 10-speed drivetrains. Wippermann chains are another good choice and also have a master link to avoid the pin problems.

Hey thanks for all the replies. I was using a 10 speed chain pin with a 10 speed chain. I got a stiff link after I linked it so I pushed the pin in further. It's possible I pushed it too far.

However, I am intrigued by the Sram chain. Will the 10 speed Sram chain work with 105?
It's common to have a stiff link after pushing the pin in. Grab both sides of the link and "try" to bend it sideways back and fourth. This will loosen it up enough.

SRAM 10s stuff will work with Shimano 10s stuff.

Thanks for that. Now to find a Sram dealer near me.

They do not. Every model number chain has its own pin. - TF

Wrong. As long as they are 10 speed pins they are interchangeable.If he had used a 9spd pin on a 10 spd chain or viceversa then he might have had a problem. It seems that it might have been more of an installation error than anything else...

But 10 speed Shimano chains tend to be a little bit more troublesome than 9-spd chains to install. The margin of error for pin installation is reduced compared to a 9 spd.

About a month or so ago a teammate of mine was having rear shifting issues. After about 30 miles of hilly riding we decided to stop and check his bike. His chain was being held by about 60% of one side of the connecting pin. The other side was free from the chain. It was incredible that he didn't crash considering we were hammering up the hills. In any case, the chain was only a month or so old and we figured it might have been the local ham fisted mechanic (who has a reputation for not being the best) that installed it wrong. Somebody had a Connex link and we used it to fix his chain. My friend hasn't even replaced his chain yet and has had zero problems with the Connex Link.

That's one of the reasons I just moved away from Shimano chains (after using Shimano exclusively since 1988 when they were 7-spds) to KMC (which include their Missing Link connecting link). And yes, I know KMC makes the chains for Shimano...

If it was a first gen dura-ace 10spd chain pin (7800) they are not compatible as it was a slightly shorter pin. The newer shimano 10 spd pins are compatible with all shimano 10 spd chains. 8 spd = black pin 15.5 mm long , 9 spd = silver 14.8 mm long. old 10 dura ace (7800) = silver with 1 grove around pilot, and all new 10 spd shimano = silver 13.9mm long with 2 or 3 groves around pilot pin