Bicycle Mechanics - Chain Repair Question - Don't Laugh

I broke my chain on my mountain bike yesterday. The trail was pretty close to an LBS and I swung by and just got a new one. Watched the guy put it on and saw how the chain tool worked and I fixed my old chain without any problems but I don't really intend to use it again

Not long ago I picked up a Park tool set and I have a chain tool.

Here's my question.

Can I use the links from the old chain to emergency repair the new one if need be? There's no master link. My chain has all pins. Or do I buy new chain links?

John

It's the pins that aren't reusable. For Shimano chains, you can buy special replacement pins for rejoining links. Other brands normally come with at least one master link in the chain. Since master links are also usable on Shimano chains, I'd just buy a master link or two for your kit. Make sure you buy the right type of link/pin for your chain (e.g. 7/8 speed, 9 speed, 10 speed).

Emergency? Yes. If you want to keep it on though, for the sake of laziness as I do, it would do you well to have all the parts on hand for a full repair. For the latter I just have an extra Wipperman ConneXs on hand and a chain tool.

It isn't always a catastrophic thing, but unfortunately it is more likely to break under a high load which is usually the worst time, i.e. when you you using a lot of muscle going up hill, etc.

EDIT: Hmm, I was getting links and pins confused. Basically, I have reused pins before and whenever my chain breaks I will always bet my life that it was the reused pin. Not the best idea but will work in a jiffy.

On my bike, I use the $6 KMC 6-8 speed chain that available for $6 at my local "sports & more" store. I bought a couple spares for that price. One reason was that all the links/pins match for sure. IF I need to lengthen/repair, I know I have a length of old chain I can use IF needed.

I don't have 9 speed stuff, but the way I understand it is that you don't reuse pins on them.

If you bought the same brand of chain for the new one then it's very likely that your old chain could be used for trailside patches. But the real test would be to check the pin sizes for diameter with something that'll measure accurately enough.

Usually, when I buy a new chain, it is a few links too long. So I shorten it before mounting on my bike and keep those links as extras if need arise. As they have been never used, I don't see any problem on replacing a broken link with one of those...