jgf310

I bought a KMC Missing Link for my 105 10 speed chain - I have a triple.

Is it supposed to come apart really easily?

When I put the two halves together (not on the chain, just in my hands), the connection is very "loose".

I guess I was expecting them to sort of "snap" together, with a very positive click.

They don't do that, and if i just play with the link with my fingers, it quickly slides open.

Is that the way it should be?

I am afraid it will come apart when I am riding...

Do i need to think about making my chain a bit shorter to keep more tension?

I am pretty sure I have the same number of links as when I bought the bike (Specialized Roubaix), and I have replaced the cassette with the same size as came with the bike.

But, sometimes, the chain seems a bit loose.

Anyway..., is the link supposed to come apart easily in your hand?

ahsposo 

Mine requires a bit of a push. In fact I bought a Park tool to help squeeze the pins together to release the plate. I use a KMC chain and maybe buying the Missing Link as a separate item is something different.

Are you sure it was fully seated?

Mike F

When you put it on the bike make sure its on the top side between the crank and cassette and push/jam the pedals forward and it will snap into place. prior lay it next to your old chain and leave 1 less link (compensate for the missing link). Ive never done it on a non-kmc chain or taken one off. When it comes to that I will probably get the tool that ahsposo is referring too.

https://www.evcx.com/work/kmc/in.htm

pmt

They're not super tight like SRAM PowerLocks. I had a bad shift and chain suck in an ultracross race and it unlinked the KMC so my chain fell off. It was totally my fault though, but in the 'heat of battle' it's not always easy to do everything perfectly.

Of course I had TWO spare master links with me, so I dodged the other riders coming behind, picked up the chain out of the dirt, and quickly put it back on. I only lost about a hundred places.

jgf310

So, I have an un-opened KMC chain sitting around, waiting till it's needed. I guess I'm stupid, because it never occurred to me that it might have come with a Missing Link.

I opened the box, and there it was, in a separate bag!

Anyway, it is just as loose as the one I bought by itself.

Again, this is just in my hand, not on installed on the chain.

Maybe when you put it on a chain, the other links hold the sides apart, so it fits more snugly?

Yes, I'm sure I am fully seating the pieces.

ahsposo 

Look at MikeF's post. It does almost have to be installed on the bike to generate the pull to snap it in place.

jgf310

OK, I put it on the bike, and there was more of a "snap"..., so I guess it will be fine.

Spiduhman

hmm... imo the whipperman link is a tiny bit better, on account of it looks like it's more difficult to dislodge by accident.

I've had the kmc link come apart just once, the planets really lined up on that one - at the point where the bike is moving forward from a stop, but before the ground foot has found the pedal, jammed the brakes (car driver changes mind, o.k.), *ping*! My guess is the link has to be in just the right place, and a sudden tension to slack event occur, plus something esle I'm not quite sure about... lucky for me, did eventually find both halves, and now I carry a spare, just like e'body else.

Anyway, either link goes completely together with just the tension of the derailleur - methinks that if more tension were required, something's wroong

mmmdonuts

It will be easier to open/close off the chain because the pins lock better when the side plates are pushed away from each other. The chain does this by filling the space.