vasuvius

Has anyone tried using a KMC 10sp missing link on a Shimano 11speed chain?

The 11sp missing links seem to be more than 10 bucks each while the 10sp links are 8.50 for a pack of 6.

I know that the Wipperman 10sp links work fine with Shimano 11sp chains [someone I know has several thousand miles with this combination]

dtrain

Look on feebay. I got 4 11sp Sram links for around $15 shipped. Still a little spendy compared to 10sp, but I felt it was worth doing it right.

bikepro

I would be wary of using a 10 speed link on a 11 speed chain. While the width difference is a fraction of a mm, it could leave the link loose enough to open under the right conditions.

Campag4life

agree with bikepro. I would not use the wider 10s Missing Link on any 11s chain.

rpenmanparker 

Why would you call it a "missing link" if it isn't missing? The fact that it is there is what it is all about. The regular link that it replaces is the one that is missing. Go figure.

BoSoxYacht

Why not buy a reusable IRD or Wippermann link? The IRD link is about $12. Is money really that tight?

Davet

Penny wise and pound foolish.

loimpact

Hmmmmm.......

Interesting that IRD says "reusable" while KMC & Sram say "not". (I know some folks have said they've used the Sram a 2nd time though I don't know if anybody has done any real testing yet).

I seriously feel that this 11 speed stuff needs to come down in price quickly. It's definitely becoming the new norm but prices still remain high.

dalava

It works just fine. I discovered it by accident when in the middle of a long ride I snapped my 11sp 6800 chain without a chain tool, all I had was KMC 10sp missing links.

I don't understand other's concern about it may snap off. If the missing links close then then are fully engaged. There is no more risk in them snapping than when used in 10sp chain.

I expected it may be noisier in certain gears because of the width; never happened even in small ring/biggest cog or big ring/smallest cog. No rubbing or anything.

The believe KMC's 11sp missing links are not reusable. Beats me why that is.

Campag4life

The obvious metaphor escapes you. I thought you are a learned man .

What's a Missing Link?

rpenmanparker 

I was. Now, not so much. Seriously, I am just having a lot of fun today on the 41. If we can argue about "clipping in" to clipless pedals, surely we can debate whether a missing link makes any sense. I'm retired. What else do I have to do?

Campag4life

Whoops you slipped on a banana peel. The side plates of the missing link depend on roller width such that they won't distort under load. When/if the side plates of a Missing link distort such that the width of the rollers is less than the length of mating pivot pins, the elongated engagement holes can twist and the link can disengage spelling disaster under load...like when out of the saddle. The fact that KMC makes a Missing Link configuration for each chain width underscores the importance of matching the correct link with the corresponding chain width. To violate this code, if you don't die or aren't badly injured, you will be placed in a Mexican prison next to our 2 tour of duty war hero Marine who our government won't lift a finger to get out. We may never see you again and you may have to do unmanly things...especially if wearing bike clothes....to have Ipad privileges to post on the 41.

Campag4life

You should act responsibly and participate in a smack down of beleaguered tim in the stem length thread who has defended his wacky bike fit.

dalava

I am not sure if I follow you there. When I had to link the chain up with the Missing Links on the road side, I fully expected to have issues such as not being able to engage the Missing Link because the 11sp chain is narrower and the Missing Link won't slide over to engage; but to my surprise, they engaged with just a slight pull with my hands. I didn't have to force the Missing Link to engage at all. So I don't understand how would the side plates of the Missing Link distort just because of the width of the 11sp chain is narrower.

rpenmanparker 

Not a chance. That one just makes my head hurt. It isn't even funny anymore. And I was thinking, if C4l can't shut him up, what chance do I have? I mean really, like the difference between professionals and amateurs. I am happy to just sit at your feet and watch you work.

loimpact

Bump to shout out that I bought a SRAM 11spd powerlink tonight & while I the bike mech had no prob w/ me using SRAM on a Shimano chain he had 2 things to say......

1.) Do NOT use a 10 speed link on an 11 speed chain. (When I suggested some were doing it with success, I got the, "I highly doubt that!" answer) ((shrug))

2.) When I asked if it was ok to reuse the powerlink maybe just one time I got everyone looking funny. The manager and the mech both thought they were totally reusable. When I suggested they weren't I got some confuzzled looks. (Kinda' scares me when they don't know these things)

What say ye?

BoSoxYacht

I've seen 10 SRAM Powerlocks reused many times without issues, but haven't tried it with an 11 speed Powerlock.

loimpact

Just to clarify this, since the links are "outside" and the remaining chain is "inside" it would make sense that you had no problem hooking it up......and by that very token, the idea is that you could have problems because of the slack in width. As small as it might be, you'd have more room than intended between the link's rails and the inner links of the actual chain that they're attached to.

Is it a true problem? Math is math & dimensions are dimensions but would it be splitting hairs & KMC/SRAM/etc. know it but make 11 speed links just to be proper?

(shrug)