Originally Posted by
cyccommute
You don't understand the problem. You can drive the pin back into the chain on SRAM or Shimano. But that doesn't prove anything. The pins on both sides of the chain are expanded during the assembly process to stand up to the side forces and thiner plates for chains used on systems with 8 gears or more...perhaps even 7. When you push out the pin, you get rid of that expansion and the pin won't hold. It may take a while but you are risking a chain breaking by using the old pin.
I pushed out the pin and pushed it back in when I built my X, (in 08). I had to join two chains together to get the length that I needed. Put over 3k miles on it, never had any issues. When the chain reached the end of its useful life. I replaced it, again by pushing out a pin and pushing it back in, another 3k miles no issues.
I did the same thing this last spring, still going strong. Am planning to do it again this next spring.
BTW, All this pin pushing was accomplished with the aid of a Park MTB-3 multi tool.
Standard Disclaimer:YMMV