Originally Posted by
spectastic
do you think i can safely use the shimano chain with one of the links with a broken seal?
No. Losing chain tension standing with your weight forward often leads to a crash which you don't want to risk for a $25 chain
Modern chains rely on peened pins to stay together, and cutting them removes that.
I keep three master links plus the left overs from a new chain in my saddle bag, which is enough to get back to a full-length chain from the oddest failure I've ever experienced - my chain over-shifted past the big ring, went back on with two loops, and bent a link at each loop.