Originally Posted by
Doc_Wui
When you push out a pin, it's not easy to push it back in so that the link doesn't bind. And if it binds, it tends to wrap around the small gears in the derailleur and cause the chain to slip. When this happens on a BBS motor, you really feel it. If you fiddle with the tool and do it by feel, you might get the link to work freely. Not easy out in the field or even at home.
The bikes with 8-10 speeds use thinner chains where I guess it's even harder to push a pin in correctly.
When I asked about this in the bike mechanics forum, they told me to use master links. KMC, the chain maker, also tells you to use master links. Anyway, they're not expensive and work nice, except you might need a link pliers, and you still need a chain breaker too.
You asked them about binding?
Answer: The way to avoid that is to use a
Park Tool CT-5 (or similar). it has a second shelf that allows you to easily back the pin out a little to loosen the link (and not compress the link like the bottom shelf).
There is a short mention of this in the video (at 24 seconds):
The tool pictured above has only one shelf, and may not do this effectively.
Note this tool has two shelves:
Park Tool CT-5