First, I figure this might be good education for some, so "try" to stay on the topic of chains failing


The KMC "Z" chain on my Motobecane bit it... bad. While cranking up a hill, a link plate broke at the pin, causing the chain to split, upon inspection, several others were cracked. I had taken the chain off and cleaned/scrubbed with paint thinner a couple times over the last couple months and had just taken it out of a vinegar bath (the 2.5 ph will clean up rust and leave pretty clean after a good rinse, scrub and lube).


I'm curious how others have had chains fail. Most of my previous failures were do to me breaking and putting the chain together without a master link, using a cruddy chain tool that damaged the chain.