Hi, just go my KMC 9 speed chain (KMC 9.93) with a reusable missing link. Instruction says it can be reused 3 times then discarded. How often do you reuse your reusable missing link?

Until I'm done with the chain. Which probably aligns pretty well with their 3 use rule.

Ditto until the chain is worn out. Andy

If you are one who removes the chain for off-the-bike cleaning every week, I think I'd replace the link every couple of months. If you don't remove the chain a lot, then it should, as noted, last the life of the chain.

I've used the same 9 and 10 speed KMC quicklinks for several chains and, if I can recall, was around 10k miles with at least 20 remove and replace. Finally chucked them when grooves start to develop in the pins. Never any problems. Sometimes I just like to test things to see how long they really last rather than relying on the mfr. to tell me.

I can't imagine any appreciable wear or stress from removing and replacing the link on the same chain.

Thanks all. I bought two chains and yeah the idea is to swap them weekly and clean/relube the dirty chain off bike. The chain currently on the bike only has 1,000 km and has almost no wear (far less than 1/16"). I plan on 'benching' that chain and rotate the two new chains until they reach the same level of wear as the other one (I assume about 2,000 km total, so sometime in early August) at which point I'll rotate all three.

I reuse mine way more than 3 times. I swap once a month between a pair of identical waxed Z-72 chains. So by July each will have been reused at least six times. In reality, more often than that. Enough that I don't need a tool to remove them -- just pinching pretty firmly with my fingers will pop 'em loose. And I carry a spare in case the chain pops open after falling off the chain ring during a blown shift and half the link goes missing. So far I haven't needed the spare Missing Link.

As has been said, until the chain is worn out. With both 10sp and 11sp.

I use the park tool to remove/install (10sp). Over time you can feel that the link closes easier. I have no idea if it is related to removing the link or just wear over time. I've replaced 1 link out of 5 or 6 chains because it seemed to close too easy. The rest were retired with the chain. This is on waxed chains, which require more frequent removal than oiled chains. On an oiled chain I couldn't imagine removing often enough to wear out the link.

scott s.
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once. I don't subscribe to the idea of taking off my chain to soak it in solvent and then lubing again. first, it probably wears the chain more since you remove the lube from the pins where it actually is needed. And even if it would be good, just not worth my time and the cost for solvent and lube.

I wipe off my chain after each ride with a shop towel. Every once a while put some oil on it. Replace at 0.5% elongation (measured with steel ruler).