KMC chain reuse
 

A new (to me) bike recently fell into my hands. It came with a KMC 610 chain on a fixed gear. Does anybody know if I can just push out a pin to remove the chain and use the same pin for re-installation? I know about several of the connectors out there and this chain doesn't have one. Does it have any of the same evil requirements like the Shimano chains and their special one time only pins?

Shouldn't be a problem.

Here's a Shimano hint: as loing as you're not repeatedly breaking the same link, you can break a shimano chain just like any other.

Not really. It depends on what KMC chain. The mushroom head ones cannot be rejoined without using a quick link. The chain will rejoin fine but you are risking chain break - super dangerous. Some of the KMC "quick links" are also defective out of the box. Best check yours before installation.

How can I tell if my "quick links" are defective?

How old do you think that the chain is? For that matter, since it's on a fixed gear, is it a 1/8" or 3/16" chain?

Back in the days when 10-speed ment 2 X 5 and girls tried to hide their bra straps, we used to routinely break and rejoin chains using the same pin. The only trick is leave just a nub of the pin on the inside of the side plate when you break the chain.

Same here. Never had a chain break after rejoining. Actually I've never had a chain break for any reason.

I'll go with theory trumps anecdote every single time for $100 alex.

If the chain rivets are peened, like some KMC/shimano chains are, pushing the pin out and then back in results in a WEAK link. Do NOT do. Or if you do, do it for yourself and only after you put a new chain and a chaintool in your gear bag when you go for a ride.

OP: You can easily test the quicklink to see if it is unusable.

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y11...nquicklink.jpg

See if the link will slide in the slot freely left to right. If it does throw it away. A proper quicklink should stop you from doing this (but it will snap into place with force, so do it lightly).

Here's more reading: http://www.parktool.com/repair/readhowto.asp?id=25

It's a 3/32" chain with very little stretch so far. I checked the KMC website (should have done that first) and this chain definitely does not have mushroomed pins. I'll break it and reattach it the normal way, which is increasingly seeming like the old school way, reusing the same pin. I just want to clean this thing up a bit.

I was completely unaware of KMC chains having mushroomed heads. If so, then that could be a problem.

And your comment about carrying a chain tools and a bit of spare is good advice. I also carry an assortment of quicklinks, not that I use em but they might do in a pinch.