Hi - just bought a new Shimano HG40 chain, which came with a "quick-link" connector. However, this doesn't look like the SRAM one, with 2 sliding pins. Both pins are fixed onto one plate, and the other plate has a hole through which the pins pass then slide along. The hole is about 2/3 along the plate, so I can slot one pin on, but can't see how to fix the other, without bending the plates.

Anyone seen this before or can offer any advice?

there are instructions in teh package. Just follow them.

Incase you misplaced yours:
https://techdocs.shimano.com/media/te...9830655402.pdf

Hi guys, thanks for the replies.
Unfortunately, the link supplied with the chain is not the same is the one you've mentioned. The one supplied has both pins fixed on the plate - it doesn't have a sliding pin. The instructions supplied with the chain don't even mention a reusable link, just a reinforced snap-off connecting pin.

Anyone any other thoughts?

Look carefully at the plate without the pins. It's obvious that you must first slide that plate onto one of the pins - the side without the slightly enlarged circular cutout.

you're right, that's what I thought - however, after sliding the sloted plate on, the hole in the slot through which the pins connect is only 2/3rds along the plate - it looks like I need to bend the chain in order to get the 2nd pin in the hole - but bending the chain didn't seem to do it - unless I need to bend it more, which didn't feel right.

Photo?

isnt that just a three piece link? https://bicycletutor.com/quick-release-chain-link/ check it out at about 15-25 seconds, should be like that

Hi,

I've got the same problem with the same chain and same quicklink. Its not any of the quick-links in any of the instructions before unfortunately - it's a different type.

Have you managed eventually to install it?

cheers.

These are the instructions for the HG-40 quicklink (exact model is SM-UG51)

https://techdocs.shimano.com/media/te...9830604498.pdf

For the love of god, I can still not figure out how to do this.. Unless you bend the chain massively when it's already on, which sounds really bad.

Bend it. Pedaling will straighten things out.

Wait. No need to bend it. Check this out. It shows you two types. The three part one with the outer plate an the two piece one.

https://bicycletutor.com/quick-release-chain-link/

The bicycletutor.com link doesn't show this type, unfortunately.
The .pdf link from arielgr is the correct one.
I chickened out bending the chain - I did it the old fashioned way and pushed a pin out so that it stayed in the outer plate, then pushed it back in to reconnect.

This is incorrect, and UNSAFE. Don't ****ing ride that chain. Shimano chains require a special replacement pin. You CANNOT do what you just did.

Don't ****ing ride that. The shimano techdoc manual that comes with the chain explains precisely how to install the new version. You just ****ed yourself.

Maybe. But I've installed a lot of 7,8 and 9sp chains by pulling out a pin and pushing it in again and never had any problems. Not sure about 10sp, though.

Incorrect and unsafe. If the pins don't look like their peened, you always assume they are. The margin of error decreases as the number of speeds the chain is supposed to work for increases. If it's a shimano chain, you MUST use a replacement pin.

I dare you to do what you do on a customers bike and accept the liability. Just because you've never had any issues doesn't mean it's not a problem. Srsly.

SRAM (period).

I accept it's incorrect by Shimano rules. It's better to use a proper replacement pin. But what are the odds that a reinstalled pin will fail? Very few, I guess, specially at my low wattage... I see it similar to safety lips in forks. They are safer, of course, but does the little bit extra safety justify them?
(I'd never install a chain that way for Boonen or Petacchi, for sure)

Boy, I'd hate to be your insurance company!





I'd also hate to be one of your customers.

SRAM (exclamation mark).

Change incorrect to UNSAFE. When a chain breaks it can be a catastrophic fall.
What are your bones worth? Doing it the right way takes no more time or effort.
I'll spare the profanity as OPERATOR has already said what I would add to this post.

older UG chains, some cheaper KMC 5/6/7sp and cheap 1/8" chains aren't shot peened, so it is possible to reuse the pin. these chains don't supply you with a spare pin obviously.

I wouldn't do it with any recent 7/8/9/10/11sp chain however

Ok, I don't want anybody to put their safety at risk. I DON'T recommend to re-use pins. I only wanted to share my experience on the subject, which was different from some others'. Still think that safety issues are sometimes overrated by manufacturers to avoid liability suits. Some quotes from Campagnolo brochures:

WARNING: Always wear protective gloves and glases while working on the rear derailleur.
ATTENTION: Derailleur adjustments must be performed by skilled personnel: a badly adjusted derailleur can result in accident, personal injury or death.

This is repeated for practically every component. If you take it seriously, you'd think cycling is one of the most dangerous activities!

One of the most absurd was a brochure from Canon warning about glass camera lenses falling, shattering and causing personal injuries. They didn't go so far as "death", though...

This isn't one of the "by the book rules", it's a real issue. You need to understand that some things are ok to fudge on a bike and some aren't. Reusing pins on a 7+ speed, possibly fully peened rivet is asking for trouble.

There is no reaso not to use a quicklink when they MSRP all of $3-$4. do YOU want to get sued one someone has an accident because you were too much of a ****** to install one and reused a pin?

"Your crankset want to kill your Mama!"

with apologies to Frank Zappa