Eight Speed Master Link...
 

I like to use the eight speed chain on most of my five and six cog freewheels/rings these days. Having a master link is fine with me, however; there must be an easy way to uncouple them. I damaged my left hand in a dog fight a week, or so, ago and now do not have the strength to unlink the master on my chain. Any hints for how to do this with reasonable ease would be much appreciated. On that thought, comes a second...

When I first started using the eight speed chain with a master link (SRAM), I had trouble applying enough pressure to snap the link into secured place. Robbie, a nice young fellow at a local bike shop told me to put the brake on and hit the pedal with my hand. That would snap the link solidly into place. So, I tried just that when I got home. I was, at first, disappointed...

Disappointed? Yup, because when I hit the pedal, the chain went slack and I could not figure out (at first) what I had done wrong. The following picture pictures what I learned and now do correctly. Can you guess what I was, so stupidly, doing wrong? And, don't forget to tell me how to get the darn master link apart.

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...7a6da410b1.jpg

If you don't already have the Park master link tool, it's worth it. I avoided getting one for some time because I'm just a guy, not a shop. Now I don't know why I hesitated. I'm cheap I guess. Simple tool but a lot easier than trying to do it by hand or by mis-using wire strippers or whatever similar tool.

Thanks for the information, Salamandrine. Will check out the local bike shop tomorrow. I go to the city on Wednesdays to help, or visit, B4H guys and gals(don't really do much work there anymore). Will pick one up then, if one is available. I could do it with bare hands, before Fido and Fidette got at it. Fidette isn't even my dog, I am just dog sitting.

I second this, I picked on up this weekend and could not believe how simple, fast and non painful it made taking a master link apart. worth every penny

I use a pair of pliers. "Squeeze/expose" the link by itself, and place one jaw on one side of the link, the other jaw on the diagonal side, and squeeze. Pops right off, no specialty tool required.

And I don't hit the pedal with my hand. I just step on it with my foot - not in a stand of course :)

I agree. Some tools aren't all that necessary, but this sure made life easier. Sometimes, I try to be lazy and not dig it out of my toolbox, but I always end up going back for it after fussing with the masterlink for longer than I should.

I've got a set of tiny pointy needle-nose pliers, and got one of them to get inside the chain plates to do the master link. But I like the stand-on-the-pedal trick.

I personally have a pair of mig welding pliers I found in the street (or needle nose) that I ground and filed into master link pliers.


Never tried this but should work

^^^^^^ Cool.....

Well done DEDHED! I am impressed, not only with the idea, but the straight to the point presentation in the video. Now, I know I have a paper clips like that one, kicking around here somewhere.

This exactly. I even carried mine in my on bike tool kit for awhile right after I bought it.

I'm taking a binder clip home tonight

+1 on the Park master link tool, I tried many other home methods and I failed at all the them the Park tool makes it easy peasy

Park tool for sure.
There's also a KMC tool that works just backwards, for seating links.

Top

Wippermann Connex link works extremely well and needs no tools to open or close. $5.99 + $1.99 flat rate shipping from amaincycling.com
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...f3322bfaf1.jpg

https://www.amaincycling.com/wipperm...CABEgIogPD_BwE

The mechanic who shortened my chain at SOTR told me that some quicklinks are meant to be re-used and some aren't. Those that aren't can be very difficult to impossible to open by hand.

Well, I tried the paper clip suggestion and it did work. But it was a bit of a hassle and I think I will purchase a set of master link plyers. Thanks for advice, everyone and, for what it is worth, when going for longer rides, I will keep a paper clip in my tool kit.

+1 to the pliers.

Lots of people on ebay selling quick links at a low price (shipped from China so you can't be in a hurry).

Finally for a bit of time to break the chain, remove the Grand Sport rear derailleur, and have a look inside...
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...24cc4a3540.jpg

My derailleur was set up with the spring tab in the middle hole of the cage. And, for what it is worth, as I was going through boxes, seeking stuff to sell, I stumbled across a NOS set of Campy ball bearing Grand Sport pulleys. Yahoo!
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...72de1b1d10.jpg

And, took my Rabeneick out for a little spin and the GS transmission worked just fine...
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...1f0b5818ca.jpg

So, the next thing to do is assemble the derailleur, take the frame set to a local shop and check derailleur alignment, then put is all back together again.

Ditto the Park tool. With 6 bikes to keep up, I got one of those Park imitation tools off EBAY. Works for the amount I plan to use it. KB.