who/what are you quoting? i've removed my link a couple of times already and the process doesn't seem like it could cause any measurable wear on the llink.

also, you said earlier that
are you saying that you have experiecned such a failure first hand? i'm interested.

thanks

i checked with one of our [admittedly high-maintenance] wrenches down at the shop today, and his answer was "you'd have to be nuts to re-use a powerlink." the powerlink is actually designed to facilitate chain installation without weakening the connecting link by inserting a pin.

none of this means that you can't do it, if you like. as with all things, how you clean your chain is up to you. if you remove your chain to clean it every week, or so, it does get awfully expensive awfully quickly to replace the powerlink. however, if you have to clean your chain that thoroughly that frequently, then you must be riding in the rain and muck.

From the SRAM website http://www.sram.com/tech_info/faq_display.asp?faq_id=15 :

Q: What's the deal with PowerLinks?
A: A PowerLink is simply the easiest way to join a SRAM PowerChain-over and over again.

Perhaps your esteemed wrench thought you asking about reusing the link when replacing a worn out chain. If the wrench thinks you should never reattach a chain using the original powerlink, then he wrong.

I personally have 3500 miles on one chain with one powerlink. that powerlink has been removed and reinstalled MANY times with no failure. I'd like to hear exactly how you think a powerlink will quickly fail simply by removing and reinstalling it. If you closely examine a powerlink, you can see how it was designed for quick removal and reinstallation. There is nothing about the design that should bend, deform, crack, or wear abnormally simply from sliding the two halves apart and remating them.

Replacing a powerlink simply because you R&R'd the chain is a complete waste of money. It's almost as bad as thowing away tubes after a simple puncture.

Actually it's more like replacing your pedals everytime you unclip from them.

Never thought my origonal question here would have caused this much interest! Have to agree with almost everyone here on this one, and will use the power link as an asset to cleaning the drive; I can't stand it dirty and know it affects the shifing. I don't care about the parts life, I really enjoy buying new stuff for my bike!

Would a Wrench be a good authority on this? I think not. Here is my reasoning. A cyclist who brings a bike in with a chain the requires cleaning is not really a do it yourselfer by any stretch of the imagination. I bet most chains he has to fool with need replacing anyway from sheer wear and neglect. Also, if he is taking off the chain, a new powerlink is no skin off of his nose, the customer pays for it. If he reuses the old one and it fails, then that is a problem. Better to use the new part.

Now a guy at home is just going to reuse his power link until he wears that sucker out. Shoot he can always carry a spare one in his bike bag if he is worried about failure of the link during the ride. He can push the envelope if he cares to and probably will. Also, remember almost everything made has a safety margin built into it. It is like tires. You CAN pump them up a long way beyond their recommended pressure. So maybe the power link thing is the same way. I guess we could put this thing to the test by having everyone take off their chain and put it back on for say 100 times and see if the powerlinks hold up.

I have used the same powerlink on my commuter for about 2500 miles now. On and off several times, no problems.

BTW, I made myself a "tool" a few months back that makes it easier for me to remove the link. I cut a wire clothes hanger to get a straight piece about 4 inches long. I then bent the ends (about 1/2 inch) 90 degrees in the same direction. Now when I need to take off the link, I pull the derailler forward to get some slack, and hook the chain several links away from either end of the powerlink with the hanger. Then when I let go, the derailler retracts, but the clothes hanger tool becomes taught, and leaves plenty of slack on the powerlink to make detachment a lot easier.