Ok this should be easy….but I’m struggling!

I’ve watched vids on YouTube of folk effortlessly removing SRAM speed links with only a pinch of the fingers, I’ve tried & tried and can not do it….any suggestions for help?

Only thing to not is its a old chain on a mates bike, bit of rust but I’ve dw40’d it.

They can be difficult on a dirty chain so ditto or worse on a rusty one i guess, carefully with pliers?

Think about what you need to do

The plates need to be squeezed together with one hand (left usually) whilst the other pushes the link together

The left hand also holds in place the left hand pin of the link, you only need to move one side of it
Don’t try to push both together, just push the rh one in

Its the squeezing together that is the important part, i always forget that and struggle, then the moment i remember they need to be squeezed together they come of instantly.

Haha, cheers for the advice, I don’t think it was me it was knackered got some pliers & just snapped the bugger…it was going in the bin anyway!

I keep a micro pair of long nose pliers in my back pack for such an occasion

install and remove a new link a few times before you use it.

Then it should be easy.

Also regularly remove the chain via the link for cleaning. If you don’t use it regularly it will jam up.

I find if grit gets into the link it stops you from them sliding when you compress them