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is it ok to use a chain that has been shortened and then lenghtend again.
ive added another link to a previously shortend chain and im now thinking it wasnt a good idea.
will it be strong enough or do i now have a weak link!
These days I only ever use SRAM powerlinks to join a chain. You can have as many of those as you like and it won't weaken it.
If you've done a proper job you'll be fine. If you've used a second Power Link IME they're more likely to fail than a normal link, so if you have 2, they're twice as likely to break!
Happily had three power links in before now, obvious not the greatest situation to be in when your chain has snapped twice, but I've never broken a power link but I have broken lots of chains.
I suppose "academically" Njee might be right but I'd happily run lots of them without worrying about it (especially as I'm re-using power links from previous chains, not buying new ones).
You're less likley to see a powerlink snap purely because there is a lot less of them in the chain in the first place so not ever having one fail on you isn't necessarly an indication that they are as strong as a normal link. Infact as njee said I'd be inclined to think that they aren't as strong due to the stress concentration on the side of each plate.
Iain
I've broken lots of Power Links, and about the same number of chains, considering less than 2% of a chain is Power Link I can conclude they are the weakest part! I know a lot of people who've broken them too. They're practical, but not strong.
I've broken one powerlink vs about 3 (shimano) chains. The powerlink had been on about 3 chains before it failed though, so I'm not going to stop using them because of that.
To the OP, so long as you've broken & rejoined the chain properly it shouldn't be an issue.
It will be fine, chain on 1 of my bikes has been at least 3 differnt lengths now, all just joined using the std pins not a power link in sight.
Not that I have anything against power links, I just happen to have a chain tool.
Used to break lots of chains, but learned how to use the Shimano replacement pins properly, and haven't had one break for years!
I have pieced a chain together a few times and never had it break on me. not sure about the claim that power links are more likely to fail but I only have one on one bike and its never failed!