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What's the consensus, or any experience with KMC power links - this one has been on for 1 month and was only lucky in spotting it before it failed completely
Consensus? Small part fails, buy another and move on.
Not powerlinks but I had two Shimano ones fail in a short space of time. The first killed my rear mech and hanger as well. Consensus online was a dodgy batch of chains were going around. Something to do with them being brittle because of curing process -cant properly remember. Anyway, don't give up on KMC. I've found them faultless. Bearing in mind the pins are welded into the plates (not free moving with a flange on the end) then they are probably less likely to fail that a regular link.
Where did you purchase it from? Lot of fakes on eBay / Amazon.
From experience, anything in a chain will fail sooner rather than later. Old chains only stretch, they don't tend to terminally fail like that.
Craig24- out of interest how do you know they're fake? (I've got some super cheap eBay ones..)
the pins wear. and you start getting a clicking/ knocking noise.
"Where did you purchase it from? Lot of fakes on eBay / Amazon."
Good point, thanks
How long should you keep using one for?
(the above was put on new with the chain)
I have used KMC, SRAM and Connex quick links and had a few chain snappages, but never at the quick link. But I am not so heavy, and not a big pedal masher.
ETA up to 10 speed, I used one for the life of the chain and did/undid it several times for chain cleaning. With 11 speed I try not to open them too many times as they are not advertised as re-clickable.
same with anything on eBay. If it’s too cheap 99% of the time it’s cos it’s fake. Plus if you look at the pics for some of the links, the really cheap ones have really rough looking engraving. The one in the OP [i]looks[/i] legit, could just be a slightly better quality knock-off though!!out of interest how do you know they’re fake?
As above the cheap ones seem to have a rough looking finish. Lots of reports of them being fake on Amazon reviews and people having issues with them. The one on the OP's photo looks pretty good for a fake though to be fair.
Fake (Top), Real (Bottom)
How long should you keep using one for?
Until the entire chain is lifed. No reason to swap them out beforehand
been using 8, 9, 10 and now 11 speed versions and only ever had 1 9 speed
one give up. didn't fail like that though. just wouldn't stay together anymore !
**** me is nothing safe from faking !! I’ve used kmc links for years(bought from crc etc) always been fine.
I use Sunrace quick links & never had any issues
I had one of these fail just as I was stomping on the pedals on a short steep climb, also bought from Ebay and only a month or 2 old but they didn't fail like that.
I knee'd the handle bars at full force, there may have been some bad language.
Daft question but you visually checked both sides were locked together properly after installing?.
I've been using them since they became a thing many years ago. I've had one failure which was my error, I was in a rush and the side facing the rear wheel hadn't gone in properly.
^ Wouldn't that be 'obvious' though - banging etc?
With 11 speed I try not to open them too many times as they are not advertised as re-clickable
KMC sell a reusable one and a non reusable one. All the other brands say non reusable I think.