Apologies if this has been asked a million times previously....
I've been trying to remove the powerlink on a XX1 chain. I've done the whole pinch/squeeze it in the middle and then try to rub your fingers on the plates in opposite direction but each pin moves about 1mm and I can't get it past that point.
Do the STW knowledge gods have any advice that would help please?
thx!
you need a special tool for the 10speed stuff!
Sram 11 (and 10) speed links aren't designed to be re-used. You can get them off using tools though.
hold the link with a pair of pliers pushing diagonally, link pops off with no extra tools needed.
Worth buying the special tool to take it off and weight on the cranks to put it back on. We bought one after taking an angle grinder to one. Never had a problem removing a nine speed one
Use KNC ones. Tooless fix it.
Not tried 10 speed but their 8,9,11 speed ones just need pliers. Certainly not an angle grinder!
Long nosed pliers, zip ties, sweat, blood blisters and about an hour of your life.
without the tool - sometimes easy, sometimes tricky to near impossible
with the tool a 2 second job every time
mjsmke - Member
Not tried 10 speed but their 8,9,11 speed ones just need pliers
10 is a piece of piss with normal pliers too
On a rear gear (or front if you don't have a narrow wide), pinch the chain up one link so that it forms a "tent" with one side being the powerlink. Then get a heavy object (works with edge of a multitool in the field) and give the top of the tent a sharp knock, being careful to tap it off-centre so all the force is directed along one side of the link. Never fails to release.
Hope that makes sense. Hard to describe but simple in practice
I loop a piece of copper wire (earth from 2.5 t &e is ideal) around both ends then twist with pliers. And I re use them.
Power lock ones are not meant to be re-used, the only safe way to get them apart is to use the proper pliers....the easier way is split the chain at another set of outer plates and use either the re-useable power lock or better still KMC one as has been said they're reuseable and easy to undo just by hand!
Long nosed pliers, zip ties, sweat, blood blisters and about an hour of your life.
If you're a Gibon-fisted oaf....
A reusable 9 speed sram power link works just fine with a 10 speed chain - not sure about an 11 speed chain though.