Latest Reviews and Articles
Will your next bike be Intelligent? ABS and Smart Bike Tech
Vitus Vitesse EVO Disc Review – Speed Machine indeed!
re-connecting chains
-
- Posts: 1150
- Joined: Fri Dec 16, 2011 3:47 pm
Re: re-connecting chains
Postby gabrielle260 » Wed Jan 02, 2013 4:14 pm
It's Simon Jamison in Surrey Hills... Several members here go to him and recommend him.
I'm a bit like Toolonglegs - I have broken 3 frames, 3 cranks, 2 handlebars, carbon forks, stems, seatposts, saddles, pedal axles, rims and countless spokes in 25 years of cycling so chains are hardly a surprise!
The only surprise is that it was at the joining link and the 9 speed and 11 speed happened within a few weeks of each other,
Andrew
-
- Posts: 7
- Joined: Wed Jan 02, 2013 2:38 pm
Re: re-connecting chains
Postby panurge » Wed Jan 02, 2013 7:40 pm
Nobody wrote:So what special thing do you do to the regular pins and what do you weigh?panurge wrote:Notwithstanding all the good advice on this thread I will say that I've split andrejoined probably 100+ Shimano chains over the last 20 years using one of the regular pins and I've never had one fail on me.
Nothing special, I just use a Park chain tool to push the pin so it's only in one outside link and then break the chain. Reverse the process to rejoin.
I weighed about 65kg at the start of the 20 years and about 72kg by the end. I blame living in Belgium for 8 years in the middle.
- toolonglegs
- Posts: 15451
- Joined: Fri Jun 29, 2007 7:49 pm
- Location: Somewhere with padded walls and really big hills!
Re: re-connecting chains
Postby toolonglegs » Wed Jan 02, 2013 7:43 pm
panurge wrote:jules21 wrote:has anyone else tried to connect a chain with pins previously pushed out of the chain to shorten it?
Notwithstanding all the good advice on this thread I will say that I've split andrejoined probably 100+ Shimano chains over the last 20 years using one of the regular pins and I've never had one fail on me.
I think everyone did before 10 & 11 speed chains. I have joined 10 speeds the same way in an emergency and not had an issue... which is how I remember I have broken one road bike chain, descending the Koopenberg last year ( obviously wasn't peddling!

- foo on patrol
- Posts: 6259
- Joined: Sat Dec 19, 2009 11:12 am
- Location: Sanstone Point QLD
Re: re-connecting chains
Postby foo on patrol » Wed Jan 02, 2013 8:17 pm
panurge wrote:Nobody wrote:So what special thing do you do to the regular pins and what do you weigh?panurge wrote:Notwithstanding all the good advice on this thread I will say that I've split andrejoined probably 100+ Shimano chains over the last 20 years using one of the regular pins and I've never had one fail on me.
Nothing special, I just use a Park chain tool to push the pin so it's only in one outside link and then break the chain. Reverse the process to rejoin.
I weighed about 65kg at the start of the 20 years and about 72kg by the end. I blame living in Belgium for 8 years in the middle.
Yeah yeah likely story. You're talking to Aussies here!

Foo
Goal 6000km

-
- Posts: 187
- Joined: Fri Oct 26, 2012 10:23 pm
Re: re-connecting chains
Postby DentedHead » Thu Jan 03, 2013 4:24 pm
Dent.
- greyhoundtom
- Posts: 3022
- Joined: Sun May 31, 2009 6:28 am
- Location: Wherever the sun is shining
- Contact:
Re: re-connecting chains
Postby greyhoundtom » Thu Jan 03, 2013 5:16 pm

Previously I always rejoined chains using the original pins and secured the pin by giving the centre of the pin a gentle tap with a centre punch and hammer, expanding the end of the pin ever so slightly.
My favourite chain tool used to consist of a lump of steel with a 1/4” hole drilled in it that allowed me to tap a pin out with a small nail punch.
- twizzle
- Posts: 6386
- Joined: Wed Aug 13, 2008 11:45 am
- Location: Taking a break.
Re: re-connecting chains
Postby twizzle » Thu Jan 03, 2013 11:37 pm
panurge wrote:Nobody wrote:So what special thing do you do to the regular pins and what do you weigh?panurge wrote:Notwithstanding all the good advice on this thread I will say that I've split andrejoined probably 100+ Shimano chains over the last 20 years using one of the regular pins and I've never had one fail on me.
Nothing special, I just use a Park chain tool to push the pin so it's only in one outside link and then break the chain. Reverse the process to rejoin.
I weighed about 65kg at the start of the 20 years and about 72kg by the end. I blame living in Belgium for 8 years in the middle.
My park tool has a collection of little metal rings on the pin which I have assumed come off the link pin when it's pushed out. There's no way I would be reusing those pins! Besides which, Shimano always gives you two with a chain, I have any number of spares kicking around.
Sent from my iThingy...
...real cyclists don't have squeaky chains...
-
- Posts: 187
- Joined: Fri Oct 26, 2012 10:23 pm
Re: re-connecting chains
Postby DentedHead » Fri Jan 04, 2013 12:45 am
twizzle wrote: Besides which, Shimano always gives you two with a chain, I have any number of spares kicking around.
I bought 3 new shimano chains when I made the Grizzly... only got one pin with each

Dent.
- foo on patrol
- Posts: 6259
- Joined: Sat Dec 19, 2009 11:12 am
- Location: Sanstone Point QLD
Re: re-connecting chains
Postby foo on patrol » Fri Jan 04, 2013 7:33 am

Foo
Goal 6000km

- twizzle
- Posts: 6386
- Joined: Wed Aug 13, 2008 11:45 am
- Location: Taking a break.
Re: re-connecting chains
Postby twizzle » Fri Jan 04, 2013 7:43 am
Sent from my iThingy...
...real cyclists don't have squeaky chains...
-
- Moderator
- Posts: 1257
- Joined: Wed Sep 16, 2009 9:07 am
- Location: Toongabbie NSW
- Contact:
Re: re-connecting chains
Postby thomashouseman » Fri Jan 04, 2013 7:48 am
DentedHead wrote:twizzle wrote: Besides which, Shimano always gives you two with a chain, I have any number of spares kicking around.
I bought 3 new shimano chains when I made the Grizzly... only got one pin with each
Dent.
Only got one from my PBK order as well. If anyone has a spare shimano 10 speed link joiner thinghamy I'd be happy to paypal you a small sum of $$$ for it and postage. Seems as though most online shops don't want to sell these on their own. Just PM me. Thanks.
T.
-
- Posts: 187
- Joined: Fri Oct 26, 2012 10:23 pm
Re: re-connecting chains
Postby DentedHead » Fri Jan 04, 2013 10:41 am
twizzle wrote:OEM chains rather than retail packs in a box with instructions?
Not sure what OEM is, but they were "7,8,9 Speed" narrow chains, all new in box (with instructions). One pin each. Not to worry though, like I said, I've yet to have one of my recycled ones break.
Dent.
-
- Posts: 8664
- Joined: Thu Sep 18, 2008 12:10 pm
- Location: Sydney
-
- Posts: 187
- Joined: Fri Oct 26, 2012 10:23 pm
Re: re-connecting chains
Postby DentedHead » Fri Jan 04, 2013 12:11 pm
It's possible, though the chains were in Shimano boxes, with Shimano branding on the instructions. The pin came with each chain had a "guide" part that snapped off once the chain was joined.
Dent.
- twizzle
- Posts: 6386
- Joined: Wed Aug 13, 2008 11:45 am
- Location: Taking a break.
Re: re-connecting chains
Postby twizzle » Sat Jan 05, 2013 7:28 pm
Sent from my iThingy...
...real cyclists don't have squeaky chains...
-
- Posts: 132
- Joined: Tue Nov 27, 2012 9:12 pm
Re: re-connecting chains
Postby Pottsy » Sat Jan 05, 2013 8:35 pm
twizzle wrote:Sounds like retail packs to me. Has Shimano gone stingy recently? I've always gotten two in the past!
6 to 9 speed shimano chains come with 1 pin
105 & Ultegra come with 1 pin
XTR & Dura Ace come with 2 pins
- twizzle
- Posts: 6386
- Joined: Wed Aug 13, 2008 11:45 am
- Location: Taking a break.
Re: re-connecting chains
Postby twizzle » Sat Jan 05, 2013 11:33 pm

Sent from my iThingy...
...real cyclists don't have squeaky chains...
- singlespeedscott
- Posts: 5221
- Joined: Sun Jan 20, 2008 4:35 pm
- Location: Elimbah, Queensland
Re: re-connecting chains
Postby singlespeedscott » Sun Jan 06, 2013 3:44 am
- twizzle
- Posts: 6386
- Joined: Wed Aug 13, 2008 11:45 am
- Location: Taking a break.
Re: re-connecting chains
Postby twizzle » Sun Jan 06, 2013 3:44 pm
YMMV, but a mate is waiting to get his frame back from being repaired after a rejoined chain using a new pin came apart in a sprint, ripped the derailleur off, trashed the carbon wheel and broke off part of the hanger mount on the frame. A $4.5K TT frame. Pushing a pin out doesn't do much for the side plates.
I also never remove chains until they are being replaced.
Sent from my iThingy...
...real cyclists don't have squeaky chains...
-
- Posts: 8664
- Joined: Thu Sep 18, 2008 12:10 pm
- Location: Sydney
Re: re-connecting chains
Postby Nobody » Mon Jan 07, 2013 2:20 pm
Good example of why to use a quick link if at all possible.twizzle wrote:YMMV, but a mate is waiting to get his frame back from being repaired after a rejoined chain using a new pin came apart in a sprint, ripped the derailleur off, trashed the carbon wheel and broke off part of the hanger mount on the frame. A $4.5K TT frame. Pushing a pin out doesn't do much for the side plates.
I also never remove chains until they are being replaced.
- General Australian Cycling Topics
- Info / announcements
- Buying a bike / parts
- General Cycling Discussion
- The Bike Shed
- Cycling Health
- Cycling Safety and Advocacy
- Women's Cycling
- Bike & Gear Reviews
- Cycling Trade
- Stolen Bikes
- Bicycle FAQs
- Serious Biking
- Audax / Randonneuring
- Retro biking
- Commuting
- MTB
- Recumbents
- Fixed Gear/ Single Speed
- Track
- Electric Bicycles
- Cyclocross
- Dragsters / Lowriders / Cruisers
- Children's Bikes
- Road Racing
- Road Biking
- Training
- Time Trial
- Triathlon
- International and National Tours and Events
- Cycle Touring
- Touring Australia
- Touring Overseas
- Touring Bikes and Equipment
- Australia
- Western Australia
- New South Wales
- Queensland
- South Australia
- Victoria
- ACT
- Tasmania
- Northern Territory
- Country & Regional
- The Market Place
- Member to Member Bike and Gear Sales
- Want to Buy, Group Buy, Swap
- My Bikes or Gear Elsewhere
- Cycling Brands
- Azzurri
- Bianchi
- BMC
- Campagnolo
- Cannondale
- Cervélo
- Colnago
- Focus
- Fuji
- Garmin
- Giant
- Malvern Star
- Merida
- Scott
- Shimano
- Specialized
- SRAM
- Surly
- Trek
- Custom Builders
- Generic Carbon
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users
- All times are UTC+10:00
- Top
- Delete all board cookies
About the Australian Cycling Forums
The largest cycling discussion forum in Australia for all things bike; from new riders to seasoned bike nuts, the Australian Cycling Forums are a welcoming community where you can ask questions and talk about the type of bikes and cycling topics you like.