SRAM Powerlinks...

johnnyrotten
johnnyrotten Posts: 216
edited January 2009 in MTB general
I'm trying to get a rough idea of how often these fail. and cause an off..who's had a 'weakest link' moment, followed by a 'Goodbye' moment?

Johnny
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Comments

  • mtbikerboy
    mtbikerboy Posts: 325
    It has never failed me in the past (i've had it for three months) and i dont see any reason why it should fail in the future. Very helpful. Makes it nice and easy to put/remove the chain without any tools (if your using the correct technique).
  • topsey_turvey
    topsey_turvey Posts: 420
    I've got three on one chain. No problems at all. Even got the little tool for splitting them - that's well worth £10 when everything is sh1t up and dirty.
    Frank Yates
  • P-Jay
    P-Jay Posts: 1,478
    Hmmm, one thing I've learnt to my peril is that they're one use only. If you bang a new one on and leave it it'll last the life of the chain. If you remove and re-fit them to change out derailiers, clean etc they go pop.
    Shocker Enduro
  • ratty2k
    ratty2k Posts: 3,872
    ^^^^^^ Cant say I agree, but thats just my experience. No issues with mine and the chain comes off every other ride for a good clean.
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  • cjw
    cjw Posts: 1,889
    P-Jay wrote:
    Hmmm, one thing I've learnt to my peril is that they're one use only. If you bang a new one on and leave it it'll last the life of the chain. If you remove and re-fit them to change out derailiers, clean etc they go pop.

    Has never happened to me. I regularly remove the chain to clean it using a SRAM Powerlink (same one) and only replace when replacing the chain.
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  • BorisSpencer
    BorisSpencer Posts: 786
    I've never had a failure and I take my chain off regularly. I also keep the powerlinks as spares when I change chains.
    Northwind wrote: It's like I covered it in superglue and rode it through ebay.
  • Mancunianfightingcat
    Mancunianfightingcat Posts: 2,054
    Never ever had any problems,
    I change mine when I change the chain, which is when it's 0.75% worn, which I guess is about 3-4 months of 2-3 rides per week.
    I remove my chain several times during its life to clean and relube it, as I say I've never had one fail and have always used SRAM chains for the past 5 years.

    Much less hassle than Shimano pins!
    Ants
    Orange Blood - Orange 5SE - Marin Rocky Ridge
  • stevieboy
    stevieboy Posts: 704
    Ditto the above

    All four bikes have them, never had one pop in 5000 miles use inc race, light free-ride etc.

    None of our bikes are stored with the chains on, each chain has a pot full of degreaser that they sit in until they are needed. My scale's chain is removed 3 times a week.

    Out of habit I always fit a new link with a new chain.
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  • dav1
    dav1 Posts: 1,298
    been using them on my 8 speed road bike, and my wifes 7 speed city bike and absolutly love em, makes looking after the drivetrain nice and easy and the chains feel great to ride (better then the KMC and Shimano I have used before)

    As soon as my current 9 speed shimano chain goes on the MTB a nice SRAM one will be replacing it.
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  • Splasher
    Splasher Posts: 1,528
    Used them for years, split and rejoin, never had one fail.
    "Internet Forums - an amazing world where outright falsehoods become cyber-facts with a few witty key taps and a carefully placed emoticon."
  • P-Jay
    P-Jay Posts: 1,478
    It's just me then. Ha ha,

    I think, I've had 3 or possibly 4 go over the years. In fairness I don't think I've had one go under power, they seem to go ping off jumps, rocky sections etc.
    Shocker Enduro
  • cee
    cee Posts: 4,553
    nup.....had a chain snap and had an off, but it wasn't the powerlink that went...I simply joined it again with a 2nd powerlink.
    Whenever I see an adult on a bicycle, I believe in the future of the human race.

    H.G. Wells.
  • jayson
    jayson Posts: 4,606
    I only ever used SRAM chains and i never had a split link fail on me, wish i could say the same about the shimano jobbie that came standard on the bike......... :evil:
    Remedy

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    Austria 2012
  • dodgy
    dodgy Posts: 2,890
    It's important to remember that the 10 speed version is called 'powerlock' as opposed to powerlink and is not reusable. I know this is the MTB forum so probably not relevant, but a point worth making I think :)
  • cee
    cee Posts: 4,553
    dodgy wrote:
    It's important to remember that the 10 speed version is called 'powerlock' as opposed to powerlink and is not reusable. I know this is the MTB forum so probably not relevant, but a point worth making I think :)

    until mtb specific 10 speed groups sets come out.....rumours abound for XTR....
    Whenever I see an adult on a bicycle, I believe in the future of the human race.

    H.G. Wells.
  • JK in the UK
    JK in the UK Posts: 132
    Can't agree more with the majority here. I've got 3 bikes from my XC hardtail to my trail centre full susser to my DH rig all running powerlinks and I remove the chains about once a week for cleaning and lubing. Never had a power link fail but have snapped a couple of chains - one about three times! But never a powerlink. I would certainly never EVER go back to life without them. They are just far too useful - lubing the chain away from the bike and your disc brakes is worth its weight in gold. I also consider them essential spares to carry in my backpack whilst riding.....

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