KMC X9 93 chain can't get missing link to join

danielsbrewer
danielsbrewer Posts: 123
edited August 2011 in The workshop
Hello,

First chain replacement on a new bike and unlike my old bike from the "blue book" it appeared that I needed to shorten the chain (never needed to do this on my old bike so it was a new experience). So I did that using a chain breaking tool. Then when I went to join the chain using the missing link it just wouldn't join. I tried the missing links by themselves and that seemed ok, but it just got stuck when I tried it on the chain. It got a little bit into the join and then would go no further.

I then tried it on the bit of chain that I just chopped off and I finally managed to get the missing link to work but only after much wiggling and now I can't unlock the missing link!

Any ideas what I have done wrong? Was it the shortening of the chain and if so is this really necessary?

Any ideas how I can get the missing link to lock or unlock? Have a wrecked the whole chain?

Really frustrated with this as I have never had problems with KMC chains before, but as I said before its the first time on this bike (a 9-speed rather than an 8-speed).

Any help would be brilliant. I have a second spare chain, but am loathe to do anything until I have got more information.

Thanks

Comments

  • Craggers
    Craggers Posts: 185
    If it fits on the spare bit of chain then it should be the right (9sp) link, did the link come with the chain? I can't think of anything you might have done whilst splitting the chain to stop the link from fitting, other than using a breaker with a too large pin which could distort holes in the links, but that's unlikely.

    Missing links can be notoriously difficult to operate for the first few times until they loosen up a bit, maybe try opening and closing it a few more times on the spare bit of chain? There's definitely a knack to getting them on and off... maybe try some needle nose pliers to help get them to connect?
  • The chain on the bike: Both ends are the same? i.e. both are the slimmer links? By the way you say it fits on the spare links implies you've removed one (half) link to much/little.

    To unlock the link, use pliers diagonally. Really easy when you know how.
    FCN16 - 1970 BSA Wayfarer

    FCN4 - Fixie Inc
  • Thanks for the ideas. Pliers did the trick, both to get it off and to get it on. To get it on I squeezed it on the middle and pulled.

    To answer the questions. Yes both ends were the same. The link came with the chain.