two noobish questions

triggmiester

Hi There, just wondering if anyone can give me some advice?
I have recently has my Giant Defy 2 serviced, it needed a new chain and when they installed it, they used an SRAM powerlink (9 speed BTW). I have come to clean my bike and I though I would take the chain off and dunk it, but for the life of me I couldn't get the blasted thing undone...I have checked out some youtube videos, which say push the two sides together, but I tried and tired (even with a set of needle noe pliers) but to no avail. Is there a secret to getting it off?

2nd question, how do you clean your bike cleaning brushes? After the first few times of using them, they seem to be putting more dirt/oil on than I am washing off. I have the Muc-Off set of brushes.


Any ideas/comments to any of the above much appreciated

centimani

The powerlinks can be swines when they're new Trigg...i know mine was. It does get easier as the link frees up with use.
I used a pair of flat bladed circlip pliers (same thickness as the gap inside the chain) and used a grinder to shape some scollops towards the tip, they then wrap round the roller, much better grip than using the flat surface of long nosed pliers, which tend to slip off the rollers.

Beware using too much pressure, ive had a chain roller fly off one by exerting too much pressure.

You can bet your bottom dollar the link in the video wasnt new either

crankycrank

triggmiester wrote:

I though I would take the chain off and dunk it, but for the life of me I couldn't get the blasted thing undone...I have checked out some youtube videos, which say push the two sides together, but I tried and tired (even with a set of needle noe pliers) but to no avail. Is there a secret to getting it off?

Take your chain and pinch the quicklink and the next link together while on the teeth of your large chainring so that you have the links sticking out perpendicular to the chainring (sorry no pics, my camera isn't working). Then just lightly tap down on one side of the quicklink with anything that will work as a tapping device (rock, hammer, screwdriver, your friends phone, etc) and it will easily come apart.

rothers_bikeo

SRAM powerlinks do come apart but they can be a swine. KMC missing links work just as well and they are much easier to undo.

desweller

Did you use a chainsaw? Clue's in the name, duh.

maddog 2

http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Mode ... elID=49579

you will not regret this purchase.

triggmiester

and whats does a

Turner 5 Spot Frame 2010 From £799.00

have to do with the original question??

MichaelW

Sram Powerlink should have tool-free disassembly. You can get special pliers which fit chain links but you dont need them.
It is always good to practice disassembly on a new, clean powerlink.
Relieve tension on the chain. I use a bit of wire to hook and pull a small length of slack either side of the powerlink.
Press (compress) the sidelinks of the powerlink and hold.
Slide each sideplate in a different direction, whilst keeping under compression.
If you press BOTH sideplates longitudinally, you stop them sliding apart.

keef66

Drop the chain on to the BB shell to take all the tension out of it
Get the offending links scrupulously clean with WD 40 or similar (Not the whole chain, before anybody starts!)
Then you need to squeeze the sideplates at the pins and push together the 2 adjoining links. (It helps if you have 3 hands and / or a prehensile penis)
If that doesn't work, try the trick described above; hitching it up to form a little tent on the chainring then tapping the top.

If that doesn't work, do what I did and buy the quick link pliers!

skeetam

It's not easy to explain but here goes... Hold the chain either side of the Powerlink give it a horizontal wiggle while pushing it into itself and it comes apart very easily.