KMC quick link hint
larkim
Posts: 2,474
After spending (on and off) 7 hours trying to get a KMC quick link apart, thought I'd post the solution which I think would be very adaptable at the roadside.
I simply took a shoe lace, looped it around the two links that the quicklink went through, and then tied the laces together to form a loop. Then I put an allen key inside the loop and began twisting so that as it got tight the forces pulled together the links to put more force on them than I could manage myself. A quick pinch together of the links once it got tight and voila, finally an unlinked chain!
And the bonus of the technique? The laces then held the chain in place so that it didn't just all drizzle out onto the floor.
Genuis! I thank you....
I simply took a shoe lace, looped it around the two links that the quicklink went through, and then tied the laces together to form a loop. Then I put an allen key inside the loop and began twisting so that as it got tight the forces pulled together the links to put more force on them than I could manage myself. A quick pinch together of the links once it got tight and voila, finally an unlinked chain!
And the bonus of the technique? The laces then held the chain in place so that it didn't just all drizzle out onto the floor.
Genuis! I thank you....
2015 Canyon Nerve AL 6.0 (son #1's)
2011 Specialized Hardrock Sport Disc (son #4s)
2013 Decathlon Triban 3 (red) (mine)
2019 Hoy Bonaly 26" Disc (son #2s)
2018 Voodoo Bizango (mine)
2018 Voodoo Maji (wife's)
2011 Specialized Hardrock Sport Disc (son #4s)
2013 Decathlon Triban 3 (red) (mine)
2019 Hoy Bonaly 26" Disc (son #2s)
2018 Voodoo Bizango (mine)
2018 Voodoo Maji (wife's)
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Comments
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After spending (on and off) 7 hours trying to get a KMC quick link apart, thought I'd post the solution which I think would be very adaptable at the roadside.
I simply took a shoe lace, looped it around the two links that the quicklink went through, and then tied the laces together to form a loop. Then I put an allen key inside the loop and began twisting so that as it got tight the forces pulled together the links to put more force on them than I could manage myself. A quick pinch together of the links once it got tight and voila, finally an unlinked chain!
And the bonus of the technique? The laces then held the chain in place so that it didn't just all drizzle out onto the floor.
Genuis! I thank you....
if you position the chain a certain way on the chainring you need no tools to get it apart (have a google) - useful if out and about in an emergency0 -
Most people on here are speshul and have velcro shoes.I don't do smileys.
There is no secret ingredient - Kung Fu Panda
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Parktools0 -
LOL, true. OK, from now on even if I wear my speshul shoes, I'll carry a lace with me, wrapped around my spare innertube...Most people on here are speshul and have velcro shoes.2015 Canyon Nerve AL 6.0 (son #1's)
2011 Specialized Hardrock Sport Disc (son #4s)
2013 Decathlon Triban 3 (red) (mine)
2019 Hoy Bonaly 26" Disc (son #2s)
2018 Voodoo Bizango (mine)
2018 Voodoo Maji (wife's)0 -
Pair of pliers, or better still the proper tool?Currently riding a Whyte T130C, X0 drivetrain, Magura Trail brakes converted to mixed wheel size (homebuilt wheels) with 140mm Fox 34 Rhythm and RP23 suspension. 12.2Kg.0
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Who has pliers out on the trail?0
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Not me. Even then you'd need needle nose ones that are quite needle like through their length to fit.0
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Have a guess.......Who has pliers out on the trail?Currently riding a Whyte T130C, X0 drivetrain, Magura Trail brakes converted to mixed wheel size (homebuilt wheels) with 140mm Fox 34 Rhythm and RP23 suspension. 12.2Kg.0 -
Still reckon a nice smooth shoe lace is far less likely to scratch or damage anything than a pair of pliers. And it wasn't as if my 7 hour labour didn't involve needle nosed pliers (unsuccessfully)!2015 Canyon Nerve AL 6.0 (son #1's)
2011 Specialized Hardrock Sport Disc (son #4s)
2013 Decathlon Triban 3 (red) (mine)
2019 Hoy Bonaly 26" Disc (son #2s)
2018 Voodoo Bizango (mine)
2018 Voodoo Maji (wife's)0 -
Use the pliers on the sideplates not the rollers, opposing corners and off it pops.Currently riding a Whyte T130C, X0 drivetrain, Magura Trail brakes converted to mixed wheel size (homebuilt wheels) with 140mm Fox 34 Rhythm and RP23 suspension. 12.2Kg.0
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Tried that, no joy. Don't know what was causing them to stick, but no amount of force was budging them this time. All I can say is that my way was simple and effective after many, many attempts at more traditional options. No-one need use this approach if other more normal options work fine, but given the simplicity of it for me I can say that it will be my first port of call in future!Use the pliers on the sideplates not the rollers, opposing corners and off it pops.2015 Canyon Nerve AL 6.0 (son #1's)
2011 Specialized Hardrock Sport Disc (son #4s)
2013 Decathlon Triban 3 (red) (mine)
2019 Hoy Bonaly 26" Disc (son #2s)
2018 Voodoo Bizango (mine)
2018 Voodoo Maji (wife's)0 -
If you didn't last time, try squeezing the side plates together whilst you slide them apart, they're locked together unless you do this.
Don't have pliers as they can usually be undone with the above technique using finger and thumb.0 -
To be honest, that's the trick that has usually worked for me in the past - a squirt of WD40 (I know, I shouldn't blaspheme) to facilitate cleaning out the gunk, a quick squeeze inwards to and then popping them apart.If you didn't last time, try squeezing the side plates together whilst you slide them apart, they're locked together unless you do this.
Don't have pliers as they can usually be undone with the above technique using finger and thumb.
But it wasn't working on Saturday, believe me! My laces / windlass technique did also involve a little squeeze together from the sides in the end too so that they weren't in their locked position.2015 Canyon Nerve AL 6.0 (son #1's)
2011 Specialized Hardrock Sport Disc (son #4s)
2013 Decathlon Triban 3 (red) (mine)
2019 Hoy Bonaly 26" Disc (son #2s)
2018 Voodoo Bizango (mine)
2018 Voodoo Maji (wife's)0
