Broken quick link

RayKinsella
RayKinsella Posts: 50
in Workshop

Just came off my bike due to a broken quick-link (again).

There had been a creak down there for the last 2-3 rides. I should have known better not to ignore it. Second short climb of the ride, and snap. I got away with a few cuts and bruises only.

This happened to me also about two years ago. I can't remember who fitted this particular quick link, me or the bike shop, probably me - but they seem to be hard to get right.

The bike shop says - drop the bike in, we will repair NP, but I am suspicious.
Is there a specific chain or brand of quick link that is less prone to others?

Bike's mech is Tiagra.

Ray K

Comments

  • pblakeney
    pblakeney Posts: 25,733
    More relevant is the model of chain and quick link.
    The above may be fact, or fiction, I may be serious, I may be jesting.
    I am not sure. You have no chance.
    Veronese68 wrote:
    PB is the most sensible person on here.
  • laurentian
    laurentian Posts: 2,382
    . . . and making sure you have the correct link for the chain size (e.g. 8sp, 9sp, 10 sp)
    Wilier Izoard XP
  • RayKinsella
    RayKinsella Posts: 50
    pblakeney said:

    More relevant is the model of chain and quick link.

    No idea on either, what brand do you recommend?
  • MattFalle
    MattFalle Posts: 11,644
    Get yourself a new KMC chain and link to match whatever speed set up you have. Sorted.
    .
    The camera down the willy isn't anything like as bad as it sounds.
  • pblakeney
    pblakeney Posts: 25,733
    edited January 2023
    RayKinsella said:

    pblakeney said:

    More relevant is the model of chain and quick link.

    No idea on either, what brand do you recommend?
    What MatteFalle says above.
    That said, no recognised brand quick link should fail if fitted properly.
    The above may be fact, or fiction, I may be serious, I may be jesting.
    I am not sure. You have no chance.
    Veronese68 wrote:
    PB is the most sensible person on here.
  • RayKinsella
    RayKinsella Posts: 50
    Both were definitely recognized brands - can't help feeling I screwed up fitting it somehow.
  • joeyhalloran
    joeyhalloran Posts: 1,073
    Did you refit the same one? For example during cleaning? I'd have thought you'd realise if it was improperly fitted as the gears wouldn't be smooth due to the slightly shorter link it would create.
  • imposter2.0
    imposter2.0 Posts: 12,028
    RayKinsella said:

    but they seem to be hard to get right.

    Quick links are incredibly simple and (notwithstanding this example) very reliable. Would be interesting to know how the link failed.

  • RayKinsella
    RayKinsella Posts: 50
    didn't get a good look at it yet.
  • sungod
    sungod Posts: 16,522
    i've not had a quick link fail in >12 years

    if you've had two fail just two years apart, something is wrong, it's hard to see how incorrect fitting wouldn't have been obvious far sooner

    what speed chain? was the quick link the correct one for that speed?

    had the link been removed and refitted?

    if it was not the re-usable type, bear in mind they can be damaged by re-use

    exactly how did it fail? plate broke? pin detached? pin snapped?

    how worn was the chain? if pin-pin distance for the pins closest to 12 inches apart is <= 12 1/6 inches that's ok, if it's > 12 1/8 inches, then that's pretty worn
    my bike - faster than god's and twice as shiny
  • RayKinsella
    RayKinsella Posts: 50
    Plate broke and pin detached.
  • RayKinsella
    RayKinsella Posts: 50
    So this bike was in the bike shop in August but I can't remember if the cassette and chain were replaced then.
  • pblakeney
    pblakeney Posts: 25,733
    If you didn't fit it yourself I would find a new bike shop.
    The above may be fact, or fiction, I may be serious, I may be jesting.
    I am not sure. You have no chance.
    Veronese68 wrote:
    PB is the most sensible person on here.
  • grenw
    grenw Posts: 803
    Just buy a KMC chain. They all come with the required quick link. Been using them on road and mountain bikes for a decade or so and never had a problem
  • redvision
    redvision Posts: 2,958
    OP, was it definitely a quick link or was it one of the shimano chain connector pins?

    I switched away from shimano chains when I had two snap in short succession - both times out was the connecting pin.

    Never had a quick link snap.
  • Munsford0
    Munsford0 Posts: 606
    I've had a 10 speed KMC quick link fail. Fortunately it was sitting in a jar of white spirit at the time with the rest of the chain during cleaning. Pin just fell out of the side plate.

    Could have been self-inflicted by reusing the thing too often though...
  • webboo
    webboo Posts: 6,087
    I’ve had a quick link fail, the end of the plate snapped off. I can’t remember what make it was, it had been creaking a bit before it went. I just thought it was something else making the noise.
    I also had one undo it’s self when changing gear but that was when they first came out.
  • me-109
    me-109 Posts: 1,915
    I've just had a KMC X11 fail twice, almost identical failures. Both times at normal outer plates, replacing the first failed outer plate with another quick link. Second failure about a dozen links round from the first failure point. No creaking or advance warning. Not even worn to first option on the checker (0.5%?).
  • daniel_b
    daniel_b Posts: 11,577
    Do those with breaking quicklinks put out a lot of power, sprint a bit maybe?

    I'm distinctly average in terms of power output, am not a sprinter by any means, and have never had one break, in around 15 years of riding.

    That's a mix of shimano and kmc chains, 9, 10, 11 and 12 speed chains.
    Felt F70 05 (Turbo)
    Marin Palisades Trail 91 and 06
    Scott CR1 SL 12
    Cannondale Synapse Adventure 15 & 16 Di2
    Scott Foil 18
  • Munsford0
    Munsford0 Posts: 606
    daniel_b said:

    Do those with breaking quicklinks put out a lot of power, sprint a bit maybe?

    In my case, absoultely not.

  • dabber
    dabber Posts: 1,926
    I had a KMC (11) quicklink break as I'd just crested the top of a climb in France. The last 100 metres or so of the climb was around 12% and I'd been out of the saddle.
    I was lucky in that having crested it I'd sat down again. It could have been painful if I'd been out of the saddle.
    One of the quicklink pins had sort of pulled away from the link.
    “You may think that; I couldn’t possibly comment!”

    Wilier Cento Uno SR/Wilier Mortirolo/Specialized Roubaix Comp/Kona Hei Hei/Calibre Bossnut
  • webboo
    webboo Posts: 6,087
    Mine broke during an interval session on the road. Doing 20 second on 40 seconds off, out of the saddle sprint to start. I’ve no idea what level of power was being generated but I presume it was fairly low.
  • sungod
    sungod Posts: 16,522
    fwiw i use the wippermann connex links

    these are easy fingers-only to fit/remove/re-fit for chain cleaning, pretty much impossible to damage in the process

    btw at times there're suggestions of chains cracking due to the effects of water or cleaning/degreasing products after long-term exposure

    not sure there's any definitive info on this, but from this old article from leonard zinn, who's generally well regarded, there may be instances where it can happen...

    https://www.velonews.com/gear/technical-qa-with-lennard-zinn-not-so-simple-green-2/
    my bike - faster than god's and twice as shiny
  • pinno
    pinno Posts: 51,318
    sungod said:

    fwiw i use the wippermann connex links

    Only 'cos I recommended them :smile:

    I've used this type of link ever since a KMC link broke on me.
    No issues in 4+ years of using the Wipperman connex.


    seanoconn - gruagach craic!
  • wobblebob
    wobblebob Posts: 73
    edited January 2023
    My wipperman connex link broke, the pin/roller came out of one side as I was out of the saddle climbing.



  • imposter2.0
    imposter2.0 Posts: 12,028
    daniel_b said:

    Do those with breaking quicklinks put out a lot of power, sprint a bit maybe?

    The links are designed to withstand the same amount of force as the rest of the chain - so in that sense, it wouldn't make any difference - especially at amateur level.

    And on the topic of Wippermann quick links - the only quick link failure I've ever experienced was with a Wippermann chain.
  • webboo
    webboo Posts: 6,087
    Any one who watch’s cyclocross will be aware that a broken chain is not an unusual occurrence at the start. Given you have to get your foot in quickly then pedal fast and going down the sprockets with some urgency. I would suspect that it’s the rapid sideways force that causes these failures.
    Whether this is true I’ve no real idea but no doubt someone will put me right shortly. ;)
  • daniel_b
    daniel_b Posts: 11,577
    imposter2.0 said:

    daniel_b said:

    Do those with breaking quicklinks put out a lot of power, sprint a bit maybe?

    The links are designed to withstand the same amount of force as the rest of the chain - so in that sense, it wouldn't make any difference - especially at amateur level.

    And on the topic of Wippermann quick links - the only quick link failure I've ever experienced was with a Wippermann chain.
    There seems to be something that on occasion makes them (sorry) the weakest link in the chain though.

    Otherwise there would be as many people mentioning their chain had broken on a standard link.

    Unless Webboo makes a viable suggestion.
    Felt F70 05 (Turbo)
    Marin Palisades Trail 91 and 06
    Scott CR1 SL 12
    Cannondale Synapse Adventure 15 & 16 Di2
    Scott Foil 18
  • sungod
    sungod Posts: 16,522
    one way the wippermann links may be more vulnerable than links that need a lot of force to fit/remove, is when freewheeling with a sticky freehub

    if the link is on top and at/near the chainring, a sticky freehub can 'pile up' the chain against it

    combine that with a bit of jiggling and/or cross chaining, it might be possible for one side of the link to open

    if it's the link with the leading pin, it'd still pass through the rear mech etc. without snagging, then it'd be just a matter of time until the asymmetric load causes pin-plate failure

    pure conjecture, but given there's almost no force needed to remove a link from an un-tensioned chain, it doesn't seem impossible

    but without hard data on failures vs. population, usage, conditions, maintenance, etc., there's no way of knowing whether links are any more/less likely to fail than traditional pin-joined chains

    fwiw i've only had two chains break, both old-style pins - not fitted by me, the bikes were provided at a place we were renting, presumably failed due to cack-handed assembly, one lasted less than ten metres

    basing things on forum postings etc. isn't reliable - look at the posts here on issues with tubeless tyres, disk brakes, hydraulic brakes etc., seem to outnumber equivalent issues with presumably more numerous older tech, but i'd assume people don't post about those so much anymore

    bb chain break mentions, plenty with no quick link involved...

    https://forum.bikeradar.com/search?Search=broken+chain

    stuff breaks
    my bike - faster than god's and twice as shiny
  • imposter2.0
    imposter2.0 Posts: 12,028
    edited January 2023
    daniel_b said:

    imposter2.0 said:

    daniel_b said:

    Do those with breaking quicklinks put out a lot of power, sprint a bit maybe?

    The links are designed to withstand the same amount of force as the rest of the chain - so in that sense, it wouldn't make any difference - especially at amateur level.

    And on the topic of Wippermann quick links - the only quick link failure I've ever experienced was with a Wippermann chain.
    There seems to be something that on occasion makes them (sorry) the weakest link in the chain though.

    Otherwise there would be as many people mentioning their chain had broken on a standard link.

    Unless Webboo makes a viable suggestion.
    Lateral forces are probably a major cause, as mentioned. Track chains are also invariably joined by some form of joining link, but it's rare to see them fail - perhaps because of a lack of lateral forces. The forces going through the chain at the start of a kilo, or team sprint, etc are probably far higher than a road sprinter would ever manage - mainly because the highest force is applied at zero velocity.

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