any downside to Wippermann Connex link?

Martin

TomYoung wrote:
> On May 16, 6:56 am, Bob Ross <br...@berklee.net> wrote:
>> I'm thinking of getting a Wippermann Connex (or equivalent quick-
>> disconnect link) to make cleaning my chain & drivetrain easier. Is
>> there any downside to these gizmos?
>>
>> I've read 1 or 2 anecdotes about quick-disconnect links coming undone
>> at the starting line of a race (!) but as far as I can determine
>> that's not a common enough occurence for me to worry about. I'm more
>> concerned with whether they affect longevity/durability of the chain
>> or cogs, or if they affect shifting, or... well, anything that might
>> be viewed as a negative.
>>
>> Any reason I shouldn't consider one?
>
> I'm guessing the SRAM link can cause excessive wear on the two
> adjacent links.
>
> I've used the SRAM links on my 9-speed chains for 7 - 8 years now.
> Never had one break.
>
> I check for "chain stretch" with one of those Park tools when a chain
> starts to approach 3,500 miles of use and typically reach the .75 wear
> point just shy of 4,000 miles but *only* if I span the tool across the
> SRAM link. Every other part of the chain measures as being under this
> wear limit. I sometimes get a few hundred more miles out the the
> chain by replacing the old SRAM link with a new one, which brings the
> chain back into spec across the SRAM link, but it pretty quickly goes
> back to the .75 wear limit.
>
> Since this out of spec condition exhibits itself only when the tool
> spans the SRAM link it seems like the adjacent links have accelerated
> wear.
>
> Tom Young

I noticed that the 10 speed superlinks I received approx 2 years ago
seemed to have pins that were a little undersized. I reckon if you put
your chain wear tool across a new quick-link on a new chain you would
see some apparent wear. I haven't measured the pin diameters with a
micrometer, but my impression is that the pins on the Wipperman Connex
links are a closer fit in the inner links and therefore would show less
apparent wear when new and also probably cause a little less wear to
chainrings & sprockets.

Martin

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