I have a Shimano 10-speed HG94 chain that I need to remove. Is it ok to reuse the the same connector pin or should i get a new one? Thanks Ed
It's okay as long as you don't back out the pin all the way. Stop backing out the pin right before it reaches the limit. Give it a light twist and the chain should come apart. If you end up backing the pin all the way the chain will most likely break on you during use. If you have a new connector pin save it for a chain rescue in the future. Also read up on the correct link to break the chain that's important.
Shimano 10 speed is the only chain that's ever failed on me in 28 years of riding bikes. It failed at the assembly link. I'd remove and replace with a KMC link (which I did).
[h=5]Taken from MTBR (READ EDITOR'S NOTE at bottom) - I did not know that SRAM does not recommend reusing the 'magic' link. I will start to clean chain ON the bike, not removing to clean. http://reviews.mtbr.com/five-easy-maintenance-tips-for-the-non-mechanic 4. Take care of your chain[/h]I’ve been running a SRAM chain the last several years and love their Powerlink that lets you “break” and reconnect the chain. What I don’t love is trying to remove it. Thankfully, the Park Master Link Pliers makes it as simple as squeezing a handle. It compresses and unhooks the Powerlink with one squeeze, making it easy to take the chain on and off for deep cleaning, switching derailleurs, and other maintenance tasks. For regular cleaning of my chain I recently added the Finish Line Pro Chain Cleaner to my toolkit. SRAM Powerlink: $4.99, sram.com Park Tool Master Link Pliers: $14.99, parktool.com Finish Line Pro Chain Cleaner Kit: $36.00, finishlineusa.com Editor’s note: SRAM recommends that 10- and 11-speed Powerlinks only be used once, and that chains be subsequently broken and reconnected with a new Powerlink at a different link. That said, we know many people who re-use Powerlinks as Sonya describes. Proceed at your own risk.
You cannot reuse the pin. Furthermore, do not break the chain at an old connector pin. Break it at one of the factory assembled pins.
This is the official Shimano stance. Do not deviate. Also, the pin goes on the link closer to the top of the chainring. Kinda hard to explain without a picture., but I hope that makes sense.
Yeah the 10 and 11 speed have an extra price to lock it in place. I like shimano chains with KMC links which are reusable
True that's what Shimano recommends but the OPs originally post ask if it is possible to reuse the pin. The answer is Yes it is as long as you don't back the pin out all the way. I've reused the pins on both road and mountain bikes for several years now with zero issues and yes I paid for extra pins $4 bucks each just in case I ever needed them which has not been the case. If you are going to buy a new chain pin it would better to go with a wippermann connex link. http://www.parktool.com/blog/repair-help/chain-installation-derailleur-bikes That's because you lack ninja skills.
Shimano says no and on my last OEM chain that did use the Shimano pin it wore faster anyways and had significantly more wear than the other pin/links. Instead of requiring a new pin when I pull the chain to soak and do a thorough cleaning every month or two I also just use the KMC master link. With regards to SRAM recommendimg to not re-use some of the links for newer 10/11-speed chains I can somewhat see why. On the older 9-speed PowerLinks and the KMC links on my Shimano 10-speed chain, especially the KMC links, they seem to wear faster and develop play quicker than the other regular links in the chain. If you don't remove them often then take the link out and put it in backwards or reverse how it was last installed perhaps the difference in corresponding mating surfaces might further accelerate uneven pin wear. I haven't seen real-world issues on the Shimano chains reusing KMC links but I do replace them every 300-500 miles and sometimes longer on SRAM 9-speed links.
I used to be able to remove the KMC 9-spd masterlinks within 5 curses but not so with the 10 sp chains after a couple of hours trying to mcgyver it w/ various tools to no avail. Had to break down and bought that Park Tool pliers, money well spent.
The key to popping those quick links is keeping your chain somewhat clean. A pinch on the plates as you force the links together is usually all I need to get my KMC links undone
+1 on the KMC link. I found out the hard way that you shouldn't reuse the Shimano pin. I bought an OEM chain. The pin was pushed out (not all the way through) and didn't come with an extra new pin. I decided to push the old pin back in. 3 minutes later, I had to walk my new bike build back to my house from a few blocks away. Used the KMC link and it has held up so far.