Removing an SRAM Powerlink from a bicycle chain

[scottvor]

Cheers mate! I was cussing for about 10 minutes trying to get this new to me SRAM chain off. Watched your video, and it popped right off.

[BrianRiker]

solid quick info. i appreciate the work on the video as well as the brevity in which it is delivered.

[bobby0panganiban]

That technique does not work on my trek 4300. I don't know why. Maybe there is no room to pinch the link.

[crni195]

some chains dont have this link...

then you have to buy a tool for a regular link remove

like so the ppl know !!!!

[weekstooshort]

At first, I was all excited about it. When I went to squeeze the link, nothing happened. I squeezed harder, and still, nothing. It took me a moment to realize that it came off, without the clicking noise described. I just kind of saw the pin shift over a bit. Yay for Youtube! Thanks for posting the vid!

[1wiremu]

worked for me just a little crc wd40..

[TheAlan94]

powerlinks aren't suppose to come off that easy

[factionfx]

Great vid. This is exactly what i needed to know.  Thank you!

[chocokero]

es mas facil en video que en la realidad, creo que me quedo con el clasico sistema de pin

[ilikeflatbuns357]

i need help

[ilikeflatbuns357]

i am kind of new to bikes

i got a fixie

trying to change the chain

uhmm

i cant find a fricken chain piece that looks like that

the one different from every other piece

HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!! please :D

[trashbeck]

Single speeds don't have one of these. Use a chaintool. The additional width means that you can push and pull pins without wrecking the chain.

[ilikeflatbuns357]

@trashbeck hmmmk. thanks..

uhm another question.

i need new set of wheels.

i want thin ones.

how WIDE are thinnest?

like half an inch? or inch?

[ilikeflatbuns357]

@trashbeck oh yeah..i have conversion bike tooo >__<

[stan69r]

@ilikeflatbuns357 you should watch the bicycle tudor video it shows you how to remove the link off a fixed gear chain.

[DestroyTheseWalls]

@ilikeflatbuns357 FUUCK FIXIES and not ever bikes use wipperman links....

[HariKalay]

I've just removed a link from my Shimano chain, and added one of these powerlinks. Connected well enough, I feel it will be a bit tough removing the chain for the first few times though.

[sean9820]

perfect video, thank you.

[TheBoneman42]

Did the trick! I love it as it makes cleaning the chain a snap. Click and remove, dump in old soda bottle with citrus degreaser and shake. Now that's convenient.

[Lunarlaserranging]

if you're chain breaks when you are out at a point other than the power link how do you repair it? is it ok to push out a rivet where the chain has broken and replace with a powerlink to get you home. is that what you would do if the chian snapped at a point other than the power link. i like the idea of these power links but i sometimes worry that they seem to come appart just a little to easy and im concerned the chain could come apart when riding. i think a rivet is probably tougher

[rrwiest]

I wonder if this is what my chain has. I needed it off so I just took a grinder to it and then bought a masterlink

[delsull]

I searched for and watched this video before doing anything and am grateful for the author's efforts to educate us. FWIW, my original chain was ridden hard for almost 1000 miles in extreme conditions. I squeezed it apart really easy but I took very good care of the old one. if your chain is not taken care of I can see it being a pain in the ass. But that should teach you a lesson about cleaning it every once in a while ;-)

[bobf43ca]

Great video. I messed around trying to get mine apart the first time, then came across your video, which made it so simple. Thanks for posting this.

[hzuhairy]

It can't be this easy, at least not with my chain. I just struggled for over an hour with many doses of lube all over the link... FML.

[gregmorrow]

@hzuhairy

I've just bought a new chain . It has a POWER LOCK, not POWER LINK.

The instruction says : It ONLY can be removed by means of a CHAIN TOOL.

So, people, don't break your fingers!!

[Discomothlover]

They can be a real pain if brand new and just freshly ridden through dirt. Clean it and clean it again, wd40 and do all the above. It'll come out eventually

[ward36]

never use wd-40 for any bike part period.

Any bike company/component company will tell you that.

[ward36]

typical any video this method doesn't necessarily work and makes it look all too easy. Especially if the powerlink has never been removed before. maybe for a powerlink thats been removed several times there's enough where for this. but you will not be able to push the plates together with just your fingers...let alone a good set of needle nose pliers. These damn chains have me stumped.

[trashbeck]

The reason that you can't squeeze the link is because there is crud, mud or swarf behind it.

If you put some oil on the back of the plates and manipulate it for a while using the links on either side, then you can get enough clearance to squeeze the powerlink together.

[nick008ru]

Just made it after watching this video. washed the dirt with spray-oil, squeezed the link and detached it in no-time. That's really easy.

Just do as shown with clean links.

[wallybiii]

@ward36 what a POS...I paid $50 for this chain and they said you can take it off "easily without any tools". I bench 260 lbs and can do 15 pull ups but I'm not strong enough to take this crappy chain off. I'll just stick to the Shimano groupo and a chain tool.

[jez9540]

THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I spent ages trying to do this before deciding there must be a 'how to' type video on youtube. This is the most helpful and simple one! Thanks once again!

[l0lnotlittlejoker9]

omfg i just spent 2 hours smacking my bike chain with a sludgehammer hoping to break it so i can remove it that failed ,and now i watch this and feel like an idiot lmfao

[britney00]

101notlittlejoker9-

You feel like an idiot because you ARE an idiot!

Just kidding... I struggled with this too. That's why I'm here on this video! :-)

[beerman1957]

I found I had to use a small pair of needle-nose pliers and just a LITTLE pressure to get the link to snap out. I think it was because it has been FOREVER since I took the chain apart. Still, this is a very intuitive and simple design that makes chain cleaning almost fun!

[katsooba]

thank you for this great video!

i fought with my chain for 10 mins , until i logged on youtube and saw this video!

great info

[red422coat]

Same here... I even read the directions... this is much clearer. Thanks again for sharing!

[OldZephyr]

Very helpful, thanks!

[superweirdash]

Excellent video! A good example for how other "how to" videos should be done. No long speeches, just straight, informative and concise. Thanks Stephen!

[buck2576]

my power link looks nothing like that. what the heck is SRAM doing?

[trashbeck]

This type of Powerlink is only for 8 (silver-grey) and 9 speed (gold) chains. The ones for 10 speed chains (Powerlock, silver) cannot be removed..

[buck2576]

Ah I see. Thanks!

[spitgalore]

Thanks for your input, saved me an unnecessary trip to the bike store.

[samsungmartiHKM]

@buck2576 My removable chain link is also different, it is called a Master Link, they are quite easy to remove as well. Whichever version people have, I find it such a simple and great feature. This is what bicycles should be like, no expensive specialist tools required, just good design and engineering; not all of us have all the time a tool-space in the world to do what should be simple bicycle maintenance. :- )

[mikke1z]

Thanks Stephen! :)

[mikke1z]

Thanks Dave! I'd read about the method you described in your video, but actually seeing how to do it did the trick.

[trashbeck]

Thanks, not actually Dave's hands, but Stephen's! I couldn't work it out either until i saw someone do it.

[COYS1882]

thanks very much dave