Has anyone heard of clipless master links? I've seen two chains lately that had master links with no clip, and no place to put one.

The kind you use a chain breaker om?

If you use a chain breaker, wouldn't that be just a link. How does it become a master without a clip in area?

Obviously, i'm just wondering if thats what he's talking about.

sram makes some, but they're new

[img]http://www.jensonusa.com/store/imgWrapper.aspx?img=/ch/ch608z00.jpg&type=2[/img]

Nice.

Does look like a nice design, just wondering that it might be hard to get apart once it's been pulled tight.

Used to see them BITD, you just flex the chain to relieve the pressure and they come right off. The SRAM version today is a better version of it.

It's been used on Mt. and Road bikes for quite a few years. I have never had one fail.

The idea is that when you break the chain link with a tool it is weaker than original. Some chains that come with that type of link instruct you NOT to use a chain breaker on the chain to reconnect the links do to possible failure..... Multi speed chains need a smooth surface on the chain plate. When the chain is reconnected using a hand tool the pin can be offset a bit to one side causing problems.

Ever tasted the dirt 2 pedals out of the gate????

the reason for the SRAM type links (or shimano's special pin, or campys links) is that modern "multi-speed chains use pins that are mushroomed over in some fasion or another. when you push an original pin out with a chain tool the pin head will make the plate hole bigger as well as the mushrooming coming off the pin. if you try to reuse the same pin and/or plate you end up with a very compromised connection.

and, as ziggy mentioned, for multispeeds you need to have a smooth transition from link to link to fit thru the derailleur and to not catch the adjacent cogs. so, a standard "masterlink" won't work.

[ February 24, 2007, 12:49 AM: Message edited by: mr coasterbrake ]

WOW!!! Someone actually has my back.....

Mr Coasterbrake, "your my hero".....

I use to use them bitd, just like Evan said. Thanks for the info ziggy1 and mr coasterbrake.