Reports of the demise of this Web site are greatly exaggerated! We at sheldonbrown.com thank Harris Cyclery for its support over the years. Harris Cyclery has closed, but we keep going. Keep visiting the site for new and updated articles, and news about possible new affilations.



find us on FB

More Articles by Jobst Brandt
Next: Aligning a Fork
Previous: Electronic Shifting

spoke

Subject: SRAM (formerly SACHS) Power-links
From: Jobst Brandt
Date: May 12, 1999

The SACHS Power-link can be separated easily alone but not when in a chain. The link is designed not to open by axial compression alone, typically when a new chain is used on worn sprockets, where skipping over teeth can cause inertial compression by the trailing chain. To prevent this occurrence, a recess around the head of the stepped pin makes more than a half circle, preventing the pin from sliding in its slot. That means the side plates of the link must be pressed together, taking up side clearance, to raise the head of the sliding pin above this retention.

To open the chain, find the link, make an upside down U-shape of the chain with the link as the cross bar, the adjacent chain hanging down, grasp the link diagonally with pliers across the the corners to which the pins are fixed, not the corners with the keyhole slot. Pushing the side plates together assists removal but is not essential, the diagonal force having a lateral compressive component.

Before using a Power-link, put it together to see why it does not readily slide from closed to open position. Road grit makes this even more difficult.

Jobst Brandt

[Power Links are available for 8-speed and 9-speed chains. The 8-speed ones work also with Shimano chains, in my experience. The 9-speed ones are reported to cause skipping when used with Shimano chains. 10-speed Power Lock links are good for only a single use. There are other brands besides SRAM, which work with different chains: see the glossary entry on master links. -- John Allen]

Spoke Divider

More Articles by Jobst Brandt
Next: Aligning a Fork
Previous: Electronic Shifting

Spoke Divider

Spoke Divider

Articles by Sheldon Brown and others
Harris
Home
Beginners Brakes Commuting
Lights
Cycle-
Computers
Do-It-
Yourself
Essays
Family
Cycling
Fixed Gear
Singlespeed
Frames Gears &
Drivetrain
Bicycle
Humor
Bicycle
Glossary
Bicycle
Links
Old
Bikes
Repair
Tips
Tandems Touring What's
New
Wheels Sheldon
Brown

Reports of the demise of this Web site are greatly exaggerated! We at sheldonbrown.com thank Harris Cyclery for its support over the years. Harris Cyclery has closed, but we keep going. Keep visiting the site for new and updated articles, and news about possible new affilations.

Harris Cyclery Home Page

If you would like to make a link or bookmark to this page, the URL is:
https://www.sheldonbrown.com/brandt/power-links.html

Last Updated: by John Allen