Powerlink failure

[KevinV]

Yesterday I went for a ride on the Helderberg, and after a long bumpy descent when I started pedalling again I discovered that my chain was missing. Eish! I pushed my bike back up the hill, and eventually found the chain lying in the dirt. The powerlink was missing, both halves of it. It obviously either failed or managed to work loose. I didn't think it was possible for it to work loose. Fortunately I always ride with a spare, so i wasn't left standed in the bush.

Has anybody else had a similar problem with a powerlink?

[jmaccelari]

I've been using Powerlinks for 5 or six years now without

any problems related to normal usage and have done

Sabie Experience and the Epic with them.

 

The only trouble was I started off reusing them and one

snapped after several chains. I now replace them with

the chain.

 

It seems very weird to have one "drop" off. Did you

adjust it recently? Maybe (somehow, possibly) it was

incorrectly installed...???

 

[Johan Bornman]

I have had a similar experience. But only once and also "just dropped off"

Mine happened when the chain went slack around a bumpy corner but I cannot say for sure it was the bump or the slack that caused it.

I've used them for many years over many thousands of kms without a problem. I don't think it is a big deal and will continue using them.

 

 

[KevinV]

I rotate 2 chains, and my bike has only done about 2500km, so I doubt that the link is worn. As for incorrectly installed, I don't see how that is possible. I can only guess that if it didn't break then perhaps the dusty conditions caused it to get sticky and somehow resist the chain tension holding the pin in the thin part of the keyhole. It was a bumpy descent, but no worse than others I've done recently.

[KevinV]

I have had a similar experience. But only once and also "just dropped off"

Mine happened when the chain went slack around a bumpy corner but I cannot say for sure it was the bump or the slack that caused it.

I've used them for many years over many thousands of kms without a problem. I don't think it is a big deal and will continue using them.

 

 

Agreed! I won't stop using powerlinks as a result of this, it just reinforces the need to carry a spare. Must be one of those things that just happens from time to time.

[Brighter-Lights]

Happened to me once in 2007 Baviaans 2 day race.... chain dropped on 50km/h downhill and had to stop and use new link... never a problem since and 1000's km's later...

[Gman1834]

hi-jack.

 

do you get power links for shimano 10sp, and what do they retail for?

 

[AndreZA]

I rotate 2 chains' date=' and my bike has only done about 2500km, so I doubt that the link is worn.[/quote']

 

 

 

The constant unclipping may be wearing out the "click" part.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Canaris]

SRAM, the manufacturer of the powerlink actually encourage you to see the link as a  "use once" item.  So every time you break the chain you replace the link.

[KeithB]

it happened to a guy on our club ride this past Sunday - first time I have even seen one of those links fail.

[MintSauce]

I've 'broken' the chain about four times due to the link either coming undone or failing.

 

Only once could I not find the link to reuse it. The rest of the time it was still fine, except for one incident when it looked like this...

 

 

[Johan Bornman]

But that's not a PowerLink. What is it?