Description:Every chain is only as strong as its weakest link - traditionally, the connecting link. In contrast, the PowerLink™ connection is just as strong and durable as every other link in the chain. It can be opened and closed as may times as you want without using any tools.
Submitted by
xcalibur
a Weekend Warrior
from Cannock UK Date Reviewed: April 25, 2008
Favorite Trail:
Follow the Dog
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Strengths:
Easy to assemble and take apart, if you practice before fitting it.
Weaknesses:
Tricky to take apart if you haven't learned how.and/or the link has got dirt jamming the plates.
Similar Products Used:
Chain breaker to shorten chain.
Bike Setup:
Olympus XT
Bottom Line:
An ESSENTIAL spare part. It will get you get you going faster and more securely than anything else if you get a chain break, (you still need a chain breaker to remove old links). I fit one in the chain so I can easily remove it for cleaning, and carry a spare when I ride. Fitting is obvious and easy, just check you have properly mated both parts. To remove PRESS THE SIDE PLATES TOGETHER, then slide apart. If the chain is dirty than grit may stop the plates moving when you press them together. In that case, hold the chain either side of the link and repeatedly twist to loosen the dirt and try again. Practice at home so you get the feel of it. Enjoy
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
down hill
a Downhiller
from walsenburg Date Reviewed: April 22, 2007
Favorite Trail:
pmi
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Price Paid:
$15.00
Purchased At:
The Great Divide
Strengths:
strong chain, it hasnt strechted too much, even after a downhil bike, street bike, and now on a trials bike
Weaknesses:
i only had the powerlink come undone once while riding, and the hardest part was finding the two peices in a huge parking lot
Similar Products Used:
some shimano chain (i robbed it from my brother)
Bike Setup:
steelhead noleen truvativ hollzfeller sram x-7 rear stuff and funn rims on shimano hubs
Bottom Line:
great chain easy to remove dont need any special tools to remove, just a pair of needle nose plyers. if you find a way to have the powerlink to come undone while riding, you did something horribly wrong
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Kelly
a Cross Country Rider
from Houston, Tx Date Reviewed: May 22, 2006
Favorite Trail:
Ho Chi Minh
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$25.00
Purchased At:
Bike Barn
Strengths:
So far nice chain. Haven't used it too long yet.
Weaknesses:
None so far
Similar Products Used:
Shimano. This is replacing a broken shimano
Bike Setup:
Old KHS Montana Comp. Just updating to 9 spd with SRAM X.7 shifters and RD.
Bottom Line:
The whole reason for this review was to let people know the trick to removing is pinching the side plates of the power link. I wrestled with it for a few minutes before looking here.
Grab the links on either side of the power link and push together until the powerlink is 90° to the chain. Pinch the side plates of the powerlink with one hand and push one of the adjacent links to slide the powerlink.
As soon as I pinched the sides of the powerlink the it slipped off very easy.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Oleg Billert
a Cross Country Rider
from Israel Date Reviewed: August 8, 2005
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Purchased At:
pricepoint
Strengths:
Easy to install/remove
Weaknesses:
weak
Bike Setup:
came with the chain
Bottom Line:
The link was broken after two weeks.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
j sutcliffe
a Cross Country Rider
from boise Date Reviewed: July 2, 2004
Favorite Trail:
resurrection pass
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$5.00
Purchased At:
mailorder
Strengths:
easy to use. strong
Weaknesses:
none
Bike Setup:
XC bike
Bottom Line:
link rocks. SRAM chain it came on with hollow pins was complete crap. the powerlink survived two chain breakages, before I chucked the chain in the garbage.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Ben
a Cross Country Rider
from Los Angeles Date Reviewed: May 2, 2004
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$5.00
Purchased At:
Used with a Klein Mantra from a friend
Strengths:
It IS really easy to get off. Play with it for long enough, and you'll get it.
Weaknesses:
Jerks like SGT. ROCK will make fun of you if you can't it right away. I had the worst time trying to get the thing off; now it takes me 5 seconds. It's not hard -- once someone's properly demonstrated or told you how to take it off. Still, Scubapro and others will somehow see your failure as a sign of their masculine superiority.
I really think that I know a headset from a chain, and that I'm a smart guy. It's just tricky to get the right motion down.
Bike Setup:
Klein Mantra Comp
Bottom Line:
I was wrestling with the damn thing for 30 minutes until I read smokey strodtman's advice to my girlfriend. "I got it. That was easy." It is easy, you just have to get it right.
It was hard as hell deciphering their advice. Here's mine:
1) Pinch the two links next to the Powerlink together so that the Powerlink bulges up. 2) Pinch the side plates of the power link together. 3) Push the links adjacent to the Powerlink toward each other. You should see the pins move into the inner hole. 4) Pins come out and the Powerlink comes apart.
I can't envision ever needing a tool for this. The "chopstick" advice from Frank Cannella seems ridiculous and just made me want to snap the link in two.
If this fails, just stop by your LSB and ask them to show you. You'll save yourself the hassle.
5 Chilis. I'll never ride without one from now on.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Frank Cannella
a Weekend Warrior
from Tucson, AZ USA Date Reviewed: December 7, 2002
Favorite Trail:
Fantasy Island Tucson, AZ
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Strengths:
Excelent Product
Weaknesses:
Lack of informatio on how to break the link.
Bottom Line:
To break the chain link is very simple. Do the following: place two medium screw driver though the chain at both ends of the Power Link. Just like sticking two chop sticks through the chain. While holding the Power link squeeze the shafts of the two screw drivers together at the point that they enter the ends of the Power Link. The Power Link will snap open. It's so easy!! Try it it's simple and a snap.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
scubapro
a Weekend Warrior
from laguna beach Date Reviewed: September 30, 2002
Favorite Trail:
santiago truck to old camp
Duration Product Used:
Less than 1 month
Price Paid:
$5.00
Purchased At:
supergo.com
Strengths:
quick installation and removal of chain. works soooo well
This link works, makes removal and installation of your chains quick and easy. I don't know what all the others are taking about when they say they can't remove the link without tools. It takes me two seconds to remove my chain! Now I can easily remove my chain for degreasing and put it right back before I ride!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Keefe
a Downhiller
from Dover,nj Date Reviewed: August 7, 2002
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$3.00
Purchased At:
lbs
Strengths:
Chain and link have worked fine for 6 months
Weaknesses:
Power link nick named PERMANENT LINK. Chain tool is faster.
Similar Products Used:
Other assorted chains with removable pins
Bike Setup:
8 speed
Bottom Line:
Spent 45 minutes tring to get the permanent link out, after I tried evryones tricks as listed on this site. The idea is great and it works great when you have the link in your hand but you can forget it once it's on the bike. The only thing I can possibly think of is maybe somehow I squeezed a 9 speed link on an 8 speed chain? Good chain, bad link.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Todd
a Cross Country Rider
from Portland, Oregon, USA Date Reviewed: July 30, 2002
Favorite Trail:
the one I haven't ridden yet
Duration Product Used:
3 months
Price Paid:
$5.00
Purchased At:
Lakeside Bicycles
Strengths:
Makes taking off your chain a snap, gold color looks cool.
Weaknesses:
none.
Similar Products Used:
Masterlink for 1/8" and 3/6" BMX chains, Sachs something stupid.
Bike Setup:
K2 Zed Team, very nice
Bottom Line:
Easy to use, makes taking your cahin off for cleaning much easier, not a gimmick that will just disconnect and jam (like the sachs one I tried, it SUCKED!). Eryone who owns a derailler chain should have one of these on it, period.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
SGT. ROCK
a Racer
from Edmonton, AB Date Reviewed: July 17, 2002
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Strengths:
Works Doesn't break
Similar Products Used:
Taya connector
Bottom Line:
I hope these guys that can't open this connector aren't working on more complex parts of their bikes, like the brakes and headset. Any shop that can't get this thing open without tools is totally incompetent. Stay the hell away from my bike!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Nigey
a Weekend Warrior
from Westwood, MA Date Reviewed: July 17, 2002
Duration Product Used:
1 Year
Purchased At:
came with chain
Strengths:
simple, strong, light, it works! No need to split chain to remove it anymore. It came with the chain I bought but it is cheap to get by its own.
Weaknesses:
You really have to get the knack of removing it; no reading of instructions will help you out that much until you do it. The link should be clean to aid removal.
Similar Products Used:
"regular" chain with chain remover
Bike Setup:
C'Dale 500 SRAM drivechain
Bottom Line:
First, I've got to say that on my first attempt to remove the power link, I got really frustrated. No amount of effort seemed to move the thing. I used pliers and choice Anglo-Saxon english to no avail. Then all of a sudden........ I got it. You really have to coordinate your finger pressure and direction at the same time.
My only reservation is after reading previous reviews -I wonder with time if it could become more difficult to remove -although it could be that previous reviewers got a bad lot, or it could be that they just didn't get the "knack". We shall see.
Anyway, since then removing it (have done so at least 6-8 times since) has been remarkably easy. It really is so much easier and better for your chain than having to remove/reinstall pins.
Like almost all the best ideas, it's really simple in design. Five chilis!
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
smokey strodtman
a Cross Country Rider
from gilliam, MO USA Date Reviewed: July 17, 2002
Favorite Trail:
landahl, rhett's run, rock bridge state park
Duration Product Used:
2 Years
Price Paid:
$3.00
Purchased At:
bikesource
Strengths:
makes it easier to remove chain for cleaning when working on drivetrain.
Weaknesses:
none.
Similar Products Used:
shimano connecting link.
Bike Setup:
fisher hardtail, mostly SRAM 9.0 drivetrain with LX front derailleur.
Bottom Line:
lots of riders seem to have problems removing these links. this is what works for me; use bungee cord to pull rear derailleur forward and put slack in chain. turn powerlink 90 degrees to rest of chain. squeeze in powerlink sideplates with one hand while using other hand to squeeze on ends of link. if link is difficult to move, use needle nose pliers to squeeze sideplates and regular pliers to move ends. (i rarely have to use tools for removal). remember that one side has to go up while the other goes down. lots of gummy chain lube and dirt makes the process much more difficult. be sure to wipe off excess when lubing your chain and you should have no problems. your chain will also last a lot longer.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Kiwi Pete
a Cross Country Rider
from San Fran, CA Date Reviewed: July 16, 2002
Favorite Trail:
The Rut
Duration Product Used:
6 months
Price Paid:
$20.00
Purchased At:
pricepoint
Strengths:
excellent idea. Haven't been able to break it
Weaknesses:
Can't get it apart! Probably due to my low IQ!...I spent about 45 mintues trying to seperate the power-link and couldn't do it. Resorted to an old fashioned chain tool.
Similar Products Used:
none
Bike Setup:
typical x-country, xt setup
Bottom Line:
I like the idea.....if the powerlink were easier to seperate I'd buy another one..but otherwise I wouldn't bother.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
Submitted by
Colin Barratt
a Weekend Warrior
from Hereford UK Date Reviewed: April 25, 2002
Favorite Trail:
Mad and Foolish
Duration Product Used:
Tested or demo'ed only
Price Paid:
$18.00
Purchased At:
Settle Cycles
Strengths:
Compatibility and ease of connection.
Weaknesses:
It wouldn't come apart again. I tried for a long time after I found that the new chain was too long. No joy !! So I took it to my LBS and they couldn't shift it either even with pliers. They showed me the conneX version and that worked like a dream. Eventually we had to split the SRAM chain with a conventional splitting tool. The problem seems to be that they ask you to push the links toward each other whilst squeezing the outer plates of the Powerlink which is very difficult and the plates are very tight in the grooves on the pins.
Similar Products Used:
None
Bike Setup:
N/A
Bottom Line:
I shall buy a conneX chain and link. More expensive but a three year old could separate it.
Value Rating:Overall Rating:
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