The Shimano instructions state: 'Loosen the chain' which makes no sense. I suspect they are nervous about heavy-handed users causing a permanent bend in the link, so they decided to be ambiguous or misleading. Thanks for confirming what I suspected was the only option.
@pedropereira9193 lol those videos really annoy me too. Believe it or not this video took 8 hours straight to edit.. But it was worth it, one of my better ones :-)
I really wish I had found your video earlier 😂. I was eventually able to both uninstall the old chain and install the new one, but what a pain! Quick instructions and on point! Thanks!
@@FixItWithJon thank you ! Now I am really puzzled, because after I bought a new Shimano chain and Tourney crankset (I already changed the cassette a thousand miles ago, so it is still in good shape), to my great dismay, the new chain is now skipping in all gears. I switched back to the old (and quite stretched out) chain, and it works fine. I am sure I cut the new chain at the same length, every other adjustment on the gear shifts is the same. The new chain seems to sit properly on both the chain ring and the cassette, definitely better than the old one (which was skipping on the old chain ring if hard pressed). Any clue?
@@salted-anchovy Sounds like maybe the crankset / cassette is not compatible with the chain? Shimano are pretty assertive in the chain instructions about using only Shimano components in the drivetrain.. Maybe it's not just marketing. Good luck - let me know how you get on?
holy shit how can this 2 minute video just solve my 2 hrs problem like its nothing.... i used the mtb quick links before and they're super easy to use but that thing holy shit Guess i'll buy a new one and try again since my quick link isn't usable anymore thx a lot mate
Thank you so much for posted this. I am a pretty good wrench and I almost gave up trying to do this not knowing how. Now I do know how and WAY less difficult! Thanks you! -Larry
Like others, many thanks for posting this. Luckily I only struggled for a minute before turning to TH-cam but this has saved me a lot of time and head scratching 🙂
Thank you Jon, you are an absolute LEGEND. Was wrestling with fitting the chain and the quick link and then I watched your video and BOOM 💥 it was done. I was in shock. I am going to link your video on my Amazon review to help others. Thanks again. 😀😀🥳🎉
Thank you for taking the time to show us this. At least now I know not to use these crappy little devices and stay with the type I've always used in the past.
I followed Shimano instructions but no joy. I followed the video which helped with the bending but the best I could manage was to locate the link on the pin but not fully home. The bending kept pushing the pin out at the back so I only had a slight bit of the end left to play with. A gentle nip with some pliers gave me the satisfying click that it was fully home.
HOW? Even with this instruction, it just doesn't pops in. It is anywhere but only not fitting on the pin. The chain is just cursed. UPD: ye you just got to force it. You kind of have to push the metal
Hey bud - if it doesn't click on - even with following this guidance, I would return it for a warranty exchange. Remember one end of the link clip has a larger hole than the other..
@@FixItWithJon Yep, I've tried all the methods. Didn't click. Done everything by the given guide and other guides from youtube. Nothing worked. I just gave up and will refund it.
@@paulskirrow9394 Apparently you have to really push on the link. The trick is that you literally gonna bend that thin link, and it just forces into the position.
Exactly what I did. Just after around one thousand km the chain cracked right through the middle of the plate. I am mainly a light city rider, never hapenned to me with any chain ever. Just bought a KMC now with normal quick links that always worked well.
I have had 4 Shimano quick links crack in the middle of the plate. Thankfully only the backplate snaps so the chain stays together for a few miles. I always just join them at a pin now. I do 15k miles a year so go through quite a few and mix and match different mileage chains to try to extend the life of the cassettes.
I tried this method but I didn't have the hole lined up completely. Then I clicked it in but then used a wrench to gently click it again all the way. And I needed to remember the writing on the outside locking ring faces out...
Thanks ! I thought I was retarded for a while I see I’m not the only one struggling with it … thanks . Worked in 5 seconds vs 15 minutes scratching my head with greasy hands
Watched the video at least 20 times but neither I nor a friend could get the 'Quick' link to fit. I've given up and will ask Amazon for a refund. It's ludicrous. I've never had any problems fitting a chain before.
@paulskirrow9394 Thanks for the comment, sorry to hear that you weren't able to crack it - I agree, the design is lacking.. Hope you found a better chain solution?
It took me a while to fit a new Shimano chain using the link provided, mainly due to not following the instructions properly. However I was not as successful as you on removing the link. The supplied info mentioned that the link is not designed to come off once it has been fitted, which probably explains why it is a faff to remove. Is there a danger of this becoming a weaker link if if is removed and refitted numerous times?
Yes - not recommended to remove - it was a pain to take off & I'm pretty sure the link was slightly bent from the process. But if necessary it is possible and any bend could be corrected fairly easily. I think if I was doing it again, I would look for a link with a better connect / release mechanism..
Interesting! I didn't know that, although there was a bell ringing in my head from 30 years ago when I changed my first chain.. Maybe it was the same design back then too.. I agree quicklinks - so much more convenient & simple to use..
@@BrianHealy666 officially no - Shimano don’t want you to reuse it. But as you can see from the video, it is possible to put it on and take it off. So yes you could reuse it. You just need to be careful that you don’t bend the metal, and if there is a kink afterwards, get a pair of pliers on it.
Even following this video and others there's a grand total of zero chance that the link is gonna pop in. Worst chain ever, waste of money, never buying it again :p
Yuck, That's an ugly old design they've put out... I'm guessing this cheap design is for low end chains.. but then I find with my low end bikes they were more prone to bending a chain which would make this clip fall apart and most likely end with at least the loop clip disappearing. Personally I would stick with the 2 piece mirrored ones (Each is a plate and one pin with a slotted hole. They fit in any direction and are less susceptible to coming loose if bent as the opposite end is attached. As the clip side is just a ring it is also susceptible to damage/stretching/wear than a solid plate type. The above design is basically a 100yo design with the clip enclosed and the backing plate removed. (It also requires you to bend the chain, and with cheap chain, this will most likely result in the bend happening in another link, and remaining there. Good try Shimano, but I would advise spending 50c more and getting a different design... there is a limit to where you can "SAFELY" save a few cents. (Background - I have been fixing/riding bikes for near 50yr including DH MTB, 750 road bikes and 2 stroke YZ250 MX bikes... The chain link is one of the weakest points of your bike (apart from getting a flat... but a tube fixes that, sometimes a failed link requires chain replacement.. bet your not carrying a spare chain let alone a spare link... which at least you should be... even if the spare is one of these...)
Awesome! After struggling for 20 minutes I watched your video. Had the chain on in about 30 seconds! Thank You!!!
Simple
When you know how right? Really glad it helped 🙂👍
Thanks! The secret was bending the chain with way more force than you’d think you should!
Yep that’s it! You have to be really brave with it.. Glad it helped 👍
The Shimano instructions state: 'Loosen the chain' which makes no sense. I suspect they are nervous about heavy-handed users causing a permanent bend in the link, so they decided to be ambiguous or misleading.
Thanks for confirming what I suspected was the only option.
Yep 💯. It really isn’t designed to be removed, which is a royal pain if you’re changing the derailleur as I just have..
I watched one video where that guy struggled for 10mins to fix one. thanks for making this video.
@pedropereira9193 lol those videos really annoy me too. Believe it or not this video took 8 hours straight to edit.. But it was worth it, one of my better ones :-)
It surprising how many videos try and explain this and fail, top video short and to the point
@oakphisto Really glad it helped :-) Thank you for taking the time to comment - it really helps the channel.
Fantastic, perfectly explained - I could not see what was going on in other videos, yours was spot on - worked immediatly after I watched it 🙂
@petersorensen925 Really glad it helped :-) Thank you for taking the time to comment.
I really wish I had found your video earlier 😂. I was eventually able to both uninstall the old chain and install the new one, but what a pain! Quick instructions and on point! Thanks!
Hi Antonio, that’s awesome. Really glad it helped. There is certainly a particular knack to it-and it’s easy once you’ve got the hang of it LOL
@@FixItWithJon thank you ! Now I am really puzzled, because after I bought a new Shimano chain and Tourney crankset (I already changed the cassette a thousand miles ago, so it is still in good shape), to my great dismay, the new chain is now skipping in all gears. I switched back to the old (and quite stretched out) chain, and it works fine. I am sure I cut the new chain at the same length, every other adjustment on the gear shifts is the same. The new chain seems to sit properly on both the chain ring and the cassette, definitely better than the old one (which was skipping on the old chain ring if hard pressed). Any clue?
@@salted-anchovy Sounds like maybe the crankset / cassette is not compatible with the chain? Shimano are pretty assertive in the chain instructions about using only Shimano components in the drivetrain.. Maybe it's not just marketing. Good luck - let me know how you get on?
holy shit how can this 2 minute video just solve my 2 hrs problem like its nothing.... i used the mtb quick links before and they're super easy to use but that thing holy shit
Guess i'll buy a new one and try again since my quick link isn't usable anymore
thx a lot mate
@maymax0076 Really glad it helped :-) Thank you for taking the time to comment.
Thank you so much for posted this. I am a pretty good wrench and I almost gave up trying to do this not knowing how. Now I do know how and WAY less difficult! Thanks you! -Larry
Really glad it helped you bud 🙂👍 Thank you for taking the time to comment 👍👍
I've spent like 15 minutes yesterday, figuring this out and thinking that I need a proper instrument. Now I consider this the best chain I ever had.
Thank you sooooo much! I had been struggling and just couldn’t see how it fitted. It was the “bending in” that helped! Cheers!
Really glad it helped🙂 It seems so obvious once you’ve done it right? lol
Like others, many thanks for posting this. Luckily I only struggled for a minute before turning to TH-cam but this has saved me a lot of time and head scratching 🙂
Hi Andy - really glad it helped :-)
Thank you Jon, you are an absolute LEGEND. Was wrestling with fitting the chain and the quick link and then I watched your video and BOOM 💥 it was done. I was in shock. I am going to link your video on my Amazon review to help others. Thanks again. 😀😀🥳🎉
thank you so much man, been at it for like 3 hours and my thumbs hurt but since i watched your video it was like magic
Cheers mate it was doing my head in,watched video 10 seconds later it was done your a star
First time I have used one of these links and got it on the 4th attempt and about half an hour after watching your video so many thanks for sharing
@lesleyavery7166 Glad it helped, thank you for taking the time comment - it really helps the channel :-)
I have the new chain to put on tomorrow. Your video will have saved me frustration.
Thank you so much! My husband and I were at this forever trying to figure it out!
So glad it helped :-)
Ow man you just saved me so much time. The bending did it. Thanks a lot
Thank you for taking the time to show us this. At least now I know not to use these crappy little devices and stay with the type I've always used in the past.
Glad it helped :-) I will defo use a different chain next time lol
thanks had to take it of for a new front derailer almost broke my thumbs lmao just had to pull it off damn, thanks mate
Yep getting it off is a pain but do-able with some perseverance..Glad you managed it 🙂👍
Thank you So much, nothing in my instructions references the different size holes!! Followed your instructions sorted.
So glad it helped! Thanks for taking the time to comment - it means a lot.
Good grief, i ended up chucking the thing and using standard quick links that i had. Theyre more trouble than theyre worth. Thanks for the video
Thank you 🙏 so much for this video, I was trying for half an hour before I watched your video, went on straight away after seeing your video.
Really glad it helped 😊
Thanks, you helped me a lot. It works, but it's still quite difficult .
Really glad it helped pal 👍👍
I followed Shimano instructions but no joy. I followed the video which helped with the bending but the best I could manage was to locate the link on the pin but not fully home. The bending kept pushing the pin out at the back so I only had a slight bit of the end left to play with. A gentle nip with some pliers gave me the satisfying click that it was fully home.
Glad you got sorted 👌 Sounds like yours was close to manufacturing tolerances..
Same here, clip with pliers but thank heavens for your video, a patience saver !
Cheers matey bending the chain is the key. thank you
Fantastic - its so easy when you know how - cheers.
HOW? Even with this instruction, it just doesn't pops in. It is anywhere but only not fitting on the pin. The chain is just cursed. UPD: ye you just got to force it. You kind of have to push the metal
Hey bud - if it doesn't click on - even with following this guidance, I would return it for a warranty exchange. Remember one end of the link clip has a larger hole than the other..
@@FixItWithJon Yep, I've tried all the methods. Didn't click. Done everything by the given guide and other guides from youtube. Nothing worked. I just gave up and will refund it.
Same here. Watched the video 20 times. It looks so simple but mine just won’t go on.
@@paulskirrow9394 Apparently you have to really push on the link. The trick is that you literally gonna bend that thin link, and it just forces into the position.
@@skorpio4561 Thanks Skorpio. Wasted an hour trying to sort this out but I've given up. Did it work for you?
Brilliant. Thank you for posting an excellent video. Did the job in no time!
Really glad it helped 🙂👍
You absolute legend, saved me a lot of time!!
Like the guy before me.. wish I had seen this video prior to me attempting this on my own. Simple designs stump simple minds lol
The. KMC ones are just as good but the Connex Wippermann ones are directional .
I used pliars as i bented in the chain and smashed in the casing finally😮💨
Exactly what I did. Just after around one thousand km the chain cracked right through the middle of the plate.
I am mainly a light city rider, never hapenned to me with any chain ever. Just bought a KMC now with normal quick links that always worked well.
Thanks for sharing :-)
I have had 4 Shimano quick links crack in the middle of the plate. Thankfully only the backplate snaps so the chain stays together for a few miles. I always just join them at a pin now. I do 15k miles a year so go through quite a few and mix and match different mileage chains to try to extend the life of the cassettes.
Whenever I tried those things I just end up bending the master link trying to get it on so I throw it away and get a quick link.
After many attempts, my thumbs hurt sooo BAD
Thanks
I tried this method but I didn't have the hole lined up completely. Then I clicked it in but then used a wrench to gently click it again all the way. And I needed to remember the writing on the outside locking ring faces out...
Glad it helped 👍
I ordered 2 chains and both came with bent quick links
thank you i was struggling
Really glad it helped 🙂👍
BEND the chain! The useless instructions that came with the new chain said to "loosen" the chain, which makes absolutely no sense. Thank you!
Thank you so much!! Saved me so much time and nerves =D
@BRo-it1jh so glad it helped 😊😊 Thank you for taking the time to comment - really appreciated
Got thanks for the video good sir you saved my hide
Brilliant!! Thank you
Really glad it helped 🙂👍
What was wrong with tbe old quick link design?
Alright, I figured it out. You have to forcefully bend your chain until it moves in.
LOL! Is this new? Looks like the first quick links that came out so we did not have push the pins in/out any longer.
Lol. Yes it is a new design - I guess it saves money, no idea why Shimano unleashed this onto the world..
same old design used on 1950s bikes, just updated for skinny chains
Oh so you have to bend the shit out of the chain, makes sense Shimano 😂
lol
Thank you good sir! You saved me!
Glad it helped, thank you for taking the time comment - it really helps the channel :-)
A bit of encouragement 😜 Use a lump hammer
I had same problem 😊 it took me 20 minutes and some sweat to suss it out🤣
Thanks brotha
Thank you SO much.
life saver ! thanks
Not working foe me
Thanks!!!!
Really glad it helped 👍👍
Thanks ! I thought I was retarded for a while I see I’m not the only one struggling with it … thanks . Worked in 5 seconds vs 15 minutes scratching my head with greasy hands
@tampysurf Glad it helped :-)
thank you!!!!!
Watched the video at least 20 times but neither I nor a friend could get the 'Quick' link to fit. I've given up and will ask Amazon for a refund. It's ludicrous. I've never had any problems fitting a chain before.
@paulskirrow9394 Thanks for the comment, sorry to hear that you weren't able to crack it - I agree, the design is lacking.. Hope you found a better chain solution?
Cool.
This is a useless connection.I used the 2 piece connection from my old chain
It took me a while to fit a new Shimano chain using the link provided, mainly due to not following the instructions properly. However I was not as successful as you on removing the link. The supplied info mentioned that the link is not designed to come off once it has been fitted, which probably explains why it is a faff to remove.
Is there a danger of this becoming a weaker link if if is removed and refitted numerous times?
Yes - not recommended to remove - it was a pain to take off & I'm pretty sure the link was slightly bent from the process. But if necessary it is possible and any bend could be corrected fairly easily. I think if I was doing it again, I would look for a link with a better connect / release mechanism..
Finaly! 😂🎉
Finally you found a video that answered your question?
These arentt new. I was fitting these 40 years ago. Why Shimano have switched to these is a mystery, there was nothing wrong with quick links.
Interesting! I didn't know that, although there was a bell ringing in my head from 30 years ago when I changed my first chain.. Maybe it was the same design back then too.. I agree quicklinks - so much more convenient & simple to use..
I don't understand 😮
Thank you so much!! Worst design ever.
Really glad it helped :-) It is a bizarre design..
@@BrianHealy666 officially no - Shimano don’t want you to reuse it. But as you can see from the video, it is possible to put it on and take it off. So yes you could reuse it. You just need to be careful that you don’t bend the metal, and if there is a kink afterwards, get a pair of pliers on it.
Nope 😂 didn’t work ordered a KMC
Even following this video and others there's a grand total of zero chance that the link is gonna pop in. Worst chain ever, waste of money, never buying it again :p
It's pretty simple when you get the hang of it, but I agree it's a poor design..
Yuck, That's an ugly old design they've put out... I'm guessing this cheap design is for low end chains.. but then I find with my low end bikes they were more prone to bending a chain which would make this clip fall apart and most likely end with at least the loop clip disappearing. Personally I would stick with the 2 piece mirrored ones (Each is a plate and one pin with a slotted hole. They fit in any direction and are less susceptible to coming loose if bent as the opposite end is attached.
As the clip side is just a ring it is also susceptible to damage/stretching/wear than a solid plate type.
The above design is basically a 100yo design with the clip enclosed and the backing plate removed.
(It also requires you to bend the chain, and with cheap chain, this will most likely result in the bend happening in another link, and remaining there.
Good try Shimano, but I would advise spending 50c more and getting a different design... there is a limit to where you can "SAFELY" save a few cents.
(Background - I have been fixing/riding bikes for near 50yr including DH MTB, 750 road bikes and 2 stroke YZ250 MX bikes... The chain link is one of the weakest points of your bike (apart from getting a flat... but a tube fixes that, sometimes a failed link requires chain replacement.. bet your not carrying a spare chain let alone a spare link... which at least you should be... even if the spare is one of these...)
Yep - I was quite surprised that Shimano used that system - I bought it because of perceived brand quality - second one I’ve had like that..
I tried and was about to give up and found the video.
Terrible design.
Really glad it helped pal 🙂👍👍
Cheers pal this has definitely helped me 🚵👊👍
Really pleased to hear that 🤗