How to use chain quick links: Pro tips for removing and installing a chain with a joining link

Make chain removal and installation an absolute cinch by using a quick-link.
While using a chain tool is the traditional way of removing or installing a chain that method has its pitfalls and a badly joined chain can be extremely dangerous if it fails.
A chain joining link, or quick link, takes away any uncertainty resulting in a flawless connection every time, quickly and requires no specialist tools. They are perfect for quick and easy roadside/trailside repairs too.
Check out our guide to using a quick link, removing and installing a chain.
In association with Topeak tools www.topeak.com/
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[@edwardjereb3770]

Bravo! I struggled for over an hour trying to install a quick link. Then you came along with your funny little tension reducing tool and your method of using pedal leverage to close the link. I watched and rewatched another video where the presenter authoritatively directed me to use the pliers designed to remove the quick link to install it. He even smoothly showed a video of such. Thank you for allowing me to rehab a very nice mountain bike to add to my stable.

[@jeffreycolindavies3688]

I fiddled with my chain for an hour before resorting to looking at this video on KZbin. It took me three minutes to fit it having seen how to do it by a professional thank you very much indeed

[@chrischupp9760]

It does take a little technique I’ve fiddled with them too.

[@BadBill058]

I had the exact same experience. I used a bent paperclip to hold the chain together for slack, and it worked great.

[@i.n.o.productionscompany9699]

I just did the same exact thing. Lol😅

[@fixtation-7844]

I’ve done my hour too, now on KZbin

[@user-gc4qx8oq4g]

👏Excellent explanations and video. I watched several other videos, but most of them either missed an important part or didn't know how to explain it. Thank you for making my day with your clear instructions on changing to quick links. 👍

[@Bye675]

Super tip for reassembly. I would have missed my Saturday morning ride had it not been for this video. Thanks!

[@davidbolton1571]

Using the pedals as leverage to fully lock the link is a great tip. Must easier and more effective than the Master Link pliers. Thx!

[@visionartstudio5330]

Great! I forgot about that technique! 😆

[@vaughanbbrean71]

Nice explanation, very clear, I have always done it the old way and have become quite practiced at it but I agree its a bit of a faff, I am just about to replace my chain and cassette and I will do it this way next time thanks again

[@jflee5470]

I have thought I’d made a mistake when sizing my new chain. I followed park tool’s instructions, but it looked like I’d cut it too short. When you mentioned putting the chain on the smaller cog, I found out that my chain was easy to connect and actually was sized correctly. Thanks so much!

[@Mazon99]

Great video, the rotation direction indikator on the link help me 😊

[@THX11380]

Thanks for breaking the chains of my ignorance on this subject. Full speed ahead Captain❤❤😂

[@davidpotts5567]

Great tutorial..my first attempt without paying the bike shop..thanks 👍

[@cchemmes-seeseeart3948]

A long twistie tie can also be used to hold the chain ends, leaving a few links on either side to drop down. My quick link slid in place just while rotating it to the top. I sensed there would likely be some expert tip to do this the EZ way... sure enough. Great video. Blessings. Peace. Love wins. God is good.

[@frankducett9]

You might as well move the camera another 10 feet away, no, from across the street. Your verbal explanation was excellent.... Your camera man should be given ... a new career.

[@mustafakorkmaz434]

Helped me a lot thankd

[@larrymendoza2570]

Thanks! Great video - I couldn't figure it how to do the final lock (I thought I was the Weak Link 😉 but the pedals proved I was wrong!

[@rodb4523]

Tried using the pliers and was taking too much effort. Glad I found this video.

[@larsh8560]

Excellent video. Just ruined the outer plate on a chain replacement using the old pin style connections. Will defintely change to quick-links instead.

[@canica99]

Thank you so much for this video...it was the best explanation regarding the chain installation and how to lock the quick link...really appreciate it. Got yourself a subscriber. Cheers...

[@srchn2000]

Save our ass on the trail. Thanks so much.

[@jonunwin2780]

Thanks, that was very clear and easy to follow 👍

[@johnryan296]

Awesome. Just setting up my zwift with a new chain.

[@sagittarius1343]

So helpful! Thanks, mate, for the tutorial!

[@etiennerobert9847]

Thanks for the tips ! I didn't have the good plier 🙏🏻😉

[@kevinfox8685]

Nicely done! Thank you!

[@perilikid]

Thank you for the vid! Really helped to demystify the process - which I'd seen done once up close, but which wasn't explained as clearly. The proof will be on the riding, but I'm pretty happy with my work thanks to your advice!

[@chrispools]

1000 times better than the shimano one. Just bought a 4 pack of these. I use the end of a metal coat hanger, bent into shape to use as a chain stay

[@tvtimes3402]

simple and well done thanks

[@cliffkennell3854]

Cheers. Great video.

[@anthonysilva5312]

Well done lad!

[@siklista6898]

Thanks for the info .👍

[@MAEVE369]

Holy shit your a genius! You not only speak clearly but show an example without blocking it with something stupid like fucking fingers ✌ thx mate

[@spsallidas]

Great clear video thanks! But can you explain how you can use a quick-link if your chain breaks on the road? Presumably it won't have broken *at* the quick-link, so would you need an old-skool chain-splitting tool to get the remains of the snapped link off the chain?

[@Cyclistmagvideo]

Yes, that's right. Quite a few multitools include a mini chain tool, or there are some very small separate ones - Park Tool does one, for example. Thanks for watching!

[@elardenprudente5342]

Nice its mean no need to used chain tools or chain cutters

[@walterstevens8676]

So, apart from a new chain with quick links, you need a chain splitter and a joining link tool in order to replace an old chain?

[@10thgensiracing]

Not sure if the chain is damaged or my set won’t connect. It looks simple remove a link and then connect with two quick links. But mine isn’t going in? 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@kingdommusic5456]

secret: to remove like he showed , the link has to be really clean, scrub with toothbrush and soapy water to remove all debris in pin areas/ slots FiRsT before trying removal technique. tried and true , and even works without tool if you know how to uses pliers firm but delicately

[@paulcombes3782]

Great video mate ! Quality of video/audio is very professional and information level is perfect ... thanks .

[@filipemourao4103]

Top

[@dmitrypalaev3323]

So if i switch from pin to quick link i have to cut the new chain 1 link shorter , correct ?

[@PhilipDenys]

what is the name of this kind of chain, these arent symetrical in the width of the chain...? (straight edge on top)

[@DaveGoodrumMusic]

Amateur tip here. If you need to take it apart, but don't have the special tool (his joining link plyers at 6:07 mark) to squeeze together, you can try to use needle nose plyers instead of the joining link plyers. But they will slip out constantly and you can hurt yourself pretty badly. Instead, just take a small piece of nylon string and thread it into the chain around the two chain pins (thread through the spots where the joining link plyers normally would go in), and tie the ends together to make a loop. Then tighten the string by twisting an allen wrench or some other metal tool until the links squeeze together to free themselves. Voila.

[@davezubi1304]

How do you pop off the old damaged links?

[@m0nk3ym0p3d]

Thanks for the vid - I have a question. If I remove the pin to break the chain on my standard chain, do I need to remove one whole link to compensate for the fact that the quick link would then alter the length of my chain? So pop the initial pin out to break the chain then pop the other pin out of that chain to remove the entire link and then replace with the quick link?

[@chriswright9096]

Yes. Also, remember the chain is made up of two outer plates followed by two inner plates followed by two outer plates etc etc. The quick link replaces a pair of outers.

[@Tagger71]

Mate ! you didn't mention how to separate the link !!!! You probably need the tool 😊

[@Utomic13]

One question, how strong will the quick link be if we use it to reconnect chain parts, i.e. to make the chain longer... Thanks in advance...

[@chriswright9096]

I've done that. However, by the time you've added three or four quick-links to a chain (to adjust its length) you should probably just put the money towards a new chain. New chains typically come with a single quick-link to connect them.

[@kstonurai9350]

I still cant do it 😅 now I'm just stuck with 2 ends of a chain and a quick link that i cant get to connect

[@raymond-keys]

You can just use a piece of wire witha curve/hook at each end to hold the two pieces of chain together.

[@cchemmes-seeseeart3948]

Or a long twistie tie of vegetable produce worked for me.

[@garyrobinson312]

I use an old shoelace

[@nguyenanh-ki9sr]

❤❤❤❤

[@themistoklis6237]

Direction of travel? The link on the other side has an arrow in the other direction.

[@cchemmes-seeseeart3948]

Your arrows are showing pull direction, to secure the link, not drive direction in that case.

[@idamelin]

Show the links on a table with contrasting background. Show how they link that way for starters. And then go through the rest.

[@MrODOG519]

I took apart my sram the old way, before I realized there is a quick link on it.

[@jackcavanagh6715]

What is the name of tool you are using to grip the chain?

[@cchemmes-seeseeart3948]

I used a twistie tie off produce from the store, & it worked just as well to hold the ends & allow some extra to work with.

[@idamelin]

It would be helpful to do clear close ups of the two bits when demonstrating instead of covering half of them with your fingers. If you are showing something, show it clearly

[@lexa5051]

Try that on a new Shimano CN900 quick link.

[@Jumbjetsky]

We all came for 45 seconds from 4:15

[@jessiedamon676]

they never show the back

[@TheBatmanBruceWayne]

Tata sigma links are the worst, you'll snap your fingers in two before it snaps in. NOT fit for the name quick link FRUSTRATING 😤 to say the least

[@michaelinzitari]

Single use quick link? I paid the shop to put these on all my bikes so I can easily remove and clean my chains and now I find out they are single use only 🤦

[@InCountry6970]

What is your "Pro Tip" ??

[@Customercf]

3:15 just drop the chain from the chainring..

[@djbastetusa]

Sure someone who doesn’t know how to do this is supposed to follow this.

[@sonnymc2430]

Mine just bent

[@matthewbrown-smith7734]

Piece of string does the job of the first tool he is advertising and a pair thing nosed plyers do the second job. These both save you cash. You should have warned people that you need dedicated tools to do what your teaching beforehand. I wasted my time watching this stealth advert.

[@AmandaJackson-oy8di]

You talk way too much!!! Just show it!!!!!

[@billlawrence8882]

jesus get to the point