Split link conundrum

Old Codger · Friday at 4:29 PM

So, split/quick links are supposed to be fitted with the arrow facing the direction of travel but both sides have an arrow facing towards the fixed pin. So, whichever way you face one arrow the other side will be opposite. Whichever way you install the link one side will be facing in the direction of travel so why is this mentioned as being important in the instructions? This applies to Shimano, Shram and KMC LINKS.

Joecrow · Friday at 6:30 PM

Old Codger said:
Whichever way you install the link one side will be facing in the direction of travel so why is this mentioned as being important in the instructions?

That is a classic example of something that here in Germany would be described as having been done to confuse the Russians! You're not Russian by any chance are you?

Old Codger · Friday at 7:57 PM

Joecrow said:
That is a classic example of something that here in Germany would be described as having been done to confuse the Russians! You're not Russian by any chance are you?

I’m in the UK but I thought these links may be Irish.

Mikerb · Friday at 8:33 PM

because it depends if you fit the quick link on the lower or upper run of the chain. When fitted on the lower run the arrow points towards the mech......on the upper run the arrow ( now the other side of the quick link) points towards the chainwheel

Q.E.D.

irie · Friday at 9:40 PM

Old Codger said:
So, split/quick links are supposed to be fitted with the arrow facing the direction of travel but both sides have an arrow facing towards the fixed pin. So, whichever way you face one arrow the other side will be opposite. Whichever way you install the link one side will be facing in the direction of travel so why is this mentioned as being important in the instructions? This applies to Shimano, Shram and KMC LINKS.

It's as you face the chain from the drive side.

Old Codger · Sunday at 7:08 PM

Mikerb said:
because it depends if you fit the quick link on the lower or upper run of the chain. When fitted on the lower run the arrow points towards the mech......on the upper run the arrow ( now the other side of the quick link) points towards the chainwheel

Q.E.D.

The direction of travel is the direction of chain travel surely so the arrow facing you will always point in the direction the chain revolves and the arrow on the reverse will always point opposite. If the links are reversed you get the same result so I don’t see why it matters.
Am I missing something?

Bear-uk · Sunday at 7:31 PM

You are reading too much into it.
All the arrows mean on the SRAM chains is too pull them in opposite directions to snap the two halves together.
On the 12 speed you only have to make sure that the arch in the link is on the inner side so that it goes around the cassette and chainwheel ok.
On the 11s it doesn't matter because both sides of the link are concave.
SRAM links work either way round.
I've no idea about Shimano though, but I believe they are only supposed to work one way round .

Old Codger · Sunday at 7:48 PM

Bear-uk said:
You are reading too much into it.
All the arrows mean on the SRAM chains is too pull them in opposite directions to snap the two halves together.
On the 12 speed you only have to make sure that the arch in the link is on the inner side so that it goes around the cassette and chainwheel ok.
On the 11s it doesn't matter because both sides of the link are concave.
SRAM links work either way round.
I've no idea about Shimano though, but I believe they are only supposed to work one way round .
View attachment 157084 View attachment 157085

Yes I’m not stressing about it it’s just that on the Sram links it says to read the instructions which say to install in a certain way but it doesn’t matter which way you install them. Just wondered what the point was.

Split link conundrum

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