bob dmr Posted January 12, 2008 Report Share Posted January 12, 2008 Anyone run a half link chain? what do you think to it? They look quite beefy, I'm thinking that they might be a bit stronger than normal chains? I have horizontal drop outs and single speed on a 26" frame. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pashley26 Posted January 12, 2008 Report Share Posted January 12, 2008 I DO !!!There the don...I Had a big argument with loads of people ages ago over Half link chains. I Love the, i think there great becouse you can get perfect tension with Vert drop outs.The look Awesome.And they just make the pedals feel more.....Well, purposefull ? Everyone else is going to call me a twat and a liar now though.Jarrod Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bob dmr Posted January 12, 2008 Author Report Share Posted January 12, 2008 I DO !!!There the don...what do people say that's bad about them? I snapped my normal chain yesterday and need to get a new one quick so i can ride today. Are the as strong as they look? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pashley26 Posted January 12, 2008 Report Share Posted January 12, 2008 TO be perfertly honest with you there not that much stronger than a normal chain, but they do last a little bit longer. They can be a b*****d to fit, Especially the Shadow V2.But get one If you don't like it youll know never to buy one again.I think there great and use one at the moment.But, everyone else said that they weigh a ton, and they dont get loose then snap, they just snap. But as long as you check the tension of it before a propper ride it'll be fine.Jarrod Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trials_pimp Posted January 12, 2008 Report Share Posted January 12, 2008 And here is the Other end of the PAge.Avoid them, they are a Bad Idea.I was Speaking to the Guys on Team Extreem Last year when we did a Show with them, and The topic Came up.Chris Mahoney Was telling me how alot of BMXers he rides with have all gone off the 1/2 link because of its bad design.And funnily enough That same day Craig Lamptons 1/2 link chain snapped, and did that same thing the very next show.The chain has a structural weak point on the bendWhere it goes from an Outside link to an inside link in a short space.My advice would be to buy a decent "noraml" chain. Ive been running the Sram PC48 chain for over 8 years (changed when worn) and had no problems at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Anscombe Posted January 12, 2008 Report Share Posted January 12, 2008 just get a beefy kmc kool chain problems solvedor the khe or what ever its called Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AdamAllen Posted January 12, 2008 Report Share Posted January 12, 2008 Had my v2 on about 5 different bikes. Broke about 7 chain tools fitting it on and off.Get one they're thee Sh*t. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
psycholist Posted January 12, 2008 Report Share Posted January 12, 2008 My guess is the half link chains will feel springier under load as the tension in the chain will try to straighten the bends in the chain plates rather than having to actually stretch the side plates as with standard chains. That bending stress will probably lead to quicker fatigue cracking than a standard chain as well as slightly poorer power transfer. KMC cool chain is probably a better choice unless you're really desperate to run your bike without a tensioner... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil H Posted January 12, 2008 Report Share Posted January 12, 2008 Don't go there. Just go the safe option and get a KHE Collapse of Tarty. Might be heavier than some but atleast you will feel safe.....PhilTO be perfertly honest with you there not that much stronger than a normal chain, but they do last a little bit longer. They can be a b*****d to fit, Especially the Shadow V2.But get one If you don't like it youll know never to buy one again.I think there great and use one at the moment.But, everyone else said that they weigh a ton, and they dont get loose then snap, they just snap. But as long as you check the tension of it before a propper ride it'll be fine.JarrodA good chain shouldn't get loose OR snap.Phil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sonny Clarke Posted January 12, 2008 Report Share Posted January 12, 2008 Can't go wrong with the KMC Kool, either that or the KHE Collapse, get em of tarty i think there cheap there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pashley26 Posted January 12, 2008 Report Share Posted January 12, 2008 A good chain shouldn't get loose OR snap.PhilI take it you've never broken a chain then Jarrod Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bob dmr Posted January 12, 2008 Author Report Share Posted January 12, 2008 [quote name=bob dmr' dso d I went and bought one. It was all the local shop had in anyway. It was a lot easier to fit than i thought it was going to be but the joints seem to be a bit sloppy, and i think even after its first ride it might of stretched slightly, but that could of been the chain tensioners, it sometimes happened with my old chain.On the plus side the bike feels nicer to peddle, and the free wheel runs a lot smoother.Perhaps if i wasn't esperate to ride today I'd have waited and got a decent standard chain. thanks for the infoate='Jan 12 2008, 09:15 AM' post='1458105] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil H Posted January 13, 2008 Report Share Posted January 13, 2008 I take it you've never broken a chain then JarrodOf course I have, and the last time I went over the bars on a gap and landed on my face and chest was because I was using a half link.......PreeeeciselyPhil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pashley26 Posted January 13, 2008 Report Share Posted January 13, 2008 Of course I have, and the last time I went over the bars on a gap and landed on my face and chest was because I was using a half link.......PreeeeciselyPhilBreaking chains sucks Escecially when you knee the stem and can't walk for hours.... Jarrod Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark W Posted January 13, 2008 Report Share Posted January 13, 2008 My guess is the half link chains will feel springier under load as the tension in the chain will try to straighten the bends in the chain plates rather than having to actually stretch the side plates as with standard chains. That bending stress will probably lead to quicker fatigue cracking than a standard chain as well as slightly poorer power transfer. KMC cool chain is probably a better choice unless you're really desperate to run your bike without a tensioner...They don't really feel 'springer under load' simply because the steel used isn't particularly elastic or anything like that. They stretch like buggery though because of the shape of them, they just pull straight-er over time. It's not noticeable at one point though, so you wouldn't do a gap and think "f**k, that's another 1/4" on my chain length".You can run a single link from one with a Kool chain to act as a regular half-link. Individually they're not bad, and you can replace them relatively frequently if you get a couple so you won't really notice the stretching. Just be careful breaking and rejoining them - the pins lose their mushrooming very quickly, meaning they're not as strong as they were originally.Don't go there. Just go the safe option and get a KHE Collapse of Tarty. Might be heavier than some but atleast you will feel safe.....PhilEvery Collapse I've had has developed stiff links, the rollers almost all cracked, and they all snapped relatively quickly. Not ideal.I went and bought one. It was all the local shop had in anyway. It was a lot easier to fit than i thought it was going to be but the joints seem to be a bit sloppy, and i think even after its first ride it might of stretched slightly, but that could of been the chain tensioners, it sometimes happened with my old chain.Nah, it is just the chain stretching. It slows down a little, but yeah, they do keep getting longer and longer. Just keep an eye on it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil H Posted January 13, 2008 Report Share Posted January 13, 2008 Every Collapse I've had has developed stiff links, the rollers almost all cracked, and they all snapped relatively quickly. Not ideal.I've had a couple of stiff links but they've worked out eventually and never caused a skip. KMC I'm not really a fan off and the one half link I did own has put me right off them.What chain do you recommend then for ultimate strength? Phil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ogre Posted January 13, 2008 Report Share Posted January 13, 2008 I've had a couple of stiff links but they've worked out eventually and never caused a skip. KMC I'm not really a fan off and the one half link I did own has put me right off them.What chain do you recommend then for ultimate strength? Philkhe collapse Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark W Posted January 13, 2008 Report Share Posted January 13, 2008 I've had a couple of stiff links but they've worked out eventually and never caused a skip. KMC I'm not really a fan off and the one half link I did own has put me right off them.What chain do you recommend then for ultimate strength? PhilIf you're running singlespeed, Loophole.If you're running gears, I'd probably get the thin Kool chain and just get a new one every 1.5-2months. Only way to be safe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ali C Posted January 13, 2008 Report Share Posted January 13, 2008 the kmc k810 gets my vote (the thinner of the kmcs)It's the same strength as the fatter k710 as the plates are all the same thickness, only the pins are shorter on the k810. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ben_travis Posted January 13, 2008 Report Share Posted January 13, 2008 the kmc k810 gets my vote (the thinner of the kmcs)It's the same strength as the fatter k710 as the plates are all the same thickness, only the pins are shorter on the k810.amen ali, amen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bob dmr Posted January 13, 2008 Author Report Share Posted January 13, 2008 I'm going to order a kmc cool, first thing in the morning.Cheers for the advise everyone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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