SRAM issues PowerLock voluntary recall

Hermy

Just read this on cyclingnews.com:

Component manufacturer SRAM has issued a voluntary recall on a limited number of 10-speed PowerLock chains due to PowerLock connector link failures it has discovered through its quality control process.
SRAM US Road PR and Media Manager Michael Zellmann released details of the action, stressing that the recall wasn't applicable to all SRAM chains, rather a limited number of PowerLock chains manufacturered between January and June 2009.
Those with concerns about their SRAM chain should examine the PowerLink connector outer plate to determine its date of manufacture. Those PowerLock connector links marked with an 'M' or 'N' may develop a crack during installation and/or use, and fail.
SRAM is retrieving and replacing all affected PowerLocks, which should be returned to SRAM bicycle dealers directly for replacement. The company advises those with affected chains to stop using the product immediately and return their chains to any SRAM dealer for verification of the product date stamp and to obtain a free replacement PowerLock.

Chips Lovell

Bit late for Fabian Cancellera.

Lumen

I'm looking forward to using my new Power-whatsit SRAM chain (no more toothbrushing of the drivetrain) despite reports about them snapping at inopportune moments.

I wonder whether those reports are due only to manufacturing defects, or whether there is an underlying design issue?

ednwireland

think i'll stick with my seven speed

blorg

Lumen wrote: »

I'm looking forward to using my new Power-whatsit SRAM chain (no more toothbrushing of the drivetrain) despite reports about them snapping at inopportune moments.

I wonder whether those reports are due only to manufacturing defects, or whether there is an underlying design issue?

The 10 speed SRAM PowerLock is not reusable, it is only the PowerLINKs (9 speed and below) that are reusable. The new DA 7900 link is reusable as are KMC and other manufacturers' ones, you can retrofit these onto any 10 speed chain.

Nietzschean

and despite removing my chain all the time i still end up tooth brushing the links anyway...its just more convenient off the bike...

blorg

While on the subject of chain cleaning, PBK have a big sale on cleaning/lubing products at the moment, including 3 different types of chain cleaning device (I bought all three.)

niceonetom

blorg wrote: »

The 10 speed SRAM PowerLock is not reusable, it is only the PowerLINKs (9 speed and below) that are reusable. The new DA 7900 link is reusable as are KMC and other manufacturers' ones, you can retrofit these onto any 10 speed chain.

Not strictly true.

I've found that the KMC quicklink is slightly too wide for use with an ultegra chain (i.e. pins too long) - it'll work but there's enough wiggle room that I wouldn't feel too happy about it. I've got two generic 10-speed quicklinks bought in Decathlon that sit more flush to the surface of the inner plates on an ultegra chain. So far so good. Touch wood etc. Not sure how they'd mesh with a sram chain.

Wipperman also do quicklinks for their chains but the pins are very slightly thicker than shimano so that's a problem too if you want to reuse them - I gave up on a wipperman chain I bought as i just couldn't get it to work sweetly with my SRAM cassette.

10 speed should be 10-speed but 0.2mm here or there can make all the difference.

Lumen

blorg wrote: »

The 10 speed SRAM PowerLock is not reusable, it is only the PowerLINKs (9 speed and below) that are reusable. The new DA 7900 link is reusable as are KMC and other manufacturers' ones, you can retrofit these onto any 10 speed chain.

But there are 10 speed Power Links available.

Do you think these are compatible with my SRAM PC1090 chain?

I googled, but there seems to be much confusion caused by people thinking PowerLock=PowerLink and struggling to remove the PowerLock once it's fitted (which is not surprising since it's not intended to be removed).

blorg

Lumen wrote: »

But there are 10 speed Power Links available.

Do you think these are compatible with my SRAM PC1090 chain?

I googled, but there seems to be much confusion caused by people thinking PowerLock=PowerLink and struggling to remove the PowerLock once it's fitted (which is not surprising since it's not intended to be removed).

From your link:

IMPORTANT: 10SP Links are POWERLOCK, they fit together but then are not designed to come apart again.

There is no 10 speed PowerLINK from SRAM. Note the SRAM PowerLOCK is designed to be removable and indeed it is removable, it is not designed to be re-usable. They are in general fiddly things to get open whether reusable or not, while supposedly no tools are required a needle nosed pliers helps a lot, and Park even make a pliers dedicated to the job.

*EDIT: actually no, the PowerLOCK is not removable, IIRC I needed a chain tool to break a 10 speed SRAM chain, it was the 9sp one on my old tourer that was fiddly.

Lumen

Thanks Blorg.

The simplest solution appears to be to buy a Wipperman 10s1 chain which comes with Connex link.

I'm not sure I hate chainbrushing enough to spend €55 on a new chain.

blorg

For what it's worth I tried cleaning one off the bike once; it was an unholy mess and didn't really work too well. I probably wasn't doing it right but I haven't bothered since. I think the bottle I used was too small and I didn't use enough degreaser. The chain got all tangled up in the bottle and was a bitch to get back out the top, in fact I ended up having to break the bottle (it was a wine bottle :pac:) And the chain wasn't any cleaner and there was black muck everywhere.

Nietzschean

blorg wrote: »

For what it's worth I tried cleaning one off the bike once; it was an unholy mess and didn't really work too well. I probably wasn't doing it right but I haven't bothered since. I think the bottle I used was too small and I didn't use enough degreaser. The chain got all tangled up in the bottle and was a bitch to get back out the top, in fact I ended up having to break the bottle (it was a wine bottle :pac:) And the chain wasn't any cleaner and there was black muck everywhere.

I normally use a 1-2L plastic bottle...and after spending a few times trying to get the chain back out i just use a new one every time now...cut them open after. It gets off most of the heavy grease and dirt, but i still have to use a tooth brush to get it as clean as i'd like. Wheither its less hassle than cleaning it on the bike at all is somewhat debatable, though it does make cleaning the deraileur's easier

nak

I use a tub to clean the chain, coil the chain around itself, stick it in the tub and cover with degreaser. Give it a shake in the tub and a wipe, should be good as new with very little work/mess and no tangles.

Only do this with the track chain though, use a chain cleaner for the road bike. Too lazy to take it off.

Lumen

blorg wrote: »

While on the subject of chain cleaning, PBK have a big sale on cleaning/lubing products at the moment, including 3 different types of chain cleaning device (I bought all three.)

Have you formed an opinion on which one is best?

Should I dare to ask why you bought three of them?

blorg

Lumen wrote: »

Have you formed an opinion on which one is best?

Should I dare to ask why you bought three of them?

I am going to try them all and then form my opinion! They all work in different ways, for example the PBK one involves you taking off the wheel and it is a replacement skewer, the Park one is the traditional clamp one but probably more robust than my cheap Barbieri one which broke... the arm one looks basically like what I sometimes do now with a J Cloth when I am in a rush but like it would be more effective... I could see myself using them all TBH.

FrankGrimes

Ah nuts....I just took delivery of this SRAM chain - is this likely to need to go back or does this relate specifically to just the power connector links? I went for the SRAM chain as I thought it was supposed to be easier to take off and put back on, but does it really require a chain tool just like a Shimano chain?

blorg

FrankGrimes wrote: »

Ah nuts....I just took delivery of this SRAM chain - is this likely to need to go back or does this relate specifically to just the power connector links? I went for the SRAM chain as I thought it was supposed to be easier to take off and put back on, but does it really require a chain tool just like a Shimano chain?

It requires a chain tool, yes, you will need one to shorten the chain before connecting it with the PowerLock and to break it if you want to remove it (you then need another PowerLock to refasten.) It is probably marginally easier to fasten in the first place, just put on the master link, hold the rear brake, and apply pressure to the pedals until it clicks locked. TBH though Shimano's pin system is pretty straightforward, you just need to make sure you put the pin in the leading hole. It also has the advantage that they give you two pins with each chain.

Incidentally Shimano specifically recommend to never remove a chain from a bike for the purpose of cleaning, I presume as any removal = a potential weakening.

That SRAM chain is a good one, once you have it on just leave it on until you need to replace it.

FrankGrimes

Thanks for that, so it sounds like it doesn't need to go back then?

I'll be contacting Mr. Skeffington for a deep servicing of my bike in early September and might wait till then and get him to stick on the chain then, which will be the same time I switch to a 11-28 cassette.

blorg

Attaching a chain is very easy, no harm doing the cassette at the same time if you are planning on changing that anyway. Changing cassette is also very easy. I would suggest that you put both new chain and new cassette on a few weeks in advance of your trip.