KMC 11Spd Chains

crashoveroid

Hi All

I'm switching to a KMC 11spd Gold chain and need to confirm that a normal chain tool will work when i need to shorten the length or do i need to buy a 11spd chain tool.

Thanks Crash.

DirkVoodoo

crashoveroid wrote: »

Hi All

I'm switching to a KMC 11spd Gold chain and need to confirm that a normal chain tool will work when i need to shorten the length or do i need to buy a 11spd chain tool.

Thanks Crash.

Normal chain tool. The 11 speed chain tool is for the campag chains because they need to have the connecting rivet peened, that's pretty much the only reason it is needed (and they can charge so much).

doozerie

There are two things that the Campag 11sp chaintool incorporates - the ability to peen the rivets is one but the other is the fact that it is built to tolerances that can handle the extra "fussy" requirements/tolerances of 11sp chains. An 11sp chain with rivets that don't need to be peened obviously doesn't need that aspect of the chaintool, but probably still needs to be worked on which a tool rated for 11sp chains. I'm not sure whether a 10sp chaintool can safely break an 11sp chain - maybe it can but personally I'd be wary.

There are a number of different brands of chaintool that'll handle 11sp chains (without incorporating the peening tool), most of which are significantly cheaper than the Campag one. Brands like Park Tool, Pedros, Lezyne (I think), etc.

DirkVoodoo

doozerie wrote: »

There are two things that the Campag 11sp chaintool incorporates - the ability to peen the rivets is one but the other is the fact that it is built to tolerances that can handle the extra "fussy" requirements/tolerances of 11sp chains. An 11sp chain with rivets that don't need to be peened obviously doesn't need that aspect of the chaintool, but probably still needs to be worked on which a tool rated for 11sp chains. I'm not sure whether a 10sp chaintool can safely break an 11sp chain - maybe it can but personally I'd be wary.

There are a number of different brands of chaintool that'll handle 11sp chains (without incorporating the peening tool), most of which are significantly cheaper than the Campag one. Brands like Park Tool, Pedros, Lezyne (I think), etc.

The bushings are the same width though, it's the plates that are narrower. So if a normal chain tool supports the bushing and the inner plates to remove pins, will it make a huge difference? I haven't actually tried it myself, I used the proper campagnolo tool with a campagnolo chain.

It's only for removal after all, so you don't need to line up the connecting pin which might be tricky with the narrower chain not sitting right in the chain tool, peening aside.

DirkVoodoo

Wait a minute, what am I saying? I did remove an 11 speed chain there, it came off just fine. But it was for the scrap heap. Regular chain tool, no problem.

doozerie

Using a 10sp tool throws up questions like whether an 11sp chain will even sit properly on the tool's "posts" so that the chain is properly supported while pushing out the rivet. If it does, and it obviously does with your particular chaintool, then yes I'd imagine splitting the chain is fine but perhaps only as long as you plan to throw away the now split link. I'd still be wary of trying to re-use the newly split link even with a new rivet, but that doesn't mean to say it's not do-able safely obviously, just that I wouldn't risk it myself.

And of course, using a 10sp tool to re-join an 11sp chain is a whole other kettle of fish. I know that's not what is being discussed here but I've read of people doing just that - I value my health and well-being far too much to be willing to risk a chain that's not joined properly.

Guybrush T

Based on my limited experience of doing this twice, a normal chain tool splits 11 speed Campag chains fine, but it really doesn't work for putting the new pin in as the guide piece snaps off before the pin enters the link.

You can get the new pin in using a hammer, then a normal chain tool though, then peen the end with the Park Tools chain joiner, it works fine.



.....so far

crashoveroid

Please note the reason i ask this and going to KMC is the quick link system so i wont be using the tool rejoin it just take a few links off so that it fits.

C3PO

crashoveroid wrote: »

Please note the reason i ask this and going to KMC is the quick link system so i wont be using the tool rejoin it just take a few links off so that it fits.

Very tempted to go the KMC route for the same reason. It really irritates me not being able to easily remove a chain for bike/chain cleaning and for transport!

doozerie

Just for info, you can get split links that'll work with Campag 11sp chains too, such as the Superlink X11.2.

letape

I use KMC quick links with a campagnolo 11 speed chain and they work perfectly. They don't recommend you to re-use them though!