Power links - how to separate?

OK, is there a knack to opening powerlinks on your chain? My hands are filthy and I cant separate the powerlink to reattach my derailleur. I'm not racing tomorrow night on a single speed!

Any help greatly appreciated!
Sram Power link removal

Had the same problem multiple times.... Unless someone else can suggest a better idea this is the way I go about it....

(1). Use an old toothbrusk and clean the dirt/greese away to enable the link to "break" open. Unless you do this the dirt/greese can add to the resistance of breaking the link

(2). Then using an old shoe lace, run the lace through each side of the power-link and then cross the two the ends of the lace as if you where tieing your shoe....pull in the two ends of the lace and "bobs your uncle"

Hope it does the trick!

Dom:)
Once the rear mech hasn't twisted everything should slot back together and work fine. If you bring all the parts along tomorrow to the club race il help you get it back together. Make sure to bring the extra bit of chain with you too.
got it

I knew it wasn't a brute strength thing. you have to push the link together slightly so that the end of the pin pokes out, then it slips off easy... thanks guys! Ill see how i go with the reconstruction Oz, if I start going backwards when I'm pedaling forwards Ill know I've done it wrong!
Yup just squeeze the middle of the link. But dirt sometimes stops you from being able to squeeze them.
You're having a bleedin laugh Max..you need a tool for that ? Orla..I can't believe you are a Damsel in distress for once !!
Originally posted by Mcnipples View Post
long nosed pliers or the one on the leatherman will probably fit too
my god you people are feebs !! use your fingers like a real man or woman !!
Originally posted by Byrner View Post
my god you people are feebs !! use your fingers like a real man or woman !!
and get my hands dirty, u know i have the dirtiest bike/mind in town.
Give the chain a bit of a side to side twist with your hands to break the grip the little pin has on the plate, then as you push the links towards each other keep wiggling them (side to side), most of the time less force works better than more, the needle nose pliers can work, not sure about the MacGuyver method...
Colin..you extrapolated that from my brain...all i could think of was ...what kind of a knobguzzling **** pilot would have a shoelace or a needlenose pliers on them , panicing on the side of Prince willies..
if you cannot get the friking thing off with your fingers..don;t leave the house..besides, you still need a chain tool.
Originally posted by dom1 View Post
Then using an old shoe lace, run the lace through each side of the power-link and then cross the two the ends of the lace as if you where tieing your shoe....pull in the two ends of the lace and "bobs your uncle"
WTF...??

And Max... a tool for opening power links... are you serious.. that's a joke right..!?!?
now correct me if i am sort of mental case..but surely the object of the powerlink is to not need tools..this is some sort of goober terrorism !!
OK, is there a knack to opening powerlinks on your chain? My hands are filthy and I cant separate the powerlink to reattach my derailleur. I'm not racing tomorrow night on a single speed!

Any help greatly appreciated!
Sram Power link removal

Had the same problem multiple times.... Unless someone else can suggest a better idea this is the way I go about it....

(1). Use an old toothbrusk and clean the dirt/greese away to enable the link to "break" open. Unless you do this the dirt/greese can add to the resistance of breaking the link

(2). Then using an old shoe lace, run the lace through each side of the power-link and then cross the two the ends of the lace as if you where tieing your shoe....pull in the two ends of the lace and "bobs your uncle"

Hope it does the trick!

Dom:)
Once the rear mech hasn't twisted everything should slot back together and work fine. If you bring all the parts along tomorrow to the club race il help you get it back together. Make sure to bring the extra bit of chain with you too.
got it

I knew it wasn't a brute strength thing. you have to push the link together slightly so that the end of the pin pokes out, then it slips off easy... thanks guys! Ill see how i go with the reconstruction Oz, if I start going backwards when I'm pedaling forwards Ill know I've done it wrong!
Yup just squeeze the middle of the link. But dirt sometimes stops you from being able to squeeze them.
You're having a bleedin laugh Max..you need a tool for that ? Orla..I can't believe you are a Damsel in distress for once !!
Originally posted by Mcnipples View Post
long nosed pliers or the one on the leatherman will probably fit too
my god you people are feebs !! use your fingers like a real man or woman !!
Originally posted by Byrner View Post
my god you people are feebs !! use your fingers like a real man or woman !!
and get my hands dirty, u know i have the dirtiest bike/mind in town.
Give the chain a bit of a side to side twist with your hands to break the grip the little pin has on the plate, then as you push the links towards each other keep wiggling them (side to side), most of the time less force works better than more, the needle nose pliers can work, not sure about the MacGuyver method...
Colin..you extrapolated that from my brain...all i could think of was ...what kind of a knobguzzling **** pilot would have a shoelace or a needlenose pliers on them , panicing on the side of Prince willies..
if you cannot get the friking thing off with your fingers..don;t leave the house..besides, you still need a chain tool.
Originally posted by dom1 View Post
Then using an old shoe lace, run the lace through each side of the power-link and then cross the two the ends of the lace as if you where tieing your shoe....pull in the two ends of the lace and "bobs your uncle"
WTF...??

And Max... a tool for opening power links... are you serious.. that's a joke right..!?!?
now correct me if i am sort of mental case..but surely the object of the powerlink is to not need tools..this is some sort of goober terrorism !!