I don't want this to be a debate on the virtues of a pressed master link versus a clip. What I'm curious to find out is if anyone has personally experienced a chain failure, if it was a pressed link or a clip, and any input on what the cause of the failure was.

Just curious to see what experiences people have.

 

Yes, staked chain... It however snapped on another link... Results where similar to the image posted in the other thread... Didn't go through the top, but I lifted the seat and picked it out... The chain was fairly new, so my guess is the link was either faulty or somehow damaged (unlikely though)...

Clipped chain, the clip broke and went missing, caught it on my check in the morning... I rode the rest of the roadtrip using a piece of wire to lock the chain... I'm fairly certain it was caused by wear, the chain was properly adjusted/aligned, lubed and checked the day before when I set of, and had been on the bike for a full season and a half before the failure...

 

recent incidents or happen long ago, or what?

 

The clip link was around 10 years ago or so on a CBR 600 and the other was around a year ago on a SV650, pure racebike...

 

many people use the clip style, thats why they are sold. if it was 'unsafe' they'd be out of production long ago. the clips wear and will fall off, but that doesn't mean the side plate will fall off also ( it may with time, but the side plates need to be pressed on ).

just keep your eye on it and maybe carry a spare clip. at the track the clip needs to have a little silicone to keep it from flying off so maybe thats something you want to do.

i use a rivot style because i have the tools and can get a bit lazy when it comes to cleaning my chain.


tim

 

To respect Old Yellers whish not to turn this into a discussion of clip vs master link... I'll just say that my choice is pretty simple... Track = clip & Road = staked/rivet... My reasons are explained in the other thread...

 

I ride with a lot of guys, and I've never heard of a single one of them or their friends breaking a chain on any grounds.

 

he's trying to justify getting a clip style master which keeps him from buying the chain tool kit, the man has some serious problems.

imo... a man should have lots of tools !


tim

 

I have no idea what his agenda is... If that's the case I honestly don't think I'll be much help... Like I said, I have personally experienced failures on both types... And both have legitimate uses... The clip link is a good option, and in some cases a better option than a staked one...

Oh, btw... I'm kind of a tool junkie, so I know what you mean...

 

I've been using clips for years. I've been around many sportbikes and dirtbikes in the past 20 years and I've only seen two broken chains. One on my own dirtbike. Other than the fact that it occurred on a flat landing at WOT (which is common practice on a MX track) I don't know why exactly it failed...chain was lubed, adjusted and in good condition. The other was on a 900rr piloted by a newb rider. I'm very confident that this was due to lack of maintanece... rusty chain on a sprocket with curled teeth!

In both instances the master link was still intact. Mine was a clip. His was a rivet.



Some have mentioned that the clip wears. This is very true on a dirtbike because of the chain guide but I am curious how this would happen on a street bike. I have never observed it happening. On any street bike that I have dealt with the chain only comes into contact with the sprockets.

 

The clip wears because it can move, and because it like the rest of the chain catches grime and that increases wear on parts that move against each other...

 

 

I too have ridden motocross for many, many years using clip style master links without a failure. You do have to inspect them for wear occasionally as the clips will wear and become loose! I have also ridden street bikes for numerous years and have never had a staked master link fail. I would be more than comfortable with either style on either bike as the clips only job is to keep the side link on, exactly what the staked style does. As Tweety mentioned above it is crucial to have your wheel centered when running a clip style chain, but don't let that make you lazy if you're running a staked chain either as an offset will cause premature wear.

Here's the science part of this:
Would a clip on master links legs be weaker because the groove to fit the clip has been machined into them or would a staked master links legs be weaker because you have mushroomed the head of it essentially fracturing the material?

I love tools too since I work on airplanes. The Snap-On tools guy is like a crack dealer to me.

 

My friend had a chain failure on his F4i with a clip-style chain. I think his clip came off, I'm not sure the exact circumstances. He told me that on his replacement he put a spot weld on the clip to keep it on...I just put a rivet style chain on because I read on here that's best for our high torque bikes. my 2 cents

 

Actually, yes it would... One is a 90 degree stress point (two actually, but the second is safe to ignore...), the other is a uniform expansion of material... That does not create an inherent stress point, even though it does weaken the material... And considering the other links in the chain are formed the same way only with a slightly different tool... Well... sorry the staked chain wins...

But I'd say the win is pretty theoretical since the clip will fail long before the pin...

 

No, not at all. In fact, I have one sport bike with a clip style and another with a pressed style. What I wanted to know is if the opinions people have about pressed over clip are founded by actual failures. Also how long ago they happened since I suspect technology has improved over the years making the clip system more reliable than before.

Don't worry...every project I do involves buying at least one new tool.