Barchettaman

...is there a magic way to stop the reattached link being stiff?

I’m not having much luck!

thanks in advance

Simon

DaveSSS 

Modern 10-12 speed chains are all flush pin types that should never be connected without a quick link or special joining pin. Ancient 6-9 speed chains may still be protruding pin chains that can be broken anywhere and reconnected. Try reading the instructions at park tool about the last step in the process, where the tightness is removed. If the pins of the chain don't protrude beyond the outer plates, you have a flush pin chain.

MudPie

Try grabbing the chain, hand on each side of the tight link and gently flex it back and forth, in the direction the chain does not normally bend. Hard to explain with words.

Let me try another way. Grab chain and position hands so your thumbs are pushing on the side plates of the chain. Thumbs should be a few links away from the tight link. Then gently push the chain sideways with your thumb and flex chain back and forth.

Bill Kapaun

Sise to side with the hands is about the quickest. Apply increasing amounts of pressure until it loosens. Don't over do it.
OR
If you reverse your chain tool and push slightly. You need to get a feel for how much or revert to step A.

shelbyfv

What they said, with the addition of 9 speed to the special pin/link group. IIRC, with 9 speed Shimano had the pin and the others had links. Campy probably went their own way....

rosefarts

A chain tool has two "rows" the first is the one you put your chain in to push out the pin. The second thicker one, is for giving a stiff link a tenth of a turn and loosening it.

It's still on every chain tool even though it's been an obsolete feature for nearly 20 years.

I can buy a 4 pack of quick links for $12.

alcjphil

Lots of guesses so far due to the fact that we have no idea about what sort of chain you are asking about

CerveloS5

^This.

If you need to see it in video, click below and fast forward to 6:10.

Moe Zhoost

Unfortunately not on my Park CT-3.2. It has a single sliding shelf. When I encounter a tight link after pressing a pin back in, I reach for my old cheap Cyclo tool.

bldegle2

I prefer the quick link. I have had more than one fail (replacement pin) on the road, limped home on one after banging it back together with two rocks, stranded and had to walk 2.5 miles home on the other..

2old

This has always worked well for me.

rydabent

The newer chains have the flush pins, and seem to have some sort of swaging on them. I dont trust using a chain tool on them. A quick link is quick, easy, and the way to go!!!!

Barchettaman

Thanks all for the advice.

Just for clarity I was talking about older 6/7/8/9 speed stuff.

Have a great weekend!

andrewclaus

An upgrade to the twist method is to make a "Z" with the stiff link first. That gives you more leverage and less twist is needed.