Yesterday I upshifted on a steep uphill and BAM!...the drivetrain locked up and the Wipperman Connex chain parted at the master link with one end of the chain jammed somewhat crookedly between the rings. The master link had vanished. We found one of the master link plates on the road with the pin ripped out of it. I'm not clear on what happened but my guess is that chain suck caused the master link to release on one side (Connex links are easy to release...just turn the link to 90 degrees) and then either the stress of pedaling uphill, or the plate catching on something snapped off the pin. Note that this chain has been on my bike for over 500 miles without problems.
I didn't have a spare link and managed to MacGyver a buddy's 11-speed SRAM master link onto my 8-speed chain, though creating a very stiff link indeed. Finished the ride and will probably have to cut off that link...it ain't coming off easy.
So, I'm wondering if I should try using a SRAM 8-speed link on my Connex 8-speed chain. Although SRAM master links are a mild PITA to disconnect, the Connex links seem too easy to disconnect in the event of chain suck, which could cause a link to flip to the 90 degree release position. Can this work? It does seem that the Connex chains are a little skinnier than SRAM chains so I'm wondering if the master links are interchangeable.
