Just recently bought an x ring chain from DID, and had a few problems. After trying to install the master link I noticed the thing wouldn't even come close to clamping far enough to place the clip on. Not only did that master link not fit correctly, two replacements Motoman gave to me didn't fit either!!! The whole problem can be avoided by inspecting the pins on the opposite side the clip goes on. Be absolutely sure the heads on the pins are flush with the sideplate they are press fitted into before you buy them. When the link isn't even compressed together and the pins are put through the two chain ends, the pins should be the same looking as the rest of the pins on the chain (not the clip side), and not stick out the slightest bit further. Just wanted to make this post to save some people a headache on link returns like I had. This company seriously has some tolerance issues with their master links!!! Next stop will probably be Sidewinder!!!

 

They are a tight fit, you just got to tap or clamp them on, not a big deal, but kind of a pain.

 

Clamping them on wasn't the problem, they wouldn't even pass through far enough to even get the clip on those slots. The problem was the pins were defective and were not even press fitted in the sidewall far enough so that they could reach the other side completely. No matter how hard you clamped the link together it wouldn't go on! Not only for the first link that came with the chain, but for two more after that, and they were the right links too!!! The fourth link did work out great though, but that's one in four links that work!!! Pretty crappy if you ask me.

 

i just put 3 d.i.d chains on a few friends machines and did mine not long ago also.i didnt have the problem you had,are you using a chain press?i use one,maybe it pushed the pins through far enough to get the clip on..

 

Yeah, I tried everything. The master links were defective, which were confirmed eventually by the shop itself. The pins simply weren't press fitted quite all the way on the sidewall, so it couldn't be compressed all the way no matter how hard you squeezed it.

 

Boxhead -- I had the exact same problem you did. I know your frustration. When I bought my chain I bought 3 extra master links. When the one would not fit, I tried another and it worked great. I compared the two and found the same thing, the pins were not pressed all the way though the plate.

It could probably have been fixed with a chain press, but I didn't have one, so I just threw it away. Too lazy to send it back for a replacement.

As far as Sidewinder goes, I have used their chain and sprockets. Their chain is twice the price of a DID, and will not last twice as long. Their rear sprockets (TiMoly) are lighter than stock steel sprockets, but are 10 TIMES THE PRICE. You can get a stock steel sprocket from Rocky Mountain for $15, the Sidewinder runs around $150 if my memory is correct. It may last twice as long as a steel sprocket, but at 10 times the price it is not worth it, in my opinion.

 

Boxhead,

How exactly do you go about installing a master link.

 

reason i ask,,,,,is even if it wasnt pressed in all the way from the factory,,,,it seems it would settle in there once it was installed properly (assuming it is the right master link for that chain)

I press mine on with a c-clamp and some extra dogbones (side of link).


doing it this way should take care of that problem

 

When I installed them I just used channel locks to compress the link, which worked great when I had a good link, but with the defective link I tried everything you can think of. The only way the pins could be corrected is with the chain press, the equipment used to press fit the pins on the one side plate to begin with. The force needed to press those pins in all the way couldn't be matched by anything I had, it just bent up the plate. Anyway the best way to solve this problem was to use a link that was worth a sh*t!!! lol