You are reading a single comment by @dancing james and its replies.
Click here to read the full conversation.
-
According to: http://www.sram.com/sram/road/technologies/powerlock
"SRAM chain engineers developed PowerLock as a tool free, sure and consistent way to connect our 10 speed chains. While PL does not require special tools for install, the especially tight tolerances of 10 Speed drive trains mandated that each PowerLock is good for a one-time application only."
It's only some of the >=11 speed ones that advertised as not reusable. And even then not all manufacturers.
The ridges of metal that hold the pins are pretty tiny. I suspect once worn they'd pop open sideways rather than lengthways. The chain going slack doesn't exert much force.