Halflink chain direction

......does it matter?

Cant find this on the search.

Assume we are looking at the length of chain at the top - narrow bit foward or narrow bit at the back?

Just replaced mine yesterday after it snapped on the way home on Friday, and after the morning comute of about 8 miles just noticed it looks like my chainring has a few slight burs on it like the new chain is catching it a bit. Chain is like for like replacement with standard that come on bike (Charge)

Wrong direction of chain or just the new chain bedding in on the chainring?

Yes.

that'll be the problem then.

Thank you sir.

I was looking at some of the fixie / singlespeeds in Evans the other day and there were two Charge Plugs, one with the chain mounted like hippy's picture above, and one mounted the other way around...

My plug came with it the other way round (compared to hippy's picture). I rode it like that for a while (it was a bit noisy but I believe that is not unusual for a halflink) before one of the guys in cavendish cycles suggested it might be running backwards. I tried flipping it but that ran rough, I guess because it had 'worn in' running backwards. So I flipped it back and got on with riding it.

After the clacton ride on Saturday I noticed a it was catching a bit every few revolutions and found on closer inspection one link was half broken. I rode it gently to work like that today and then gently to cavendish to get a new chain and am now on the train with the bike on the way home to sort it out.

I have only had the bike about 8 months, so it didn't last as long ad it might have done. Although saying that I have only recently converted to being a fixed gear warrior and have been experimenting with chain tension. I guess tighter is not always better...

I know a few dudes that have had hell with halflinks... I find the plates flatten out and the whole deal stretches quite a lot. I can confirm that the correct direction is definitely as above though...

Although I've never used a halflink chain, looking at Hippy's pic above, it would apper that you have to have the chain the right side up as well as having it running the right direction. Look at those links, they're flat along the outside and curved on the inside of the loop as vied from the side of the bike. I guess that all halflink chains are the same?

Although I've never used a halflink chain, looking at Hippy's pic above, it would apper that you have to have the chain the right side up as well as having it running the right direction. Look at those links, they're flat along the outside and curved on the inside of the loop as vied from the side of the bike. I guess that all halflink chains are the same?

Having had mine off, I don't think that is the case. It is just the way that each link is 'hanging'. Unlike a conventional chain which links at both ends and is held horizontal.

I know a few dudes that have had hell with halflinks... I find the plates flatten out and the whole deal stretches quite a lot. I can confirm that the correct direction is definitely as above though...

Same thing on 2 reasonably expensive half link chains recently. Guess that's the end of that then...

The picture is the correct way to fit a half link chain. The shadow conspiracy interlock is the original and only half link chain worth buying. The picture shows a version 2 of The shadow conspiracy chain with flat out edge for smoother grinding as it's designed for BMX use and rounded inner edge to allow a tighter curve to enable it to run on down to 8 tooth drivers (also BMX). The whole point in it being completely made of half links is so that when you grind a ledge on it, assuming your grinding in a forward direction, each link overlaps the next reducing the chance of prizing a link off as like a fishes scales they are smooth in one direction but not the other. The fact that the design also means greater freedom of chain length/adjustment is just a bonus. This is a BMX chain and is best suited for use on a BMX where chain tension is less of an issue. I still use one on my fixie though.

I just went and had a look at my mate's almost brand new plug and the chain on that is wrong - pointing the other way to Hippy's picture. But then again, Evans put the bike together....

The only halflink I could really recommend is the Shadow V2... The V1 is hazardously bad because the plates worked loose on the pins leading to the whole shooting match falling to pieces at random. I wouldn't risk running one of those YBN things... I snapped a link clean in half on one of those last year.

The Shadow V2 has improved pins and seemed to alleviate the whole falling apart thing. Still, on a fixed, I can't see the point of a full cranked link chain. One will do the same job and wear your drivetrain substantially less. It also means you don't have to use an oversize chain tool all the time.

half-link chains (including the shadow 2) are **really **heavy. If that matters to you.

The Shadow V2 is heavy for a reason, great for BMX, was grinding the shit out of mine on concrete for over a year and never broke it. Broke a couple of chain tools tho! Don't think I'll ever bother running one fixed unless I was breaking all the track chains available due to my massive quads.

Having had mine off, I don't think that is the case. It is just the way that each link is 'hanging'. Unlike a conventional chain which links at both ends and is held horizontal.

I'm pretty sure most are profiled now. It's generally to fit 9 tooth driver cogs on BMXs...