One of the links on my chain was warped so much that I couldn't pedal so I used a chain tool to remove it. Now, however, I don't know how to make the newly joined link sturdy like the other ones. Having pushed the pin all the way in with the chain breaking tool, there's nothing really keeping the pin in. The ends of the other pins are sort of spread out over the outside of the link preventing them from coming loose and I don't know how to make the pin of the newly joined link like that.
I hope I've articulated the problem well enough, I'm sort of new at biking and may not have all the terminology down. Thanks a lot if anyone can help.

One of the links on my chain was warped so much that I couldn't pedal so I used a chain tool to remove it. Now, however, I don't know how to make the newly joined link sturdy like the other ones. Having pushed the pin all the way in with the chain breaking tool, there's nothing really keeping the pin in. The ends of the other pins are sort of spread out over the outside of the link preventing them from coming loose and I don't know how to make the pin of the newly joined link like that.
I hope I've articulated the problem well enough, I'm sort of new at biking and may not have all the terminology down. Thanks a lot if anyone can help.
Shimano chains come with replacement pins, and trying to reuse a pin is a hit and miss situation. You are best to avoid the whole problem and get a removable link. I use a KMC Missing Link (http://home.earthlink.net/~kmcchain/english/missinglink.html) There are other manufactureres of similar products. Big advantage is you can easily remove the chain for thourough cleaning.

chain repair with all old part is as much an art as it is a skill. get an old throw away chain out of the trash and practice breaking a link off and putting it back on untill you get it right. experiment with different methods untill you find what works for you. just don't give up.

That link will always be much weaker and from experience it will break loose. It's just a matter of time. I bought the spare pins and they're cheap and easy to use. Probably not as easy as SRAMs reuseable link plate though.

That link will always be much weaker and from experience it will break loose. It's just a matter of time. I bought the spare pins and they're cheap and easy to use. Probably not as easy as SRAMs reuseable link plate though.

i just got a pc99 chain with the magic link I am cursing myself for not having done this 10 years earlier IT IS THE BEST THING SINCE SLICED BREAD!!!!!!!

Yep the quick links are the only way to go. Pushing a pin back in is hit and miss at best, sometimes it works great, sometimes it snaps in the same spot 10 minutes later. A lof of that is that most chain tools are not percise enough to properly push the pin back in.

Here's another tip, when you toss out old chains, keep the quick links, put them in your camelbak etc.

That way if you or a riding buddy break a chain on the trail you can just push out the other link and use a second quick link to join the chain. I've saved a lot of headaches on the trail with this tip. In fact I used 2 of my spares in moab this year fixing riding partners broken chains that would have made for a very long boring walk for them.

While I don't disagree that quick links are a wonderful invention the installing of a pin, like any other bike part(if done properly) is never hit or miss. You use the replacement pin and it's as much a no brainer as the quick link. I would guess you either don't know how to use a chain tool properly, or are just trying to get more people to use the quick link. In any case you pass out faulty information. It takes a few minutes longer to use a replacement pin and it can't be reused. So if you're going to be negative at least give a legit reason.

Well I bow to your obviously superior mechanical skills. I've seen too many people myself included have problems with using replacement pins. I don't use shimano chains for the same reason I don't use a threaded headset anymore or a freewheel hub. It's old outdated technology that while it works if "done properly" it's way more of a hassle that other methods, and it's not as reliable. Since I've seen a few replacement pins let go (and the reason why doesn't matter) and never seen a quick link break, I'll stay with the more reliable, faster, and re-useable fix, even if it is just compensating for my lack of mechanical skills.

You can bet if shimano didn't have to pay a license fee they would be making a quick links for their chains, it's the same reason shimano won't make a threadless headset, they won't pay dia comp to make one.

Ahhh. Sarcasm. Superior skills? Well I guess so since if you just follow the instructions it's quite simple and in 5 years haven't had a chain fail since using the replacement pins. Old technology? Yup, but so is the internal combustion engine, electric lights, radio, etc. But since your basic problem is disliking Shimano I guess I can understand your exaggeration of how bad their chains are. I have nothing against either SRAM or shimano. Just those that pretend one is better than the other based on how a chain is joined.

Sram -vs- Shimano? I didn't even mention Sram, if anyone is turning this into a shimano -vs- Sram thread it's you. In fact you'll find Wippermann chains on my bikes, not Sram.

Concidering KMC, IRD, Sram, and Wippermann all use a similar quick link, I don't remember if Rohloff does or not, but it seems they are no longer shipping chains to the US at any rate.

I have no problem with shimano as a whole, they make lots of good reliable parts, their chains just aren't one of them.