a plastic conveyor chain includes a plurality of plastic link elements connected with each other by connecting pins extending through respective pin holes in the link elements . a retainer device retains the connecting pins in the pin holes , and includes a plug which is normally retained by the link element and which is thus prevented from being lost . the plug is movable in a direction intersecting with an axial direction of the connecting pin , between a first position and a second position . in the first position , the plug is partly situated in the pin hole for normally preventing an unintended axial withdrawal of the connection pin from the pin hole . in the second position , the plug is retracted from the pin hole for allowing an intended axial withdrawal of the connecting pin from the pin hole whenever necessary .