Motor Bike Chains!

[apprentice87]

One for Steps here!!!

Got to put new chains on my Suzuki 600 Bandit and my Yamaha XT600

Do i want DID chains with the hollow rivits, or an EK one with the solid ones... See, i do not know which chain tool to buy, the "Whale" one that does the solid pins [but not the hollow] or the DID one, that does the hollow ones, but not the solid..

Left to myself i would use split links, as i have never seen one fall off... The bike shop tells me they see loads fitted wrong though...

Sprockets... JT or Sunstar..?????

Years ago i had JT sprockets and an EK chain on a CB500. 8000 miles later i had still not had to adjust them ONCE

Cannot find an EK chain with JT or Sunstar sprockets though.

Would use a genuine set of Yamaha sprockets, but it would be about £160 plus vat for the sprockets alone.....

john...

 

[sprocketflup]

I wouldn't use a chain with hollow rivets on any of my bikes.

You should be able to pick up a decent o'ring or more likely x-ring chain and sprocket set for each of the bikes for less than a ton each id have thought, tho TBF I haven't needed to buy one for years now,so I may be wrong about that lol. try Busters in Wales, or M&P if they are still about. Dont buy anything less than 525 pitch else itll be shot before you know it

Also, if you do a lot of commuter miles, invest in a Scottoiler. Will extend C&S life by lots

 

[apprentice87]

I know, i would rather the solid rivits too, but all DID chains as far as i know, have the hollow ended ones. Could do without having to buy two chain tools, one for each sort.

john...

 

[sprocketflup]

Always made do with an angle grinder to get old one off and two hammers for peining the new one on.

oooh, also do not use a split link on a motorcycle. Not a good idea

Years back I had a chain fail at silly speed on a GSX600, (not through a split link I hasten to add) it mullered the output gears, shaft, casings, and I imagine probably didn't do the gearbox any good. I ended up buying a recon motor and being thankful it wasn't my boot/foot/the frame

 

[Sidewinder]

M&P are still going, the premises burned down a year or two back, but they were up and running again in a few days out of another premises.

The original building was then re-built and re-opened.

They also now have a Harley dealership there.

 

[apprentice87]

Might go and have a look at M & P there is another place nearby i think, JT motorcycles?? Not far off junction 47.

john..

 

[Sidewinder]

JT's are about 3 miles further into Swansea than M&P depending on which way you go from M&P to JT's you could end up driving past my house!

 

[apprentice87]

Hi Paul,

I used to know a girl in Dunvant. I used to turn left at junction 47. It used to go down a hill and then back up again. I used to turn right at a set of lights and go along some road that ended up at dunvant, There was some pub, i think it is called the domino. Anyway, instead of going right at the traffic lights, if i go straight, i think the bike shop is up there a little bit. Liked dunvant, liked the girl even more...

john...

 

[Sharpend]

And now Steps has got directions.............!

 

[steptoe]

I wouldn't use a chain with hollow rivets on any of my bikes.You should be able to pick up a decent o'ring or more likely x-ring chain and sprocket set for each of the bikes for less than a ton each id have thought, tho TBF I haven't needed to buy one for years now,so I may be wrong about that lol. try Busters in Wales, or M&P if they are still about. Dont buy anything less than 525 pitch else itll be shot before you know itAlso, if you do a lot of commuter miles, invest in a Scottoiler. Will extend C&S life by lots

Ah, see, I was going to ask what pitch, and say change it to 520, mostly better quality stuff, all racers use 520, couple of reasons, it's lighter, and bigger choice of fitments,sizes and manufacturers,

We even run 520 on the 750s.

Are you going to run O ring? You prob won't see any benefit from non O ring, and O ring will last longer for road use, make sure you use compatible lube.

Go for solid pins, angle grinder off, and a riveter is prob <£10, or 2hammers

We mostly use DID,

 

[apprentice87]

Hi Steps,

Totally baffled as to what to do.... Is DID chain any good?? I know it is down to how you care for it, but there is a DID "O" ring chain on both bikes and to be honest, it seems crap... The Suzuki GSF600 is now on about 5000 miles, same as the Yamaha XT600, and the chains on both are knackered, with the chain being far too slack at one point and then on the top limit of tightness, if you see what i mean, in another place. I put an EK chain and JT sprockets on my CB500, and 8000 miles later i had not even had to adjust it..

john..

 

[sprocketflup]

I happily used 520 on my race bikes, but not on a road bike.

DID pretty good chain IMO

 

[steptoe]

Ok, is it the chain that is tight, or the sprocket that isn't round? Believe it or not, Un round sprockets is very common. Mark the sprocket and chain at tight spot, same at next tight spot etc, chances are you will not get the chain tight next time at the same mark, unround sprocket.

Oh, and for road use, never change a chain without sprockets at same time, both front and rear.

Different for race use obviously.

 

[apprentice87]

Ahhhh, good point Steps!!!

Still, if i have to get new sprockets, i would have to be mad not to get a new chain too, so i just sent off for one!!

john..

 

[steptoe]

john,

I've just got on lappie and reread your post,

the DID chain does NOT have hollow pins, its the way they are peined to the side plates that makes them look that way,

in general we usually only ever run DID C&S, non O-ring mind, and never had one break yet,

can you think of a better test than the mountain?

BUT,

and its a big BUT,

we dont continually run the same chain endlessly through the general crude of everyday roads with salt etc.

the slightest thought of failure gets a new chain,

we run NON O-ring, no oilers etc, and 520 pitch always.

TBH, a lot of advice I could give in this regard is not worth much for normal road use,

personally, for regular road use I'd be using DID 520 O-ring C&S,

for not regular use Id be using NON O-ring, remember, O-rings doze and harden, plus they sap power [why we dont use them for racing].

I still wouldnt use anything other than 520, IMHO OE is only larger due to comebacks, if a 520 can cope with getting strangeled by a 750 at full chat on the mountain then I think it will cope with you just fine.

 

[apprentice87]

Hi Steps,

I just ordered one from Wemoto. It is a DID 520 VX chain i think [an "O" ring jobbie] and the sprockets are by someone called sunstar, apparently they are good.... [hopefully] I would have liked genuine yamaha sprockets, but they want about £160 just for them, without the chain!!

IF, i could be bothered, i would use a non "O" ring chain too, just take it off, wash it in petrol, oil it and put it back, but i do not fancy doing that all the time!! Do they still make that stuff you had to heat up in a tin?? linklyfe or something??

I was going to get the super dooper chain, the gold one, but i am not paying £60 more to have a gold coloured chain!!

I will try to take a photo of the bike concerned and post it tomorrow!!!

john..

 

[steptoe]

yes, you still get some sort of stuff you heat up to lube the chain with,

this could be interesting, seeing as you have the ability, and skills, and equipment to do it,

measure the roundness of the sprocket if you dont mind,

Im sure you dont need me to teach you to suck eggs and how to do it.

it may be interesting.

:|

btw,

we never wash the chains etc, they just get lubed HOT, thats a tip if you dont already know it, lube AFTER a ride, NOT before,

you know the metal reasons, plus, cleaning reasons are less spray on rear wheel.

 

[apprentice87]

Hi Steps,

Good idea!! After i get the sprockets off i will make a mandrel to hold them centrally in the lathe and then measure the radial runout of the things. Should be interesting, as they are all original parts fitted to the two bikes from new..

john..