Hey all, and happy new year,
I am now in Pisco, 240 km. south of Lima,Peru.
I am concerned about my front sprocket which has started to look worn. I dont carry an extra unfourtanetely.
The back sprocket wear and chain slack when lifted from back sprocket are almost no existent. So basically its only the front sprocket that is the issue, which makes sense when is has to roll 3 times as much as the back sprocket for the same distance travelled and also the force is distributed from the front.

The dilemma is that the next chance I get for changing the sprocket(s) are in Santiago, Chile which is roughly 4000 km (2500 miles) away.

I just came form Lime and just now I realized that I might need a new sprocket soon and the next avalilable one is quite far away. I should have changed the sprocket in Lima when I had the change.
I can now either head back to Lima (240 km) north. Have a new sprocket installed, and then head back to here to continue east towards Cusco, Peru. A detour of 480 km. and 2 days driving in this traffic.

Take a look at the pictures and video here, and tell me what you think I should do.
The big question is: how far can I push the front sprocket before it completely fails on me. I dont want to be stranded in the desert somewhere say in 2000 km. away. Bear in mind that I oil the chain often. I travelled on this sprocket and chain set from Solvang, CA.

https://www.box.com/s/b3689o667yr3920fhp3s

https://www.box.com/s/a8zwy9wmlv9ln9i1svir

https://www.box.com/s/tkplscr0dr5brvkraiur

Sincerely,
Jesper Rasmussen
jras8000@yahoo.dk