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Yamaha Tech Originally the Yamaha XT600 Tech Forum, due to demand it now includes all Yamaha's technical / mechanical / repair / preparation questions.
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  #1  
Old 23 Sep 2009
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Big single chains
I used to have a 92 xtz660 and I used to get through two chains a year, they would break when I was in the middle of nowhere. Is this because singles are hard on chains and I am just a rubbish rider who didn't use the revs and gears properly? or was there something wrong with the bike?

I was fairly new to riding and I suppose i could have been over tensioning the chain.

I have had a kle500 for the last 3 years and the chain on that did 24000 miles before i felt it needed changing. It hardly every needs adjusting either. Its actually a very good bike. It is a twin that has about the same power as a 660 single. I do about 10000 miles a year including two up touring.

But I still love tenere's and especially the new one and would consider it as a replacement in a few years. Should i worry about breaking chains?
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  #2  
Old 23 Sep 2009
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Buy a good quality chain (fx. did x-ring) And keep it adjusted and loobed.

The singles dont have more torque than a equally sized motor with 2 og 4 cylinders.

I need to keep my chain looser than my manual says, otherwise the chain will stretch out before the rear spring fully compresses, not good.

Check freeplay when the swingarm is paralel to the ground, there need to be around an inch. Thats a good base setting.

Some change the CS sprocket, when halfway trough the chain, because it wears down faster.

Check your chain once in a while.
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  #3  
Old 23 Sep 2009
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Thanks for that.
i did always buy good chains(did o ring) and did everything else. So what sort of miles do you get out of a chain?
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  #4  
Old 23 Sep 2009
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Quote:
Originally Posted by flipperboy View Post
Thanks for that.
So what sort of miles do you get out of a chain?
Hi,
usualy 15.000-20.000 km with chain, same bike as yours, 96 XTZ 660
Tenere. Somethimes less if I ride more offroad than usual.
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  #5  
Old 23 Sep 2009
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Sometimes you can get a larger chain kit.

KEDO - Performance Products sells a 525 did kit for xt600 which normally uses 520. they guarantee 20.000k or 2 years.
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  #6  
Old 23 Sep 2009
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Well, I had to do the opposite: change from 525 to 520 to get a different ratio on my DR650. Now that bike runs rough at slow speeds and under certain conditions (constant speed) the chain gets into a harmonic and thrashes. Still, I get 30000km out of a kit. A little less if I ride in the wet a lot. My maintenance is not optimal, but as pointed out above, make sure your chain is not too tight.

Anyway, I understand you don't have the problem bike any more...
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  #7  
Old 23 Sep 2009
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Modern chains are so strong (if you get a decent one) you can stick with smaller sizes OK.
A single WILL wear a chain (& rear tyre) more that a twin.... as the power pulses occur in a bit hit every 720 degrees, rather than a smoother 360 degs on a twin!
Just keep it cleaned & lubed as already said, and buy an AFAM or Izumi etc.
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Old 24 Sep 2009
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Hi, here's some interesting reading regarding chains
Facts you should no about Motorcycle Chains!
and look at the different tensile strengths e.g. standard, o-ring, x-ring, etc here
http://www.rk-excel.co.jp/global/cha...pplication.pdf
Bob
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  #9  
Old 25 Sep 2009
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Sprıng Links
On Chains, do most use a rıveted missing link or the kind that has a sprıng clıp? My Tenere is the fırst big bike I've had, and the spring loaded clip gave way on the motorway a week ago. I the only replacement I could get was a Yamaha OEM part with another spring missing link. (Pricey, but all I could find ın Zagreb in a hurry).

Just a bit uneasy, and after some reasurance I suppose. It was not a good day at the sıde of the motorway on a Sunday.

Ralph
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Old 25 Sep 2009
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I would never use the 'fish'type link, only as a tempoary measure.
Most kits will come with a proper link which shound be rivited in place.
Either buy yourself a breaker/riviter, about £40 http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/200935340756071/sort/locasc/search-target/usedbikes/make/ccm/adid/200937341697319/postcode/nr180py/page/1?previous=%2Fsearch%2Fresults%2Fusedbikes%2Fpostc ode%2Fnr180py%2Fmake%2Fccm%2Fadid%2F20093734169731 9%2Fsort%2Flocasc%2Fpage%2F1&anchor=advert20093534 0756071&logcode=p##

or get your local mechanic to do it for you, only a 2 minute job

As for chain life, if you break 2 chains a year, my guess is you chain is way to tight. Motocross bikes need more free play than road bikes, as they have lots more suspension movement. On my R1, i havent even adjusted the chain in 10000 miles, just regulary lubed and clean it
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  #11  
Old 26 Sep 2009
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Singles do wear chains much quicker as has been said before. Also really make sure it is not too tight, you need 1 to 1 1/2 inches free play with the suspension normally loaded...not done on the centre stand.
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Old 26 Sep 2009
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If you search the site, you'll find the split pin/rivet argument has been discussed before. It seemed to be about 50/50 on this board. I recently rerplaced my chain and sprox and the new chain came with a spring link. I was a bit doubtful, but it's been fine. And it's field-repairable.
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Old 27 Sep 2009
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A "soft link" (one you burr over) is best, but I've had many a bike with a "split link" which has been OK - had one on my Z1000 (+100bhp) which was regularly sprinted. So long as you have the split link facing the right way!
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Old 27 Sep 2009
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Cheers
Thanks for the opınıons. Had a search and feel a bıt more confıdant now. I'll stıck wıth the splıt lınk untıll I get home and the bıke gets the love ıt's earnt. Probably get ıt rıveted, but keep the splıt lınk ın my tool kıt just ıncase (or ıncase a stranded Croatıan asks me for help ın the UK).

Sorry for the hıjack, Flıpperboy. Hope ıt helps you too.

Ralph
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  #15  
Old 28 Sep 2009
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Von Trippenhof View Post
On Chains, do most use a rıveted missing link or the kind that has a sprıng clıp? My Tenere is the fırst big bike I've had, and the spring loaded clip gave way on the motorway a week ago. I the only replacement I could get was a Yamaha OEM part with another spring missing link. (Pricey, but all I could find ın Zagreb in a hurry).

Just a bit uneasy, and after some reasurance I suppose. It was not a good day at the sıde of the motorway on a Sunday.

Ralph
A good trick if all you can get is a clip link replacement (rather than rivet type), is to fit the link (facing the right way, obviously) then douse the clip in superglue or Araldite type 2-part epoxy resin - once it goes off, there is no way that bad boy is coming undone again!

xxx
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