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?

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.

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?

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.

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.

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...

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.

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

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

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

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.

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.

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!

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

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

Funny, I've never lost a master link on the Xt or my 250 two strokes. If its an O ring chain and you use a link press it is as good as a any other link on the chain. Install it with the open pointed away from the direction of travel.

Only reason to loose a chain that quick is mis-alignment or its just to tight. I run DID O Ring chains and never had an issue. The chain will last as long as the sprockets.

Save yerselves the £45 odd on a chain breaker/riveter. Here's how....
Drill out the holes on an old split link side-plate an extra 0.5 to 1mm, then use a G clamp with this plate as a 'spacer' to press on the rivet link side-plate.
Don't press on too tight though:innocent:........

Now...this is a great idea! very clever, spot on!
that's how I used to do it before!
"Now" I got a separate link. no problem of anykind!

Vando :D

Good idea - Many a time I've used some vice-grips and a pair of 12mm nuts to press the fish-plate on.

back to the spring clip..... The fish-plate takes all the strain/force. The spring clip is only a device to stop the fish-plate falling off, it doesn't have to be particularly strong. I've snapped a spring clip before, and as a "stop-gap" jambed a small washer over the link end and crimped it on to stop the fish-plate falling off. Did a few hundred miles no probs! Not ideal, but anything goes in an emergency!

btw... I just don't see how a split link can easily fall off... mine is a B:censored:ch to put it in and take out


Vando :innocent:

I did have one come off - but it was my fault for fitting it the wrong way round, and it caught on the chain guide !

I think the failiure was due to the previous owner shortening the chain by a link to get a bit more life out of it. I looked to see there was plenty of adjustment left and left it at that - didn't bother pulling it away from the sprocket to check for streach for sure untill it was too late. Stupid of me really, but a lesson learnt. I was lucky the chain just got spat out the back rather than through my engine casing/luggage/leg.

Looking back from the UK, it added a funny little aside to our trip though.

**The curtain rises to a hot Croatian motorway on a Sunday afternoon. Two motorcycles, one blue one red, round the bend to enter stage right. Suddenly, a loud bang disturbes the scene and the blue motorcycle coasts to a halt on the hard shoulder. The red rider disembarks and walks to the blue, talking animatedly.**
Ross: Ralph - your chain's come off!
Ralph: Not now mate. Something's wrong with my bike.
Ross: Yeah - I just saw. Your chains come off.
Ralph: Just give me a minute. I think it's serious.
Ross: Yes it is. I just saw... oh sod it.
**The red motorcycle rider throws his hands up in dispair and walks off to lean on the armco. Time passes. Leaves turn from green to brown, glaciers retreat and the hamster wheel of thought squeaks slowly round in the blue riders head.**
Ralph: Oh. I see what you mean.

Strangely enough, my mate at work had a bit of CHAIN hassle yesterday!
He came in on his A7 (BSA) and said it was clanking a bit :(

We had a look at it, checked to see if the sprox were loose - NO
Checked r/wheel bearings for play - NO
Checked s/arm for play - No

Then we spotted the split link :eek3:

Not the best of photo's (my naff camera phone) but you can just see the back of the SPLIT LINK has broken - snapped right through:rolleyes2:

He rode in about 2 miles with it clanking - so who says they ain't that tuff, coz it managed to get him into work - half broke :clap:

On the other hand - it wasn't great that it broke in the first place :thumbdown:


http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g9.../ChainLink.jpg

Soft links are usually best but if you are using a 'split link' then a tip is every few hundered miles give the split link pins a tap with a ball paine hammer. Andy B