a couple of chain questions.. XJ550

alright... how many miles do you guys get out of a standard (non o-ring) drive chain?

and, how far do you go with the tension adjustments before declaring the chain unsafe?... I'm at 3K miles on this one, and the adjustment bolts are already half way out. is this normal wear or should I just toss this chain and spend the $$$ on a o-ring chain? (I've been lubing the chain with heavy grease and parafilm pretty consistently).. just trying to figure out whats cheaper in the long run.

i have to say I don't "putt-putt" around on this bike :twisted:

 

I have a new set of sprockets and chain on order for my 550 Maxim at the moment. I went with a standard size 45 tooth gear in the rear and a 15 tooth one up front as well as an O-ring chain. I got them from DennisKirk.com but I also don't do a whole lot of highway travel, mostly just around town and through the Black Hills once in a while. You may also want to check out Z1 Enterprises website as well as they had a few different options for gears as well. As for the replacement time period of the standard or stock gears and chain my local shop says every 7000 to 10000 miles is average. They also told me that if I replace all 3 at the same time it will eliminate excess ware and tare on the new chain as the teeth on the old gears will have already been warn down a bit and may be chipped or something. With the new gears and chain they said I should be able to pull 15,000 miles or so out of the new ones as long as I take care of them.

If it makes you feel any better as to how far you have you chain stretched... I only have a single notch left to go before I can't move it back any further.... Granted I haven't had my bike that long and the PO didn't look like he did shit to take care of it so I, like many others, are getting to replace and or fix things as I go. I call mine a rolling project for the time being. Winter will change that though.

 

Mine were maxed out (both adjusting bolts bent) at 25K and the chain still could be pulled about a half inch off the gear at the very end. The damage on the aluminum housing on the wheel shows evidence of the chain jumping and grinding on it in the past. How common is that?

Are the adjusting bolts special or could I just go to a local hardware store and replace them?

 

The old, standard chain that was on my 400 when I got it (probably the original), lasted until 8,000 miles, when my adjusters were maxed out (and I no longer felt safe, anyway).

I had to tighten it about every 200 - 300 miles.

My new Bikemaster o-ring chain (installed with new sprockets) has been tightened once or twice in 5,000 miles.

I'm looking to get at least 20,000 miles out of it.

Herb

 

ok, that explains it... is the 550 maxim chain a 530/104? (assuming stock gears).

I found one at BikeBandit for 80 bucks. has anyone used this brand before?

http://www.bikebandit.com/partsbandit/product.asp?pf_id=5258552&dept_id=2162474

 

Never a chain but I used their fork seals once. Nothing to report as I sold the bike shortly afterwards and don't know how long lived they were.

 

3K sounds like a pretty short lifespan
did you do new sprockets with the new chain ? they say this helps everything live longer
new chains have a breakin period, where they need frequent adjustment
never over tighten a chain, compress the suspension and make sure it still has some play
forget the adjusters, pull the chain away from the sprocket at the 3 o'clock
position, half the depth of the teeth is about the limit
parafilm is that wax or something i never heard of ?
anyhow get a good brand of chain lube for regular chain so it penetrates down to the pins
while your at it check the back wheel alignment, the marks on the swingarm aint always right
the closed end of the master link clip leads, left on top right on bottom
there now you know as much as i do, that didn't take long

 

no, the sprockets are original, but they still look good (just over 10K miles).
I always leave about 3/4 in. slack on the chain... should it be more?

parafilm... I got a can of this from my Norton-riding father in law. good stuff. It's a chain wax that goes on thin like light oil, but dries and keeps lubricant from slinging off.

 

Stereo:

The Bikemaster chain in your link is the one I'm using. It's my first experience with them, but very happy so far.

As far as lubrication, I'm using the DuPont Teflon spray described here:

http://www.webbikeworld.com/t2/motorcyc ... n-lube.htm

Dries to a white, waxy film. Doesn't fling (once dry). Doesn't attract dirt.

Once the packing grease was off of the new chain, there's been no need to clean it. I just spray it down well every week or two.

So far, so good!

Stay safe-
Herb