DID VX 520 problems?

[Frodo]

Anyone have any issues with a DID VX 520 chain? At 20,000 km mine has not needed any adjustment, but about half a dozen X-rings are missing and several others look worn. (i.e. they're really thin and hard to see).

My chain gets a pretty good life and I have a Scottoiler. I got 34,000 km out of the OEM chain (which was a Regina I think).

So I guess I'll have to bin it. I won't buy another!

[pampa]

No history to comment, but regina lasted me 15000K and by the end I was missing 15tooth on rear sprocket and 9 on front ... yikes i was lucky to get back to home

I bought a DID if I remember right and have around 12000K so far and looks mint (to me anyway)

Scott oiler was there for both chains ....

[steelestring]

Hey dude, I got about approx the same out of a DID ERV3 520 x-ring and it started to loose its rings badly also... no stretching either..... I was careing for the chain well, kero and toothbrush and useing castrol chain lube.. was really weird I thought too...

Maybe I should'nt ride the zx6r in the sea anymore :)

[NordieBoy]

I'm getting better wear from the DID 520 VX than the RK 525 XSO (8,000 from 1st and 18,000 from 2nd) that was $100 more.

The VX is a cheapie x-ring though.

[Frodo]

Nordie, the thing that annoys me is that the chain is not stretched. I had not adjusted it after the first couple of hundred km. Its just that the X-rings are buggered. My last O-ring chain went for 34,000 km and would have gone longer but the guy who did the custom map for my bike on a dyno overtightened the chain. So I expected at least 30,000km out of the DID.

I have since read elsewhere that X-rings wear faster than O-rings, so my next chain will be an O-ring chain.

Cheers

[george formby]

Ooh er, guess I better check my DiD x-ring. Adjusted it for the first time after 6'000k or more but have not looked closely at the seals. Until I read this I was quite impressed, my bike is hard on chains.

[NordieBoy]

Are the buggered ones on one side or both?

O-rings will last longer only due to the fact they've got more meat there than x-rings.
The idea with x-rings is lower friction than o-rings with better grease retention than no-rings.

[Frodo]

Are the buggered ones on one side or both?

O-rings will last longer only due to the fact they've got more meat there than x-rings.
The idea with x-rings is lower friction than o-rings with better grease retention than no-rings.

Interesting. The X-rings that have gone or are about to are on the outside of the chain (i.e. LHS) which is the side where my Scottoiler nozzle puts oil on the chain. Looking closely, I have probably underestimated the number of missing and worn X-rings. The ones on the other side are thinner than I remember they were but are definitely better than on the left. Where the X-rings are missing or worn, there is at least a 1mm gap between the roller and the side plate. I must confess to having ridden very little off seal with the current chain, so its not as though sand is mixing with the scottoil like a grinding paste as experienced by DJ on his Aussie exploits. I can't see how the Scottoiler would have buggered the X-rings. This is the third chain I've used the same Scottoiler on and the first that I've experienced this problem with.

I wonder how much difference in friction X-rings make, given all the other sources of friction my bike faces.

Cheers

[NordieBoy]

The difference is amazing between a std chain, x-ring and o-ring up on a stand and spinning the rear wheel.


It may be like my RK XSO that got 8,000km and it was shot - stretched to the wear limits.
I got another identical one and got over 18,000km on it with the same sprockets.

Another thing I've noticed is it's only the DID chains I've had that get stiff links.

[alane]

Talking chains------I bought TWO chinese S.F.R. o ring chains on Trademe for $82. Ones on the Xt600 the other on the Super Sherpa. Dont know how many K,s--but they seem O.K. Certanly beefy side plates.
I had the same on my klr650 "tengai' in Aus. ---did 12000k,s & hardly had to adjust it.

[JATZ]

Another thing I've noticed is it's only the DID chains I've had that get stiff links.

Interesting :sherlock:
My last DID was full of stiff links and pretty well stuffed after 5000k
Thhis ones done that easily and I've adjusted it once.
Same maintenance on both of them 'cept I'm using WD40 on this one, last one was CRC :scratch:

[Frodo]

I spoke to the guy in the local motorbike shop who heard that there are issues with Scottoilers and DID X-rings. I had a closer look and the only X-rings that are missing or buggered are on the side of the chain that is where the Scottoil nozzle feeds. Some of the X-rings look as though they are swollen and are coming off the chain. I took some photos and will post them next week - I'm packing for a trip around East Cape via the Matawai - Opotiki (Motu) road. I just fitted a Regina O-ring chain - the same as the OEM chain that I got 34,000km out of.

[warewolf]

It may be like my RK XSO that got 8,000km and it was shot - stretched to the wear limits.
I got another identical one and got over 18,000km on it with the same sprockets.

Another thing I've noticed is it's only the DID chains I've had that get stiff links.I've got 12,000km on the RK XSO, nowhere near the wear limits but it has heaps of stiff links, a couple that are almost solid when the chain is cold. Gets regular CRC clean/lube and the odd spray of chain lube when not likely to get dirty. Not sure whether to be disappointed or not.

[NordieBoy]

I never got any stiff links on either of the 525 RK XSO's.
DID's on the Nordies got stiff stiff as well.

[Frodo]

As I noted earlier, the X-rings on the Scottoiled side of the chain have gone. Here is a closeup photo (not perfect) showing a missing X-ring, a squashed X-ring and a good X-ring, all on the left, Scottoiler side of the chain. Note the gap of at least a millimetre between the roller and the side plate.

202839

Here is a closeup picture from the side. See how the left X-ring seems fine, the middle one seems to have swollen up, and the right one is about half way between the two.

202840

I've not had any problems with other chains and I like the Scottoiler. I fitted a Regina O-ring chain and just ridden 1400km up around East Cape and it seems fine (early days of course).

[steven444]

thanks for the informative post it will help many other ppl also

[fredontour]

hey frodo, and nordieboy,i'm still in NZ
looks not so good,your chain
always use the original scotti oil,and be carefull with higwater presurecleaner,when you clean your chain,what you use,may be some staff is not good for the X or -O rings,.
my first chain was finsihed after 31000km,standard klr 650,525 rko,my frontsprocket was nearly blank after 22.000km(posted here months ago),now i drive a expensiv VM 525(240,-)x-ring hope this last longer,mind. 50.000km,but my frontsprocket looks after 13.000km,bad ,it 'll be finshed again after 20000km,I really don't look after my chain,when i drive gravelroads,rivercrossings etc.,Ii give the scotti more oel,open the valve a little bit,but never X-or O ring going brocken ,and after two years I wash the bike only onces with a highpressure water cleaner,
all the best,hold the mirrows up,
Fred.