Stretched chain

[WINJA]

GET A NEW CHAIN AND SPROCKET CAUSE NEXT THE CHAIN WILL SNAP AND GO THRU THE ENGINE CASE , ITS USUALLY BEST TO DO CHAIN AND SPROCKETS AT THE SAME TIME , TRY CYCLETREADS

[DingDong]

Depending on how bad the uneveness is you can either put up with it, or replace both your chain and sprockets.

Try tensioning it at its tightest spot as that is where the chain is still in its best condition. Rotate the rear wheel until the chain is at its loosest point. If the amount of slack is within tolerance (25 - 35 mm) then accept it for a while, but be warned that uneven chain wear will accelerate the wear on your sprockets.

If it is outside tolerance, then replace as soon as possible.

Good avice here, my chains like this too but I monitor the sprockets and keep it well lubed.
You may also want to check the wheel alignment... stand behind the bike and eye the alignment for the front and back wheels... the marks on the swing arm are not always correct and can lead to your chain only seeming to be uneven.
You can buy machines to do it right... but it cost too much money and you dont really need to be perfect.

[laRIKin]

I measure the links to see the the chain is stuffed.
You get about +3-6mm per 20 links before the chain is stuffed.
So on a 520 chain standard is 317.5 and stuffed is 323mm.
And O ring chains do wear out fast when they get near the end of there life.

I also string line my rear wheel measure the a mount that it is out by.
And then write it down, some times on the swing arm or on the under side
as it does not look good on a road bike.
Some times I just measure between the axle and the swing arm pivot and
keep that measurement the same for both sides.(dirt bikes)

Always CRC the chain if it has got wet and then lube it straight away.
Do not lube your chain with just CRC as it will wear it out faster.
Because of the salts in the product when it evaporates.

[bugjuice]

Crikey that's cheap. Where was that?

Mt Eden (I think it was that price.. might have been $140) fitted. Front and rear sprocket were $40 each, then the chain was $30ish, then 15 mins fitting, something like that.. Was a couple of years ago now, but felt like a new bike when it was done. Well worth the trouble

[Lou Girardin]

Chains don't get tight spots,they wear evenly throughout - tight spots are caused by sprocket eccentricity...mark the tight spot and see how often it lands in the same place.

I should have kept my old chain for you Motu, two lovely tight spots each with 2 - 3 links binding.

[badlieutenant]

this seemed like a good place to post regarding chains.
I replaced my O-ring chain about a month ago (no not the sprokets as they were still good) but I was feeling the pinch at the time so I just got a standard heavy duty chain. In less than 3000kms its stuffed. no tight spots. Its just streched and streched. Every time I went to ride it Ive had to tighten it.
Any ideas? or is this standard for a non O-ring chain?

[F5 Dave]

Well the chain will have to stretch to fit the worn sprockets (might have helped if you turned them around) then it will stretch constantly if it is a bit average chain.

All manufacturers have several grades 0-ring or otherwise. The brand (rhymes with women’s front bottom) I believe has one grade –elastic.