Chains again

**timg** · 18th February 2011, 19:39

I've had one of these for 4 years on my Transalp since new http://www.pro-oiler.com/ I think it's an awesome bit of kit. At the 24000km service I asked the dealer to change the chain and sprockets. He phoned my later in the day and asked if I really wanted them changed as he thought they had plenty of life left in them. As we were heading off on a trip I had them changed any way. 24000km + on an adventure bike is pretty good life IMHO. A fair bit of that has been on gravel or worse - real adventuring. Current chain and sprocket set has 20000km & still fine. Cheers.

**Waihou Thumper** · 20th February 2011, 07:32

Guys, since this is related to chains...
I was cleaning the bike this morning and just as well.....
I noticed this, broken teeth on my rear sprocket. I know they wear but have never seen broken teeth, and it is random, alternate tooth or five along etc....
Only four are broken but it will need replacement, along with chain and front sprocket I suppose.....
Have any of you experienced this on any of your bikes?
Thanks.

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**Eddieb** · 20th February 2011, 08:12

Originally Posted by NZKTM

Guys, since this is related to chains...
I was cleaning the bike this morning and just as well.....
I noticed this, broken teeth on my rear sprocket. I know they wear but have never seen broken teeth, and it is random, alternate tooth or five along etc....
Only four are broken but it will need replacement, along with chain and front sprocket I suppose.....
Have any of you experienced this on any of your bikes?
Thanks.

Ihad thathappen on a gpx600 many years ago,the sprocket was shagged and duefor replacement when it did it, that onelooks pretty worn.

Padmei needs tofix his bloodyspacebar.

**Owl** · 20th February 2011, 08:29

Originally Posted by NZKTM

Have any of you experienced this on any of your bikes?
Thanks.

Not on any of my bikes, but I had a mate with worse on a TT500. I had to go find him and when I did, he told me his gearbox had shit itself.

Turned out the front sprocket had snapped all its teeth. I explained that you actually have to maintain motorcycles

Also the only time I've ever seen a slick nobbly tyre

**Waihou Thumper** · 20th February 2011, 09:14

Originally Posted by Eddieb

Ihad thathappen on a gpx600 many years ago,the sprocket was shagged and duefor replacement when it did it, that onelooks pretty worn.

Padmei needs tofix his bloodyspacebar.

Yep, it is knackered, 13000Km on the KTM factory alloy sprocket, I would say that is done and dusted. The chain is okay but binned it too. The front sprocket has squared off, so a kit will be forthcoming. I am going all steel this time, lasts way longer.....

**Oscar** · 20th February 2011, 10:21

Originally Posted by NZKTM

Yep, it is knackered, 13000Km on the KTM factory alloy sprocket, I would say that is done and dusted. The chain is okay but binned it too. The front sprocket has squared off, so a kit will be forthcoming. I am going all steel this time, lasts way longer.....

13000km is pretty impressive for a 54hp single with no cush drive.

**Waihou Thumper** · 20th February 2011, 11:28

Originally Posted by Oscar

13000km is pretty impressive for a 54hp single with no cush drive.

I thought so too, especially since it is the original alloy one too. I had a look at the brakes, original Brembo's as well, the rear is half worn, I will replace anyway whilst the wheel is off. The fronts are barely worn at all. Nice gentle owners and press didn't flog it either.....

**Oscar** · 20th February 2011, 11:31

Originally Posted by NZKTM

I thought so too, especially since it is the original alloy one too. I had a look at the brakes, original Brembo's as well, the rear is half worn, I will replace anyway whilst the wheel is off. The fronts are barely worn at all. Nice gentle owners and press didn't flog it either.....

I've just been introduced to the Simon Crafar school of never, ever, (well hardly ever) using your back brake... I may never wear out a set of pads again.

**warewolf** · 20th February 2011, 14:56

Originally Posted by NZKTM

I noticed this, broken teeth on my rear sprocket. I know they wear but have never seen broken teeth, and it is random, alternate tooth or five along etc....
Only four are broken but it will need replacement, along with chain and front sprocket I suppose.....
Have any of you experienced this on any of your bikes?

It was quite normal amongst mates mx bikes when I was at school. Schoolboys didn't quite have enough money for consumables so only replaced sprockets once they lost drive.

**warewolf** · 20th February 2011, 15:00

Originally Posted by Oscar

13000km is pretty impressive for a 54hp single with no cush drive.

F@ck yeah. From an alloy sprocket. That's double what I managed from my cush drive equipped Adventure, and it was only used on roads (sealed or not) and well cared for

The second one only lasted one 750km day on a part-worn chain.

**Waihou Thumper** · 20th February 2011, 15:07

Originally Posted by warewolf

F@ck yeah. From an alloy sprocket. That's double what I managed from my cush drive equipped Adventure, and it was only used on roads (sealed or not) and well cared for

The second one only lasted one 750km day on a part-worn chain.

Yeah, I thought so too. I was all geard up for a ride this morning and saw that, so flagged it. I was reading the ADV thread on chain, sprocket change etc and you had some good comments and guidance. I have ordered a stock 40/16 and 520 X ring chain from the shop. I am replacing all of course and then seeing the sort of distance I will get with steel.
The 625 has no cush drive as you know, I was told to just ride it normally, what seems to wear them down is the down changing on the tar seal, especially when the rear wheel locks or spins. On dirt it is more forgiving of course but can shread tyres and sprockets as a result. More forces and no give, whereas the cush helps absorb....
I was looking around for a rear wheel with cush drive for the sxc for that same reason.

**Waihou Thumper** · 20th February 2011, 15:11

Originally Posted by p.dath

+1. Kerosene is a cheap and effective chain cleaner.

I have heard of the merits of not cleaning the chains but rather making sure they are just lubed? I do clean it, and lube it, but have had conflicting stories from various circles. Constant lube/oiling cleans it anyway, right?

**p.dath** · 21st February 2011, 07:42

Originally Posted by NZKTM

I have heard of the merits of not cleaning the chains but rather making sure they are just lubed? I do clean it, and lube it, but have had conflicting stories from various circles. Constant lube/oiling cleans it anyway, right?

Lubrication is a specialist subject, and I am not a specialist. Some oils do also clean (such as Kerosene) but are not suitable for chain lubrication. Most chain lubricants are very sticky, so I would *guess* that they would not be suitable for cleaning. And constantly applying sticky lubricant may well mean that dust and grit also gets stuck to the chain. I think the intent of chain lubricant is to reduce friction (and therefore wear and lifetime) on the chain - as opposed to trying to keep it clean. Cleaners on the other hand are to, well, clean the chain.
But this is a complex field, and I am not specialist.

All I can tell you is, for road bikes, it is commonly accepted that the chain needs regularly cleaning and lubrication.
It is a commonly held view that the chain should be lubricated about every time you fill up your petrol tank. I clean my chain whenever it stops looking "shiny" and new, maybe every 4th time I fill up my tank with petrol.

**mazz1972** · 21st February 2011, 11:59

Has anyone tried these Tutoro Chain Oilers? Sounds awful fiddly having to turn if on and off all the time.

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Mo...-355110835.htm