Chain tight spot

**erik** · 15th March 2006, 22:21

Originally Posted by Jackrat

Well in over thirty years of messing with bikes and doing all my own work as well as a lot of other peoples,combined with working for an MC wrecker for some time,I've seen a LOT of stuffed and out of round sprockets,but don't listen to me,don't even consider the possibility,I know fuck all.

Sorry for not respecting your greater experience. I don't intend to offend.
Maybe in a few years I'll have seen out of round sprockets myself and I'll think back and realise you were right. Just at the moment it doesn't make sense to me.

**Pathos** · 15th March 2006, 22:56

If anyone doesn't think o-ring chains don't stretch you can come see mine

The sprockets sweet, the links just are stretched so they are too big for it and the damn thing clonks at low speed.

new one on friday...

But this is because I knew nothing about bike maintance and rode for six months without tighting or lubing it... and then I lubed it well but probably tightened it in the wrong place...my bike does not deserve me...

if you're right jackrat then my bike will clonk just as much with the new chain...I'll be back with the summary...

**Ixion** · 15th March 2006, 23:12

Originally Posted by erik

Sorry for not respecting your greater experience. I don't intend to offend.
Maybe in a few years I'll have seen out of round sprockets myself and I'll think back and realise you were right. Just at the moment it doesn't make sense to me.

I think I know what Mr Jackrat is talking about. It's not exactly that the sprocket is out of round, but I don't quite know how else to describe it either.

When the sprocket is new, the teeth are exactly the same distance apart as the "gaps" in the chain.So if you wrap a new chain round the sprocket and pull the top tight (as it would be with the engine driving the rear wheel) the teeth fit exactly into the "gaps" in the chain. When the sprocket wears, the teeth get thinner and the "valleys" get bigger. So if you wrap a new chain round the sprocket and pull the top tight, because of the worn teeth the top of the chain curve will move "forward" a bit . This means the rest of the curve of the chain doesnt fit the curve of the sprocket and by the "bottom" of the curve the chain "gaps" and the sprocket teeth don't line up any more. It's not really out of round, but the round of the chain and the round of the sprocket don't match.And the sprocket wear may not be consistent around the sprocket, which makes it worse.

**ZeroIndex** · 15th March 2006, 23:20

what do most people use to oil their chains? is using that CRC 5-35 or whatever it is a good or extremely bad idea?

**Warr** · 15th March 2006, 23:33

Originally Posted by ZeroIndex

what do most people use to oil their chains? is using that CRC 5-35 or whatever it is a good or extremely bad idea?

Sticky stuff in a can... Castrol Chain Oil.
My first can as my XJ900 was a shafty, very clean.

**TygerTung** · 16th March 2006, 01:10

I reckon they do stretch, I had to adjust my chain a few times when I first put the new one on with the new sprockets, might have somthing to do with my erratic riding style and heavy use of engine braking?

**Troll** · 16th March 2006, 01:22

Originally Posted by thehollowmen

But did you notice the tight spot BEFORE you adjusted your chain?

yes the tight spots generate a lot of vibration, more so than just a loose chain

worn sprockets can also contribute to this and jackrat is quite correct £$%ed sprockets are part of the problem and putting a new chain on "£$4ed sprockets doesn't cure anything long term

but to suggest than chains can not develop tight spots or do not wear unevenly is a nonsense

**thehollowmen** · 16th March 2006, 05:33

Originally Posted by Troll

but to suggest than chains can not develop tight spots or do not wear unevenly is a nonsense

How are the tight spots developing?

I know chains wear unevenly, but the crux is this:
I've never noticed them before adjusting my chain, which has always led me to think that tight spots are just the less worn spots when I've adjusted my chain for the many loose worn spot areas.

Or is there something else that I'm not picking up on?

**Lou Girardin** · 16th March 2006, 07:18

When I changed the chain on Bandit 1 it had 2 lots of links that were tighter than all the others - semi seized. that's a tight spot by definition.
I failed to see how a sprocket can wear out of round unless the metallurgy of the sprocket is faulty

**vinducati** · 16th March 2006, 07:29

Lots of interesting stuff, my chain has done quite well.
I had a scottoiler on for a while but I took it off after a wee spill I had.
Not saying the oiler was at fault, I think I made a bad decision and off the road I went.
However, while the bike was at the shop, I noticed there was oil on the left-hand side of the tire, the crash was on a lefthand bend.
I think this didn't help me a whole lot. The oiler was turned down low, the drip was in the right spot and I checked it after everyride.
I once again, don't think it was the oiler, but it made me think that having something that spits oil about down there, maybe wasn't so comforting.
So it's Motul chain lube for me every 500k and perhaps I should clean the chain to, some people use WD40 and then lube.

**Lou Girardin** · 16th March 2006, 10:32

A properly adjusted chain oiler won't get oil on the tyre. If it isn't adjusted properly your pre-ride check should pick up the problem.

**vinducati** · 16th March 2006, 12:07

The oiler was set correctly, as it did not usually put oil onto the tyre, but during the ride whatever controls the rate of flow failed and it was putiing out a heck of a lot of oil.
I had it set to minimum flow but I am sure it is faulty, so off it came.
But yes, if set right they don't throw muck around.
I have decided I feel more comfortable not having something which can develope such a fault anywhere near my rear tyre.

**Lou Girardin** · 16th March 2006, 14:41

Originally Posted by vinducati

Th
I have decided I feel more comfortable not having something which can develope such a fault anywhere near my rear tyre.

Then you need a PIXIE (tm) chain oiler as supplied by the KB'er of the same name. Mine's 3 years old, been on three bikes and is still working fine.
He's developed a brush dispenser system that uses less oil and distributes it more evenly too.

**Jackrat** · 16th March 2006, 16:58

Originally Posted by Pathos

If anyone doesn't think o-ring chains don't stretch you can come see mine

The sprockets sweet, the links just are stretched so they are too big for it and the damn thing clonks at low speed.

new one on friday...

But this is because I knew nothing about bike maintance and rode for six months without tighting or lubing it... and then I lubed it well but probably tightened it in the wrong place...my bike does not deserve me...

if you're right jackrat then my bike will clonk just as much with the new chain...I'll be back with the summary...

No,it will click as the new unstretched chain links catch on the end of the slightly bend teeth tips.
A lot of the time you don't see the wear until you get up close an personal.
But you feel and hear it.
If you rode for six months without lubing it, the sprokcets probably arn't in very good condition but as you say you'll find out anyway.
If you get a shop to fit the new chain you should ask them to look at the sprockets and tell you what they think,as in explain whats what.