Chains -- How long does yours wear?

[Jackrat]

I use some stuff in a can,don't know what it is,I left it out in the rain an the label fell off.When it runs out I'll get some other stuff in a can.It all seems to work ok,I use it every 400-500 kms.
I do remember I bought it at a trail bike shop an it cost $22.(Bloody Robbery)
Ummmmm.it has lasted a year so far

[tlr-steve]

got 42000kms from the original chain on my TLR,
i clean it with kerosene then use Krytech wax lube,
sets up dry so don't get crap sticking to it

[Bonez]

I use some stuff in a can,don't know what it is,I left it out in the rain an the label fell off.When it runs out I'll get some other stuff in a can.It all seems to work ok,I use it every 400-500 kms.
I do remember I bought it at a trail bike shop an it cost $22.(Bloody Robbery)
Ummmmm.it has lasted a year so far

I bought a 4 ltr container of gearbox oil thinking I'd give the Vauxall Chevette a birthday. It cost about the same as that can The Shovit went 5 years ago Still got around two litres of g/b oil to go through

[scumdog]

Out of interest SD. Whats the "average" life expectancy of a belt doing moderate riding?

Dunno, never needed to replace one yet - and today I went over the new gravel road from Hell, thought I was going to bin it several times in the deep gravel but got lucky this time. and he belts o.k. too!

[Bonez]

Dunno, never needed to replace one yet - and today I went over the new gravel road from Hell, thought I was going to bin it several times in the deep gravel but got lucky this time. and he belts o.k. too!

Glad ya got through a tough spot okely dokely. Just been through some of my old early '80s bike mags. Seems Kawasaki produced a small twin with belt drive cruiser of around 400-450cc. Anyone owned one?

[Jackrat]

Glad ya got through a tough spot okely dokely. Just been through some of my old early '80s bike mags. Seems Kawasaki produced a small twin with belt drive cruiser of around 400-450cc. Anyone owned one?

Yeah,Toads got one,sounds pretty happy with it to.
On the subject of belts,one of my brothers has a very high km Harley FLHTC,he has replaced his belt twice in about twelve years.I've done a fair few of them kms and you just never think about the belt.Both times he replaced it,it was due to puting a stone thru' it,not because of wear.He also has a later model DYNA that has a 160HP S&S motor.After shreding a couple of belts in very short order he replaced it with a chain.
I put a the new chain on my XS on friday,I'll now keep a record an see just what it really does do.
I bought a DID heavy duty,cost me $95.

[Bonez]

Yeah,Toads got one,sounds pretty happy with it to.
On the subject of belts,one of my brothers has a very high km Harley FLHTC,he has replaced his belt twice in about twelve years.I've done a fair few of them kms and you just never think about the belt.Both times he replaced it,it was due to puting a stone thru' it,not because of wear.He also has a later model DYNA that has a 160HP S&S motor.After shreding a couple of belts in very short order he replaced it with a chain.

Thanks for that wee tid bit Jackrat. Do you know if the manufacturers have a recommended life for them at all? Also interested in how much ks your bros F tru C HDs done and what work it's had over the years. I'm interested in any tips I can pass on.

[Jackrat]

Thanks for that wee tid bit Jackrat. Do you know if the manufacturers have a recommended life for them at all? Also interested in how much ks your bros F tru C HDs done and what work it's had over the years. I'm interested in any tips I can pass on.

Shawns FLH has 180,000 KMS up and has a mild cam, after market carb,S eagle exhaust.(The standard Harley tax).
It's never had any major work done on it,just proper sevicing ect, he treats it well.
His Dyna has every engine mod you can think of and has cost him around $70,000,He won't admit just how much.He treats it VERY BAD.
DID gave no indercation of how long their chains last,I don't think they could, given some folks don't look after them while others do.
The price I payed was trade not retail,I think from a shop it would be about $120-140.

[TonyB]

Just to add to this, if you're a worrier like me I have a fool proof (but somewhat fiddly) method to adjust the chain. I have a scottoiler on my bike which definitely helps, but I think it's incorrect adjustment that kills chains.

Take a ratchet tie down and attach one end to the swing arm and the other end to the rail under the rear fairing. Use the ratchet to compress the suspension until the drive sprocket, swing arm pivot and rear axle are all in a straight line. This will be the point where the chain is at it's tightest. Then adjust the chain until it is fairly firm, this way you know for certain that you have the correct amount of slack. Once you've done this you can take note of the slack with no load on the bike and use that to adjust the chain- unless of course you forget like I did...

All of the bikes I had in the past were very hard on their chains- we'll, it wasn't the bikes, it was my fault. I used to have the chains too tight, so when the bike hit a decent bump the rear suspension would compress and stretch the chain. I never had a chain last more than 10,000k's. They always quickly developed tight spots. I bought the FZR in Auckland and I rode back with a freind who is a bike mechanic. I was worried the chain was too loose, so he showed me what happens when the suspension is compressed when we had it strapped down on the ferry. I recently checked the chain before doing the Arthurs/ Haast Pass loop. At the time the bike had done 14,100km since I bought it. The chain STILL didn't need adjusting... after 14,100km! This includes about 200k's of track time. Admittedly the scottoiler has alot to do with it, but I put the lack of tight spots down to correct adjustment.

Sorry for the long winded story, but I figure there may be other people who are making the same mistake I used to make. Hope this helps.

[inlinefour]

What's the best performance anybody has got out of a chain?
What's "average"?
Do Scottoilers help?
Are RK and DID better than good old O ring?

I generally stick with what is recommended by the manufacturer. I've had plenty if DID chains and could not speak a bad thing about them

[Brian d marge]

20 000 km on cheap black ,,,ie the stuff you get of a roll at the industrial supply ,,at about ( was the last time I bought it in NZ ) $14 a foot or about 35 dollars odd for me

Did I foget to mention that it went on me Enfield with a decent rubber cush drive AND ,,, a whole ,,,( gosh i hope you all are sitting down ) a whole .........

20 Bhp ... ( has a carrillo rod in it !!! to handle the HP )

Dont get me started on Speeding ,,,or the cost of gasoline ....ot the cost of tyres ,,,, ...because ...eerrrr I cant ,,,and errr dont use them

Wittness for the defence ..yur ona ...I would like to testify that my grandmother , who has reciently broken her leg , Passed the said offender , in her mobility scooter ...while he was pretending to be ( or taking ) The Micheal Hailwood

But yes bio fuel with a whooping 6 to 1 comp ratio ,,bio fuel presents no problems bring it on Sister .....( Helen )

Tyres.... I use the latest in SM speedmasters .. no grip in both wet and dry conditions ,,,,but will Never wear out ( almost wore one rear tyre out on a CX500 ..but the bike fell apart before the tyre did )

Stephen
Wonder how much millage I could get out of your actual ( oh my $%&' how much did you say,,, with actual o rings ,,,and grease INSIDE the rollors ....) chain