ANOTHER circlip disappears off my chain!

**Velox** · 16th November 2004, 23:34

Why do they keep popping off? I'm onto about my 5th one for this chain and all I know is it's not because of stones around the front sproket flicking them off because I cleaned it out and the circlip disappeared again just after that. And yes - I am putting them on facing the right direction. Could it be that my back wheel is not on completely straight and so the chain is lightly wonky? I would have thought that it would have to be pretty wonky to flick off the clip though. The last one was protected by some clear gum stuff that the shop put over it and still it went!

**aff-man** · 17th November 2004, 00:13

wierd. No really really tight spots?? I think you would notice a not straight wheel. curiouser and curiouser

**Lee Rusty** · 17th November 2004, 02:25

is 1 thing but are they fitted correctly - actually clipped into the groove in the chain pin. If not they will flick off easily.
Clean the chain link with a wire brush before fitting.

NC · 17th November 2004, 05:00

Jebers!

How old is the chain and sprockets?

It's gotta be the chain! Have you fully taken the chain off and had a good look see at it? Tight spots, crapness blah blah...

I found that the ZXR used to chew through chains if they were cheap, had to be a girls bike. Only liked the expencive stuff

**RiderInBlack** · 17th November 2004, 06:50

The little GSXR250 used to regularly spit thecirclip off. Yes on the right way, pressed into the grooves, and on brand-new chain and sprockets. I did do a lot of engine backing with it and felt that this was what was spitting them off. In the end, I wired the chain joiner link on instead of using another circlip. All me bikes since then, I only use chains that have a riveted chain joiner link and not the circliped ones. See if your bike shop has riveted chain joiner linked chains for you bike next time you need the chain replaced. Until then find some wire that you can fig 8 around the circlip pins (at least twice). Twist the ends of the wire together. Make sure the twist end is not too long and flush with the outside of your chain (tail-end pointing away from the direction of the chain rotation).

**Hoon** · 17th November 2004, 08:43

First of all make sure you have put the circlip on properly. DO NOT bend or twist, just a little tap at the bottom of the "U" is all that's required. If the clip is being reused, make sure it still closes properly and as already mentioned make sure the grooves are clean so the clip can sit properly.

In saying that I still lost two circlips the last two times I've been to the track. Now I lockwire and silicon the clip in place and it hasn't come off since!

**vifferman** · 17th November 2004, 08:55

Originally Posted by Hoon

First of all make sure you have put the circlip on properly. DO NOT bend or twist, just a little tap at the bottom of the "U" is all that's required. If the clip is being reused, make sure it still closes properly and as already mentioned make sure the grooves are clean so the clip can sit properly.

I also give the end (not the middle) a squeeze with a pair of pliers, once it's on and seated properly.

Originally Posted by Hoon

In saying that I still lost two circlips the last two times I've been to the track. Now I lockwire and silicon the clip in place and it hasn't come off since!

That's what I was going to suggest - lockwire it on, or have the shop do it for you.
I've NEVER lost a circlip, although I was always worried the FahrtSturm would chuck its one off. Yes, it had a circlip instead of a rivet link

, despite being a bazillion horsepower.

The PO put it on like that, and I couldn't get a rivet link to match the weird brand of chain. Never had any problem with it though, and it made it easy to occasionally take the chain off for a thorough cleaning, or to change sprockets.

**Motu** · 17th November 2004, 09:00

I don't think I've ever lost a chain clip.On the trials bikes we used to put the link on the inside,so it didn't get hit by rocks or flicked off by sticks,don't do it anymore,I pull the chain every time I ride it,being fussy is a pain.One trick was to put a piece of shim stock behind the clip,then fold the tabs over to protect and hold it together.I still think somethings wrong,could be the wrong joining link for that chain,some are brand specific....and a bike shop may give you a different link,happened to me a couple of years ago.

**FlyingDutchMan** · 17th November 2004, 09:16

I had one nearly off on my cibby - one side of the open end had broken off and was just hanging by the front. Probably because i put on it wrong. Stuck a new one on and its been fine since.

**Hitman** · 17th November 2004, 09:24

Where can u buy new surclips from?

**Velox** · 17th November 2004, 10:00

Originally Posted by Hitman

Where can u buy new surclips from?

You have to get a whole joining link from the shop. Only cost a few buck though, but if you go through a lot it's just a pain. It's also a worry that I think I'd been booting it in the weekend without a clip on the chain for some of the time!

Thanks for the advise guys! Maybe I'll wait for this one to flick off

and then put on a whole new joining link and if that doesn't work just use wire. It was on properly the other times, and last time the shop put it on and put silicon over it too. Maybe my bike's just got an obsessive compulsive disorder.

**Cajun** · 17th November 2004, 10:46

i came so close to a very nasty crash due to bike losing circlip

We had rebuild a gpz500s, from ground up. taken on its 5 shake down run, thru wangmatar thru to kopu, tiping in to corners i could here a tapping noise, so stoped and pulled over. checked bike couldn't seen anything wrong, keep going, turned off to head to parainu(rich orclanders place) i was on a bit of straight road, and the chain came flyiing off , locked itself around back wheel, and lets just say i left a line a good 20 meters down the road. i am so bloody lucky it was on a straight road this happen and not thru a bend cause i would be little fucked by now, this was a brand new chain, clip put on correctly, from that point every bike we own has a riviited link, no matter what, feels alot safter that way.

**Bonez** · 17th November 2004, 15:32

Oooooooooooooops

**Bonez** · 17th November 2004, 15:33

I personnally haven't had a problem with "standard" chains in 20 plus years of riding. Replace the joining link every 5,000kms. Chain at 10,000kms. Adjusted, if needed, and a bit of gearbox oil on them after every ride or daily depending on distances riden.

NC · 17th November 2004, 15:50

Originally Posted by Velox

You have to get a whole joining link from the shop. Only cost a few buck though, but if you go through a lot it's just a pain. It's also a worry that I think I'd been booting it in the weekend without a clip on the chain for some of the time!

Thanks for the advise guys! Maybe I'll wait for this one to flick off

and then put on a whole new joining link and if that doesn't work just use wire. It was on properly the other times, and last time the shop put it on and put silicon over it too. Maybe my bike's just got an obsessive compulsive disorder.

Unless!!! you have muchousm(sp) syndrome byproxy and you keep on doing stuff to your bike to make it sick!!!

Just be careful you don't get flicked off with it