Chain tight spots

**motorbyclist** · 8th August 2008, 01:32

how do they develop? why do they develop? got a few ideas pertaining to locking the rear wheel, but normal riding should really normalize the link length unless there's a manufacturing fault...

but then the law of averages would dictate that the slight variation in link strengths would be nicely spread out beween the links, ie the chances of getting 30 weak links then 30 strong ones are pretty bloody slim, so that shouldn't cause it either....

anyone actually know why/how chains develop tight spots?

**PirateJafa** · 10th August 2008, 11:54

Someone suggested uneven sprockets to me once, but I would have thought that that would still result in a even wear across the chain, as the sprockets rotate more times than the chain?

**Ixion** · 10th August 2008, 12:33

They don't. They develop loose spots. Which are where the chain is more worn. The unworn bits feel tight

Wear occurs between the rollers and the pins. Once the case hardening wears through the rate of wear will be rapid. There will be a point in the life cycle of the chain where , due to random variation in manufacturing , exposure to crud, lubricant etc some links will have worn through their case hardening and will be wearing rapidly. Others won't. The remianing good links feel tight.

**FJRider** · 10th August 2008, 12:54

In other words... time to replace...

**racefactory** · 10th August 2008, 13:02

anyone had a chain snap or had any damage occur?

My chain is not looking that good i reckon... bit of rust here and there but i dont have funds at the moment... or can i just use a rust cracker/remover?

**Ixion** · 10th August 2008, 13:07

Yep. chains do snap. Had a few. Primary and secondary. Primary do more damage. Luck of the draw if it takes the crankcases out or not. Best not to take the chance . Though not all chain breakages are neglect, as any pre-unit Triumph owner will agree.

Rust is bad, mkay. And rust remover won't help a t all. Rust indicates long term lack of lubrication. Which is a very bad thing.The damage is inside the chain not the surface rust. Shaft drive FTW.

**racefactory** · 10th August 2008, 13:37

damn it can blow your crank???

it;s just got a bit of rust in some areas. It's very loose.

**FJRider** · 10th August 2008, 13:58

Originally Posted by trademe900

damn it can blow your crank???

it;s just got a bit of rust in some areas. It's very loose.

When the chain snaps... it can punch a hole/crack the CASINGS...(serious oil leak)

**FJRider** · 10th August 2008, 14:03

Originally Posted by trademe900

anyone had a chain snap or had any damage occur?

My chain is not looking that good i reckon... bit of rust here and there but i dont have funds at the moment... or can i just use a rust cracker/remover?

When chains go loose, damage to sprocket occur, then the resulting jerking can impact on the WHOLE gear train (inside the gearbox) with gear teeth getting chipped or broken. THEN IT GETS EXPENSIVE TO FIX...

All because you were to lazy to keep the chain lubed and adjusted properly...Look after it.

**honda929** · 10th August 2008, 18:36

I had a front sprocket come loose on my ZZR1100,snapped chain which wrapped around swingarm locking back wheel,smashed sprocket cover and bent the output shaft a little, all this at 120kph.Funny thing is a week later i got a letter from kawasaki warning that this could happen due to a faulty lock washer.Kawasaki came to the party and repaired all damage though.

**lostinflyz** · 10th August 2008, 18:40

Originally Posted by trademe900

damn it can blow your crank???

it;s just got a bit of rust in some areas. It's very loose.

hey mate if your chains buggered your always better to replace it. If its old and scummy it'll be why you cant find neutral too.

Chains impart all the momentum that propels you to the nice speeds you travel. There alot of energy in one when it comes loose. Anything in its way when it lets go will get broken, and the closest straightest path is the engine 9/10.

good thread. cool to know that things are the inverse of the obvious.
Cheers

**racefactory** · 10th August 2008, 18:45

how could it be responsible for my neutral problem? The chain is really loose and i dont have the tool to adjust it.

any place you could reccommend to buy a chain for good price? Its a 525 chain isnt it? Do you always replace sprockets with chain? Its just the haynes manual says do that.

**FJRider** · 10th August 2008, 18:46

Originally Posted by lostinflyz

hey mate if your chains buggered your always better to replace it. If its old and scummy it'll be why you cant find neutral too.

Chains impart all the momentum that propels you to the nice speeds you travel. There alot of energy in one when it comes loose. Anything in its way when it lets go will get broken, and the closest straightest path is the engine 9/10.

They've even been known to wrap round the back axle... sudden lock-up...