Author Topic: Endless chain woes  (Read 1528 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline fmctm1sw

  • Old Timer
  • ******
  • Posts: 3,042
Endless chain woes
« on: October 08, 2012, 02:54:52 PM »
So I have a friends bike in the garage for some work.  The battery would drain overnight and after I let it sit all day, it wouldn't start the bike.  It had 12.25 volts on it and when I cranked it, it dropped to about 6 volts :o  So I figure the battery is toast.  But now the fun part.  The chain makes a grinding noise while riding.  I saw it was way too loose.  Upon trying to tighten it, I found real tight spots in the chain making it impossible to adjust properly.  So my idea was too take the chain off and measure it (it's stretched perhaps?).  And..  NO master link  :(  So assuming I have to replace the chain, what is the most cost effective way to do this?  I don't want to have to buy a $70 chain breaker for just one job.  Or maybe I don't have a choice?  Can I dremel the rivets out and get a chain with a master link?

96 rebel btw
Quote from: 754
Dude is that a tire ? or an O-ring..??

Quote from: inkscars
This is not a pod thread
This is not a #$%* on my vacuum gauges thread
This is a help or GTFO thread.

1973 CB350F
1973 CB350G
1975 CB550K
1983 GL650I
1973 CB750K3 (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=92888.0)
1984 Kawasaki KLT-250 (AKA 3 wheeler of death)
1994 Honda TRX300
1999 Honda TRX250

Offline City Boy

  • Hot Shot
  • ***
  • Posts: 689
Re: Endless chain woes
« Reply #1 on: October 08, 2012, 04:04:11 PM »
Hi.To remove the existing chain you could grind the heads off of the pins and push the link apart to remove the chain.Leave it attached so you can attach the new chain to it and wind it onto the engine sprocket.Now,you can purchase chains with master links though most of the more expensive chains are only offerred with rivet links.  Rock On
'52 Kiekhaefer Mercury Rocket Hurricane KG4H
'70 750/RC 1000 Original Owner
'83 1100F

Offline dhall57

  • Old Timer
  • ******
  • Posts: 3,674
  • The 70's! SOHC4 Honda's & Marcia Brady of course.
Re: Endless chain woes
« Reply #2 on: October 08, 2012, 04:11:39 PM »
Got my chain breaker at HF last year on sale for under $10 bucks. Just used it again last week when I took a few links out of the new chain for my KO. Works great!!
« Last Edit: October 08, 2012, 05:12:08 PM by dhall57 »
1970 CB750KO
1971 CB500KO-project bike
1973 CB350G- project bike
1974 CB750K4-project bike
1974 CB750K4
1976 CB750K6
1977 GL1000
1997 Harley Wideglide

Offline BobbyR

  • Really Old Timer ...
  • *******
  • Posts: 12,367
  • Proud Owner of the Babe Thread & Dirty Old Man
Re: Endless chain woes
« Reply #3 on: October 08, 2012, 05:22:39 PM »
I am nit sure about the Rebel. If the old chain is shot, grind off the rivets and hammer out the pins. Master link chains are very strong, and a link needs to be pressed on. A bad peening job is weaker than a nice strong clip.
Dedicated to Sgt. Howard Bruckner 1950 - 1969. KIA LONG KHANH.

But we were boys, and boys will be boys, and so they will. To us, everything was dangerous, but what of that? Had we not been made to live forever?

Offline 754

  • Really Old Timer ...
  • *******
  • Posts: 29,058
Re: Endless chain woes
« Reply #4 on: October 09, 2012, 09:40:36 AM »
 Go therefore the rear sprocket, attention back try lifting chain off the sprocket. Now compare this tobacco good one..easy.
 Don't measure chains, count links, then compare to what it should have ( providing it is stock )
Maker of the WELDLESS 750 Frame Kit
dodogas99@gmail.com
Kelowna B.C.       Canada

My next bike will be a ..ANFOB.....

It's All part of the ADVENTURE...

73 836cc.. Green, had it for 3 decades!!
Lost quite a few CB 750's along the way

Offline MCRider

  • Such is the life of a
  • Really Old Timer ...
  • *******
  • Posts: 14,376
  • Today's Lesson: One good turn deserves another.
Re: Endless chain woes
« Reply #5 on: October 09, 2012, 09:49:30 AM »
You have the dreaded tightsy/loosey chain. This occurs from uneven lubrication. Part of the chain "stretches" (actually, its wear in the pin/bushing area, the bushing wears in an oval. The chain appears to have gotten longer or "stretched") more than another part of the chain. There is no cure except replacement.

Grind off a link and replace with a chain that has a clip type link, as you suggest,  is the easist route. A clip type link is as much as a Rebel deserves.  ;)
Ride Safe:
Ron
1988 NT650 HawkGT;  1978 CB400 Hawk;  1975 CB750F -Free Bird; 1968 CB77 Super Hawk -Ticker;  Phaedrus 1972 CB750K2- Build Thread
"Sometimes the light's all shining on me, other times I can barely see, lately it appears to me, what a long, strange trip its been."

Offline mono

  • Definitely no
  • Expert
  • ****
  • Posts: 1,271
  • 1975 Honda CB550, 1978 CB750K (in progress)
Re: Endless chain woes
« Reply #6 on: October 09, 2012, 10:32:04 AM »
Go therefore the rear sprocket, attention back try lifting chain off the sprocket. Now compare this tobacco good one..easy.
 Don't measure chains, count links, then compare to what it should have ( providing it is stock )

seriously, i think my brain just exploded.    ;)

Offline fmctm1sw

  • Old Timer
  • ******
  • Posts: 3,042
Re: Endless chain woes
« Reply #7 on: October 09, 2012, 12:41:53 PM »
Thanks guys.  It reminded me that I posted a picture of some stretched chains I had a while back:  http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=91939.0;attach=154389;image  I'm going to cut it off and pick up 120 link chain locally and cut it down (counting twice and cutting once).  And yeah, what's a 250 Rebel doing with a completely riveted chain  ???  I looked at those HF ones, looks like it just for taking rivets out.  Sorry for the spelling in the first post, I have to use an old laptop at home and I can type "ahead" of it.   ::)
Quote from: 754
Dude is that a tire ? or an O-ring..??

Quote from: inkscars
This is not a pod thread
This is not a #$%* on my vacuum gauges thread
This is a help or GTFO thread.

1973 CB350F
1973 CB350G
1975 CB550K
1983 GL650I
1973 CB750K3 (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=92888.0)
1984 Kawasaki KLT-250 (AKA 3 wheeler of death)
1994 Honda TRX300
1999 Honda TRX250

Offline 754

  • Really Old Timer ...
  • *******
  • Posts: 29,058
Re: Endless chain woes
« Reply #8 on: October 09, 2012, 01:41:22 PM »
 I will make it easy..er.
 Pull chain away from sprocket at middle of sprocket
 If one is much looser it has lots of wear. Good chain will barely move.
Maker of the WELDLESS 750 Frame Kit
dodogas99@gmail.com
Kelowna B.C.       Canada

My next bike will be a ..ANFOB.....

It's All part of the ADVENTURE...

73 836cc.. Green, had it for 3 decades!!
Lost quite a few CB 750's along the way

Offline LesterPiglet

  • Old Timer
  • ******
  • Posts: 4,046
  • 1977 CB550F2
Re: Endless chain woes
« Reply #9 on: October 09, 2012, 01:46:15 PM »
Go therefore the rear sprocket, attention back try lifting chain off the sprocket. Now compare this tobacco good one..easy.
 Don't measure chains, count links, then compare to what it should have ( providing it is stock )
Give me some of what you're smoking. :)
'Then' and 'than' are completely different words and have completely different meanings. Same with 'of' and 'have'. Set and sit. There, their and they're. Draw and drawer. Could care less/couldn't care less. Bought/brought FFS.


Les Ross.            Certified by a Professional

Offline fmctm1sw

  • Old Timer
  • ******
  • Posts: 3,042
Re: Endless chain woes
« Reply #10 on: October 09, 2012, 06:02:01 PM »
I will make it easy..er.
 Pull chain away from sprocket at middle of sprocket
 If one is much looser it has lots of wear. Good chain will barely move.

Noted.  I got it the first time (sort of :)).  I cut the old chain off with a hacksaw and used a bench grinder to cut the new chain off at the 109th link.  Worked perfectly and no tight spots. 
Quote from: 754
Dude is that a tire ? or an O-ring..??

Quote from: inkscars
This is not a pod thread
This is not a #$%* on my vacuum gauges thread
This is a help or GTFO thread.

1973 CB350F
1973 CB350G
1975 CB550K
1983 GL650I
1973 CB750K3 (http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=92888.0)
1984 Kawasaki KLT-250 (AKA 3 wheeler of death)
1994 Honda TRX300
1999 Honda TRX250

Offline MCRider

  • Such is the life of a
  • Really Old Timer ...
  • *******
  • Posts: 14,376
  • Today's Lesson: One good turn deserves another.
Re: Endless chain woes
« Reply #11 on: October 09, 2012, 06:15:04 PM »
I will make it easy..er.
 Pull chain away from sprocket at middle of sprocket
 If one is much looser it has lots of wear. Good chain will barely move.

Noted.  I got it the first time (sort of :)).  I cut the old chain off with a hacksaw and used a bench grinder to cut the new chain off at the 109th link.  Worked perfectly and no tight spots.
Pullling the chain away from the sprocket OR tightsy/loosey are both good tests. But if you fail either one its new chain time.

The full test of pulling the chain away from the sprocket includes pushing up on the bottom row of the chain to remove all slack. Otherwise you won't get as good of a reading.
Now that you have a new chain you can pull it away from the sprocket to see how snug a new chain wraps the sprocket.

Also you'll want to endeavor to lube the chain evenly, to prevent premature tightsy loosy. It will happen eventually though.

The first chain was likely an ORIng chain? If so it must have had some ORings fail from age/drying out.
Ride Safe:
Ron
1988 NT650 HawkGT;  1978 CB400 Hawk;  1975 CB750F -Free Bird; 1968 CB77 Super Hawk -Ticker;  Phaedrus 1972 CB750K2- Build Thread
"Sometimes the light's all shining on me, other times I can barely see, lately it appears to me, what a long, strange trip its been."

Offline 754

  • Really Old Timer ...
  • *******
  • Posts: 29,058
Re: Endless chain woes
« Reply #12 on: October 09, 2012, 06:23:20 PM »
 Seriously, you guys can't understand this.
 It has ZERO to do with slack, nor tight and loose.
 Towards the rear of bike the sprocket and chain are only pulling. Or pushing The top and bottom.
 If you grip the chain in between those points and can pull it off say 5/16inch or more..its worn...simple...and gearing changes don't even enter the equation..
Maker of the WELDLESS 750 Frame Kit
dodogas99@gmail.com
Kelowna B.C.       Canada

My next bike will be a ..ANFOB.....

It's All part of the ADVENTURE...

73 836cc.. Green, had it for 3 decades!!
Lost quite a few CB 750's along the way

Offline MCRider

  • Such is the life of a
  • Really Old Timer ...
  • *******
  • Posts: 14,376
  • Today's Lesson: One good turn deserves another.
Re: Endless chain woes
« Reply #13 on: October 09, 2012, 06:33:57 PM »
Seriously, you guys can't understand this.
 It has ZERO to do with slack, nor tight and loose.
 Towards the rear of bike the sprocket and chain are only pulling. Or pushing The top and bottom.
 If you grip the chain in between those points and can pull it off say 5/16inch or more..its worn...simple...and gearing changes don't even enter the equation..
In my opinion... if you push up on the bottom row of the chain, removing the slack, then take your reading at 3:00 o'clock on the sprocket, then do it that way every time in the future you will get a more consistent and meanigful read.

But as far as these threads go, they're mostly all shot anyway.   ;)
Ride Safe:
Ron
1988 NT650 HawkGT;  1978 CB400 Hawk;  1975 CB750F -Free Bird; 1968 CB77 Super Hawk -Ticker;  Phaedrus 1972 CB750K2- Build Thread
"Sometimes the light's all shining on me, other times I can barely see, lately it appears to me, what a long, strange trip its been."