Topic: Chain fail.

[bollingball]

If it were me I'd keep the aft sprocket and buy a good o-ring chain and make sure it is installed correctly. If the chain did not fit the used rear sproket while inspecting the installation I then I'd get two new sprockets. I don't replace 5hit just because someone says to make everything new, I do it because it needs to be done. I have replaced chains on to serviceable sprockets with no issue. I'd replace the front drive sprocket though as it indicates through the picture a bit too much wear for my liking. Front sprockets take more of a pounding than the rear and that's why they wear out sooner. You can replace everything if you like and it makes you feel better, it's not a large amount of money.

edit for df - remember many of us change front sprockets for a final drive ratio alteration on a used drive system. So it is being done all the time under a different reason. It's done all the time on the track too, dirt or pavement.

From Travis  And yes it is a 1975 CB550F SS.


Roto I thought a o-ring chain was a no no on a 550
Ken

[Fritz]

From Travis  And yes it is a 1975 CB550F SS.

Roto I thought a o-ring chain was a no no on a 550
Ken

Yes, the CB 500 and 550 Fours should not be run with an o-ring chain.
The wider chain rubs on a main transmission shaft's bearing seal.

I'd recommend a DID 50HDS standard chain for these models.

[dave500]

ek heavy duty and jt sprockets will be fine without spending a fortune.

[cameron]

If it were me I'd keep the aft sprocket and buy a good o-ring chain and make sure it is installed correctly.

Why not a good chain?
O-ring or X-ring chain AND both sprockets of good quality.

STOP saying stuff like this!
Fritz showed you the why.. but there is a principle here. If you dont actually know about the bike in question, bad advice is worse than no advice, and could lead to some poor, unsuspecting newb actually damaging his bike because of you.
Did you read the thread, and notice the number of people advising against O-ring chains on 550s?

/rant

What Fritz said. Non O-ring Chain on a 550. I also have had good success with DID. It was $40? But I understand the temptation of amazon prime
Whatever chain you get.. just compare it's width to your previous chain to make sure it is comparable.

[Retro Rocket]

My earlier comments were specifically about O ring chains, 500-550 should use a standard type chain as mentioned above...

[Jerry Rxman Griffin aka MuthaF'er]

530KS = "•Maximum Engine Size - 400cc"

[chickenman_26]

530KS = "•Maximum Engine Size - 400cc"

Now you've thrown some S#%t in the mix.    All of the chain makers' current recommendations are for modern engines...which make twice as much power as the same displacement pre-'80s bike. And these modern 530HD non-O ring chains are much stronger than the stuff that came on our vintage rides. If your bike was originally equipped with a 530 non-O ring chain, any of the modern HD chains is more than adequate. Some like the DID NZ series even offer a rivet type master link as an option. I just installed one of those on a customer's 750 K0, and it's a heck of a lot beefier than the OEM chain I removed.

Stu

[BobbyR]

+1 Stu. New good quality chains properly installed and maintained will probably never break from the torque these bikes can produce. 

[shinyribs]

I found a hidden danger in a couple of o-ring chains I've used; the side plates had to be squeezed together so hard to get the safety clip on that there was no longer any side pressure and it duly flew off.When I did a chain inspection, the safety clip was just gone and the chain was still holding together. This happened on two different bikes. I check often and keep spare clips around.

Sorry,but I got confused on this one. I agree that it does take a fair amount of squeezing to get an o-ring plate on.Pretty tough job sometimes. But the side plates dont retain the master clip. Its the other way around.

Not trying to be a jerk,but if your master clips are flying off you might need to look at causes other than the side plate was not touching the clip. That may result in a pinched/tore o-ring-but it wont make the clip fall off.

[Killer Canary]

That may result in a pinched/tore o-ring-but it wont make the clip fall off.

That makes perfect sense; what's the explanation?

[shinyribs]

Whats the explanation of why your clips have come off? I dunno bro. It's just gonna require a little digging and head scratching maybe. Just be careful and good luck with it. One thing that is easy to do is to spread the clip too much and it'll stretch-not holding as tight as it should. I've accidentally put the clips on backwards and had zero problems out of them.I'm not saying it's OK to run 'em backwards,just that it's not a 100% guaranteed reason of why it may have happened.

[BobbyR]

It may be the clip has been spread to open as was mentioned. Also you have to be very careful that the clip seats properly in the grooves on the pin. It can look OK and still be out. 

[lucky]

and learn how to PROPERLY put on a master link. Clip in the right direction, fully engaged and secured. And if you're really paranoid, safety wire it.

You cannot safety wire a chain link clip!!  Myths persist!!

 If you do not believe me... try it.
And that safety wire can increase the possibility of the clip coming of or the safety sire being chewed up ruining the sprocket teeth.

[shinyribs]

I was wondering how you would go about safety wiring a master link myself. Id love to see a pic of one

[Retro Rocket]

and learn how to PROPERLY put on a master link. Clip in the right direction, fully engaged and secured. And if you're really paranoid, safety wire it.

You cannot safety wire a chain link clip!!  Myths persist!!

 If you do not believe me... try it.
And that safety wire can increase the possibility of the clip coming of or the safety sire being chewed up ruining the sprocket teeth.

Sorry lucky but have you ever heard of research....

https://www.google.com.au/search?q=how+to+safety+wire+a+master+link&hl=en&tbo=d&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=zQTNUK2QBYO9iAeiy4Fw&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAA&biw=1366&bih=659

Its quite common on race bikes and some organizations won't let you race without one....

[cameron]

#$%* now I'm getting paranoid. I just clipped mine on there?

[BobbyR]

#$%* now I'm getting paranoid. I just clipped mine on there?

Been riding on master linked chains for 30 years. Everything else has let go but the chains.