Topic: Drive chain tension varies- Wassup?

[CoachDoc]

The standard DID chain on my 550 has just 3K miles on it, having been replaced a year and a half ago along with both sprockets. The first 2000 or so miles it didn't require much retensioning, but lately I've been having to adjust the tensioners every 400 miles or so. Not unexpected. This last time I adjusted it I noticed that different parts of the chain seem to have slightly but noticeably different tension, something I never made note of in the past. By this I mean that if you check the tension in the correct spot, then rotate the tire a bit, the tension changes somewhat. Is the drive sprocket slightly out of round? What else could be the culprit? Chain and sprockets seem in good shape, with minimal evidence of wear.

[754]

Most chain wore that way.. So it is important to find the tigtest spot when adjusting.

[brewsky]

A stiff or frozen link will cause the same symptom.

[scottly]

When you are adjusting the chain, make sure you check play with weight on the wheels, not on the center-stand. The play will be greater on the stand than with the suspension loaded, and if set that way the chain will be too tight when riding, accelerating wear.

[kghost]

When you are adjusting the chain, make sure you check play with weight on the wheels, not on the center-stand. The play will be greater on the stand than with the suspension loaded, and if set that way the chain will be too tight when riding, accelerating wear.

+1

Have you been lubricating the chain regularly?

[HondaMan]

...I always thought "DID" was short for "DIDdle (with the chain)"...the only chain that I know that will wear faster than a DID is an RK. 

[kghost]

...I always thought "DID" was short for "DIDdle (with the chain)"...the only chain that I know that will wear faster than a DID is an RK. 

Depends which ones you buy.......

They have the cheap ones....and the expensive ones.

Howdy Mark!

[HondaMan]

...I always thought "DID" was short for "DIDdle (with the chain)"...the only chain that I know that will wear faster than a DID is an RK. 

Depends which ones you buy.......

They have the cheap ones....and the expensive ones.

Howdy Mark!

How have you been, "ghost"? We're thinking of retiring into your neck o' the woods in the next few years...my wife came from there, having the yearning to go back.

[kghost]

...I always thought "DID" was short for "DIDdle (with the chain)"...the only chain that I know that will wear faster than a DID is an RK. 

Depends which ones you buy.......

They have the cheap ones....and the expensive ones.

Howdy Mark!

How have you been, "ghost"? We're thinking of retiring into your neck o' the woods in the next few years...my wife came from there, having the yearning to go back.

Lordie! It's a good place to retire to.......

You know I've been in Australia for the last 3 yrs?

[CoachDoc]

Chain has been lubed regularly. It's low mileage and shows very little wear. So far no one has hazarded a guess as to what would make the tension variable with different parts of the chain being measured, other than a stiff link which should not be the case with this chain.

I'm waiting for a report from Turbo Bob as to how his sprocket modification worked out to enable use of an o-ring chain on a 550. If it worked and there is no rubbing on the seal or crankcase, I'll definitely go that route.

[dave500]

i get a good run out of the rk chains,the trick is not to overtighten any chain especially when new,that exaserbates the odd stretched sections i think?

[kghost]

i get a good run out of the rk chains,the trick is not to overtighten any chain especially when new,that exaserbates the odd stretched sections i think?

Well short of a bad link or links.....

Having to readjust a chain every 400 miles...I'd not categorise that as exactly normal or to be expected.

Maybe Cush drive rubbers? Dunno that the 500/550 has them or what the set up it....but I'm thinking it must

[dave500]

yeah they have cush drive.

[dhall57]

Hey Coach, dhall here. From my experience with my 750's the tight-loose,tight-loose chain means one thing, uneven ware on old wore out sprockets and chains. Both my bikes had these symptoms and new parts fixed it. But you've already done that so I'm not sure why you still having the tighty-loosey problem. How many miles do you think you've put on the new chain and sprocket. Many times (myself included) we adjust the chain wrong and run it to tight causing faster ware. It's really better to run the chain a little slack than to run it to tight. Im running Diamond chains (what Hondaman recommends) and JT sprockets and like that set up. Many members here say I need to run O-ring chains. Maybe when the current ones need to be replaced I'll give it a try.
   I see you also have a 2000 1500 GW, how do you like it? I've got the urge to get a early naked wing 75-77 or maybe a few years newer. Do you have any wisdom and good advice about Goldwings.

thanks
Dwight

[trueblue]

Generally a tight/loose/tight chain is caused by the chain being adjusted too tight at some point, it causes it to stretch unevenly. 

[Retro Rocket]

Generally a tight/loose/tight chain is caused by the chain being adjusted too tight at some point, it causes it to stretch unevenly.

Or just a cheap chain....

[trueblue]

Generally a tight/loose/tight chain is caused by the chain being adjusted too tight at some point, it causes it to stretch unevenly.

Or just a cheap chain....

Or that.

[bollingball]

I just bought a box of things and in it was a 630 oring chain. On the links it is stamped IRIS. Has anyone ever heard of this brand good bad or what? I don't recall ever hearing about this brand it is new and I was thinking about using it on my 78 750K.
Ken

[Dream750]

I’ve never used an IRIS chain or known anyone that has.

http://www.iris-chains.com/Ing/Sport.htm

They offer a decent selection in their catalog.

[CoachDoc]

Hey Coach, dhall here. From my experience with my 750's the tight-loose,tight-loose chain means one thing, uneven ware on old wore out sprockets and chains. Both my bikes had these symptoms and new parts fixed it. But you've already done that so I'm not sure why you still having the tighty-loosey problem. How many miles do you think you've put on the new chain and sprocket. Many times (myself included) we adjust the chain wrong and run it to tight causing faster ware. It's really better to run the chain a little slack than to run it to tight. Im running Diamond chains (what Hondaman recommends) and JT sprockets and like that set up. Many members here say I need to run O-ring chains. Maybe when the current ones need to be replaced I'll give it a try.
   I see you also have a 2000 1500 GW, how do you like it? I've got the urge to get a early naked wing 75-77 or maybe a few years newer. Do you have any wisdom and good advice about Goldwings.

thanks
Dwight

Hey, Dwight, I have put just over 3K miles on this chain and sprocket set. I suspect I may have been guilty in the past of slightly overtightening on my adjustments. I do it the same way I have since the bike was new, on the center stand to specs set in both the owner's manual and shop manual. Maybe I'll use the same specs but do it standing in the future as Scotty has suggested.

Funny you should ask about the Goldwing. I just totaled it April 1 when a passenger opened the front door in the traffic lane right in front of me. It was 13 years old and I had put 98,000 mikes on it. Very low maintenance bike, but the work it does need is much more time consuming due to all the teflon that has to come off. Probably the best touring bike around. I'll be looking for a used 1800 when the insurance comes through. If naked appeals to you, check out the Valkyrie standard. I just picked one up last Fall, a '97 that looks like it just came from the showroom. Same power plant as the 1500 GW, and it really flies. They were only made from '97-'03, but lots of them are available, and most have been incredibly maintained. Think of it as 2 of your 750's in tandem....lol. Hope the weather down there is warming up. Take care.

[754]

It is the nature of chains to wear in that manner,which I already said. This I knew from wearing out probably 20 chains.
 You can blame it (uneven wear) on tension or sprockets, but I will bet 3 out of 4 chains will wear like that..

 Lubing properly, adjust properly, dont powerwash the lube off.  I prefer gear oil, many consider it too messy but it is cheap, absorbs shock very well and at least one mfg reccomends it.