Topic: Sprocket surface finish update?

[VTCBike750]

Anyone have any new information on sprockets, i.e. surface finish?

I need to purchase new sprockets and chains for a 72 750 and a 93 750 nighthawk. 
Ive tossed around the idea of SunStar or JT, and running an o-ring chain. The 93 was purchased to flip and fund the 72 project. I figure o-ring chain require less maintenance, right? Unless your the PO of the 93 750, one smashed o-ring at the masterlink and one random missing o-ring!

My concerns are from what Hondaman said in the past regarding the surface finish on the JT (EMGO) and Sunstar sprockets resembling fine sandpaper. Anyone know anything about Parts Unlimited? Given this, has anyone had any luck running their old chain on the new sprockets for a few hundred miles?

[VTCBike750]

Anyone? Hondaman?

[MRieck]

Anyone have any new information on sprockets, i.e. surface finish?

I need to purchase new sprockets and chains for a 72 750 and a 93 750 nighthawk. 
Ive tossed around the idea of SunStar or JT, and running an o-ring chain. The 93 was purchased to flip and fund the 72 project. I figure o-ring chain require less maintenance, right? Unless your the PO of the 93 750, one smashed o-ring at the masterlink and one random missing o-ring!

My concerns are from what Hondaman said in the past regarding the surface finish on the JT (EMGO) and Sunstar sprockets resembling fine sandpaper. Anyone know anything about Parts Unlimited? Given this, has anyone had any luck running their old chain on the new sprockets for a few hundred miles?

Parts Unlimited is one of the largest motorcycle parts distributors in the USA. Tucker Rocky is the other. I have JT sprockets on 2 of my bikes (Hayabusa and a FJ1200 with 150RWHP).....There have been absolutely no problems.

[lucky]

Regular #530 chain works perfect.
 Just buy modern chain lube and follow the instructions.

You do not need O ring chain.

[bollingball]

I wonder if you could buff out the roughness at the contact area without changing the profile. I would think so with enough time and the right disk or buff and compound. But would it be worth it? 
Ken

[MRieck]

I wonder if you could buff out the roughness at the contact area without changing the profile. I would think so with enough time and the right disk or buff and compound. But would it be worth it? 
Ken

No. And an oring will outlast a non oring. MotoGP and WSB run oring chains....so much for the "power robbing friction" etc talk.

[Nikkisixx]

I had read the same thing from Hondaman about the rough finish on the JT sprockets and pondered the same thing.  He does go so far as to say run the old chain on them for a few miles to knock off the edges, so to speak.  I had new JT sprockets and a decent standard chain produce a glittery grit on the sprockets for the first 300-400 miles and that bike ate that chain like I eat BBQ.  Might have been a fluke or misalignment, but that setup didn't last 2000 miles.

[VTCBike750]

Hmmm, thats what Im concerned about. I have a "stretched" standard RK chain that was on the bike. Probably gonna run that for 400-500 miles. Leaning towards getting Sunstars over JTs.

Found this website: OEMcycle.com, great deals.

[BobbyR]

Your biggest concern is to align the chain and keep the slack adjusted properly. Proper lubrication will make any chain last longer.  O ring chains do need some lube to keep the side plates from rusting. You will find opinions on both sides. I am not going to say the non O ring guys are wrong. I just went O ring myself on the recommendation of my Honda dealer. I did not buy it from him.

He remembers taking the K0's out of the crates. He just went over a KO for a deep pocket client who just bought it for his collection. He had it for a Month, "I said wow it needed a lot of work". He said "nope had it done in a week, I rode it for 3 weeks, I forgot how good they were."   

[HondaMan]

Hmmm, thats what Im concerned about. I have a "stretched" standard RK chain that was on the bike. Probably gonna run that for 400-500 miles. Leaning towards getting Sunstars over JTs.

Found this website: OEMcycle.com, great deals.

Sunstars and JTs appear identical in your hand, except some JTs have lightening holes (or maybe it's the other way 'round?). The only other ones out there right now are the EMGO. All of them are Chinese. The gritty surface WILL ruin your new chain quick, so run the old one for a few hundred miles until the base of the teeth are shiny, then install the new chain.

[bollingball]

Hmmm, thats what Im concerned about. I have a "stretched" standard RK chain that was on the bike. Probably gonna run that for 400-500 miles. Leaning towards getting Sunstars over JTs.

Found this website: OEMcycle.com, great deals.

Sunstars and JTs appear identical in your hand, except some JTs have lightening holes (or maybe it's the other way 'round?). The only other ones out there right now are the EMGO. All of them are Chinese. The gritty surface WILL ruin your new chain quick, so run the old one for a few hundred miles until the base of the teeth are shiny, then install the new chain.

Thanks HM Glad I kept the old one and it took me to long to put it all back together. This is my first o-ring I got a new one just because the old one was so stiff but look good. The new one is just as stiff Them o-rings do tighten it up compared to what I am used to.
Ken

[HondaMan]

Hmmm, thats what Im concerned about. I have a "stretched" standard RK chain that was on the bike. Probably gonna run that for 400-500 miles. Leaning towards getting Sunstars over JTs.

Found this website: OEMcycle.com, great deals.

Sunstars and JTs appear identical in your hand, except some JTs have lightening holes (or maybe it's the other way 'round?). The only other ones out there right now are the EMGO. All of them are Chinese. The gritty surface WILL ruin your new chain quick, so run the old one for a few hundred miles until the base of the teeth are shiny, then install the new chain.

Thanks HM Glad I kept the old one and it took me to long to put it all back together. This is my first o-ring I got a new one just because the old one was so stiff but look good. The new one is just as stiff Them o-rings do tighten it up compared to what I am used to.
Ken

Yeah, even when those O-ring or X-ring chains have 5000 miles on them, you cannot spin the rear wheel when the bike is on the centerstand. Try as you might, a good hard spin makes about 1-2 turns, tops. With my Diamond Powersport, it spins up to 9 full turns with a single push.

[bollingball]

Hmmm, thats what Im concerned about. I have a "stretched" standard RK chain that was on the bike. Probably gonna run that for 400-500 miles. Leaning towards getting Sunstars over JTs.

Found this website: OEMcycle.com, great deals.

Sunstars and JTs appear identical in your hand, except some JTs have lightening holes (or maybe it's the other way 'round?). The only other ones out there right now are the EMGO. All of them are Chinese. The gritty surface WILL ruin your new chain quick, so run the old one for a few hundred miles until the base of the teeth are shiny, then install the new chain.

Thanks HM Glad I kept the old one and it took me to long to put it all back together. This is my first o-ring I got a new one just because the old one was so stiff but look good. The new one is just as stiff Them o-rings do tighten it up compared to what I am used to.
Ken

Yeah, even when those O-ring or X-ring chains have 5000 miles on them, you cannot spin the rear wheel when the bike is on the centerstand. Try as you might, a good hard spin makes about 1-2 turns, tops. With my Diamond Powersport, it spins up to 9 full turns with a single push.

I am thinking I will put it up for sale along with the two new sprockets. Then go with a good regular 530. I never liked the feel of it the first time out of the box. By the way it is a 630.
Ken

[MRieck]

Hmmm, thats what Im concerned about. I have a "stretched" standard RK chain that was on the bike. Probably gonna run that for 400-500 miles. Leaning towards getting Sunstars over JTs.

Found this website: OEMcycle.com, great deals.

Sunstars and JTs appear identical in your hand, except some JTs have lightening holes (or maybe it's the other way 'round?). The only other ones out there right now are the EMGO. All of them are Chinese. The gritty surface WILL ruin your new chain quick, so run the old one for a few hundred miles until the base of the teeth are shiny, then install the new chain.

Thanks HM Glad I kept the old one and it took me to long to put it all back together. This is my first o-ring I got a new one just because the old one was so stiff but look good. The new one is just as stiff Them o-rings do tighten it up compared to what I am used to.
Ken

Yeah, even when those O-ring or X-ring chains have 5000 miles on them, you cannot spin the rear wheel when the bike is on the centerstand. Try as you might, a good hard spin makes about 1-2 turns, tops. With my Diamond Powersport, it spins up to 9 full turns with a single push.

My FJ, RC51 and Busa spin more than 1 or 2 times.....and that is with heavier rear wheel assemblies and rear rotors which drag more than an old drum. 2 have DID and one RK...all o ring chains. If you are only getting 1 or 2 rotations I'd look at brake drag, bearings and chain alignment/tension/lubrication. I think those points are far more important than the finish or type of chain

[MRieck]

Hmmm, thats what Im concerned about. I have a "stretched" standard RK chain that was on the bike. Probably gonna run that for 400-500 miles. Leaning towards getting Sunstars over JTs.

Found this website: OEMcycle.com, great deals.

Sunstars and JTs appear identical in your hand, except some JTs have lightening holes (or maybe it's the other way 'round?). The only other ones out there right now are the EMGO. All of them are Chinese. The gritty surface WILL ruin your new chain quick, so run the old one for a few hundred miles until the base of the teeth are shiny, then install the new chain.

Thanks HM Glad I kept the old one and it took me to long to put it all back together. This is my first o-ring I got a new one just because the old one was so stiff but look good. The new one is just as stiff Them o-rings do tighten it up compared to what I am used to.
Ken

Yeah, even when those O-ring or X-ring chains have 5000 miles on them, you cannot spin the rear wheel when the bike is on the centerstand. Try as you might, a good hard spin makes about 1-2 turns, tops. With my Diamond Powersport, it spins up to 9 full turns with a single push.

I am thinking I will put it up for sale along with the two new sprockets. Then go with a good regular 530. I never liked the feel of it the first time out of the box. By the way it is a 630.
Ken

There's a problem right there

[BobbyR]

+1

[VTCBike750]

Just an FYI. I emailed Sunstar:

"I am looking at purchasing Sunstar Sprockets. I have never used your sprockets before. Jt and Parts Unlimited has also come up. From what Ive heard, JT is now fabricating EMGO sprockets, and their sprocket surface resembles fine sandpaper. It has been recommended that an old chain should be used for the first 400-500 miles to smooth out the sprocket's surface.
I was wondering if Sunstar recommends this or has heard of such a sprocket break in period?
This is for a 72 Honda CB750 with a 17 f and 48 r sprocket with a RK 530XSOZ1 chain."


I got a reply from Mike Ivers at Sunstar:

"Adam,
I’ve been here 8+ yrs now and I’ve never of that.  We always recommend that all drive components are replaced together so everything is new / fresh from the start for best life."

I still think Im gonna run an old chain for a few hundred miles.

[HondaMan]

Just an FYI. I emailed Sunstar:

"I am looking at purchasing Sunstar Sprockets. I have never used your sprockets before. Jt and Parts Unlimited has also come up. From what Ive heard, JT is now fabricating EMGO sprockets, and their sprocket surface resembles fine sandpaper. It has been recommended that an old chain should be used for the first 400-500 miles to smooth out the sprocket's surface.
I was wondering if Sunstar recommends this or has heard of such a sprocket break in period?
This is for a 72 Honda CB750 with a 17 f and 48 r sprocket with a RK 530XSOZ1 chain."


I got a reply from Mike Ivers at Sunstar:

"Adam,
I’ve been here 8+ yrs now and I’ve never of that.  We always recommend that all drive components are replaced together so everything is new / fresh from the start for best life."

I still think Im gonna run an old chain for a few hundred miles.

Yep.
And Benjie says his parts are drop-on fits.