Topic: 550 Chain question--O ring vs. standard

[Mooshie]

I saw a thread from 2009 about chains so I am posting this to see what differences there are.
In that 2009 thread Two Tired said:
Either of the chains you listed will work, I guess.
As long as they are standard 530 width, you should have the needed clearance.

I haven't put oring chains on my 550s since that first try chewed on the cases.

Oring and Xring chains are wider, heavier, and use more power than standards.  Still need to do chain maintenance, just not as often.

So what I am wondering is standard or O ring? I know that the O rings are too wide and I do not want the trouble it can cause.  So do I need a "spacer" or offset sprocket to make an O ring work?  I have a standard on there now and am adjusting it all the time (the thing stretches like mad) but maybe that is just the way it works?  I had an O ring on there with no damage but...
Any help would be appreciated. 

[FunJimmy]

Lisa,

If memory serves me, a 530 o-ring chain measures .200" wider than the standard non o-ring chain. Only half of the additional width is on the inside (case) of the chain so your front sprocket would need to have a .100" offset to provide the correct amount of clearence required. To accommodate an o-ring chain, I had a new front sprocket machined to allow the use of a .100 spacer between the case and the sprocket. I think most commercially available offset sprockets have considerably more offset and that might cause chain alignment issues.

You might be better to contact Sprocket Specialties and see if they have a 520 conversion kit.

[FunJimmy]

Looks like Cycle-X might have 520 conversion kits.
Although it's not clear if that have 550 kits or just 750 stuff.

http://www.cyclexchange.net/Chain%20Sprocket%20Page.htm

If not, these guys do.

http://www.moto-madness.com/cafe-racer-caferacer-350-CB450-CB550-CB750-520-sprocket-chain-kit-honda-ahmra.html

[Mooshie]

Thank you Jimmy. 

[scottly]

Lisa, do you know what brand the stretchy chain is?

[Grinnin]

Oring and Xring chains are wider, heavier, and use more power than standards.

The standards for chain size specify the INSIDE widths along with pitch and roller diameter.  Each chain manufacturer can make their chain OUTSIDE widths different for different strengths or features (rings).
It's tempting to choose a chain that's stronger to reduce trouble.  But those chains may well be wider.  Chains for 200 HP bikes will probably (but not necessarily) be wider than chains for "medium duty".  While I like my SOHC, it just doesn't have as much power as any medium-displacement bike today.  And chains have been strengthened a lot in the past 40 years.

I don't have a 550 and I don't say an o-ring chain will fit.  I just want to point out that the outside width varies.

[evanphi]

Personally I would just buy a better standard chain, rather than buying new sprockets etc. just to accommodate orings, especially if they aren't worn.

Diamond (brand) Powersport chain is what I'm getting when I replace mine (as rec by HondaMan). It is what Harley uses on their final drives.

[flatlander]

i agree, it's more economical to use regular, non-offset sprockets with a standard 530 chain and the better ones these days should not stretch excessively. the 50hp these bikes are supposed to have are not much compared to today's standards.

a while ago i measured some 530 o-ring chain against a standard tsubaki 530 delta series. the o-ring was almost 2mm wider at the rivets.

but indeed, it's all relative and different 530 chains have different outside width. so as long as we don't know the max outside width that you can use on a 550 and select chains based on that rather than x- o- or no-ring, it's all a bit of loose theory. until then the no-ring standard chain is the safest bet.

[FunJimmy]

Diamond (brand) Powersport chain is what I'm getting when I replace mine (as rec by HondaMan). It is what Harley uses on their final drives.

You mean Diamond chains are actually belts?
How does that work?

[evanphi]

Diamond (brand) Powersport chain is what I'm getting when I replace mine (as rec by HondaMan). It is what Harley uses on their final drives.

You mean Diamond chains are actually belts?
How does that work?

Har har. They use(d) them on their bikes with chain drives.

[FunJimmy]

Personally I would just buy a better standard chain, rather than buying new sprockets etc. just to accommodate orings, especially if they aren't worn.

You can't install a new chain and reuse sprockets if the previous chain has stretched. Worn sprockets will greatly reduce the service life of a new chain.

[70CB750]

With the miles you put on Dash, I would definitely make O-ring chain work.

[Mooshie]

I don't know the manufacturer of my chain (have to ask my mechanic--I don't mess with tires, brakes or chains ha ha).  But maybe a bungee cord company just breaking into the chain business?
So for those who use a standard chain what would be the recommended one?  the bestest of the best?
I may very well go with the offset sprocket and O ring when I change out this chain.  But it only has about 4,000 miles on it thus far and I still have lots of adjustment room so just looking into options.  thank you gentleman...

[evanphi]

I don't know the manufacturer of my chain (have to ask my mechanic--I don't mess with tires, brakes or chains ha ha).  But maybe a bungee cord company just breaking into the chain business?
So for those who use a standard chain what would be the recommended one?  the bestest of the best?
I may very well go with the offset sprocket and O ring when I change out this chain.  But it only has about 4,000 miles on it thus far and I still have lots of adjustment room so just looking into options.  thank you gentleman...

HondaMan recommends Diamond chains, specifically the Powersport (formerly XDL) model.

[fortworthx]

HondaMan recommends Diamond chains, specifically the Powersport (formerly XDL) model.

Does the Diamond Powersports chain come with a connector link?  I would really prefer to have a rivet connector link but I'm not even certain if Diamond offers one.

[oldhatt45]

Mooshie,

Just for reference, my last chain was a Diamond (in 1978) I put approximately 12650 miles on it over about 8 - 9 years.
Always kept it lubed.  Also had new sprockets on it when I put the chain on. 

I have just put on a new Diamond Powersport (XDL) 530 chain on.  Again, new sprockets.
Even though I put on the JT Sprockets, I reading Edward Morris build thread, I probably should have gone with the Sunstar sprockets the same as Edward.

Problem is that the sprockets these days have a Gritty feel to the teeth where the chain rides on them.  The old sprockets I believe did not have that grit.  The grit wears off the sprockets and guess where it goes?  Into the chain would be a good guess. 

So, I tried something in hopes of reducing the wear that my new chain will subjected to.  I took a sanding disk on my Dremel and hit the sprockets to clean off some of the grit.  Don't know if this will help, but intuitively, the less grit on the sprockets, the less it will wear on the chain.  If you want to see what I did, take a look at http://forums.sohc4.net/index.php?topic=138617.125 About half way down the page there are a few pictures and a video of the sprocket sanding.

Hope this helps,

Charlie

[DH]

Oring and Xring chains are wider, heavier, and use more power than standards.

The standards for chain size specify the INSIDE widths along with pitch and roller diameter.  Each chain manufacturer can make their chain OUTSIDE widths different for different strengths or features (rings).
It's tempting to choose a chain that's stronger to reduce trouble.  But those chains may well be wider.  Chains for 200 HP bikes will probably (but not necessarily) be wider than chains for "medium duty".  While I like my SOHC, it just doesn't have as much power as any medium-displacement bike today.  And chains have been strengthened a lot in the past 40 years.

I don't have a 550 and I don't say an o-ring chain will fit.  I just want to point out that the outside width varies.

I went thru this (hard lesson) with these results. Each manufacturer can have different widths. I have a brand new x ring that won't fit FWIW