Topic: Mable's Down (a rider again)

[Desert-SOHC]

A little over 7,000 miles since being put back on the rode so far, and I'm on my way home from the shop yesterday and I start to notice a ticking coming from the lower left.  I narrow it down to the counter shaft area and pull over to see what I can see.  My chain has worn through the sprocket cover and the noise is the master link nicking the cover as it goes by.  What the heck!! I limp home at 40mph and parked her.  I will get her up and apart tomorrow morning and see what happened....

[RAFster122s]

Sorry to hear!
Std chain?
Retainer for sprocket backed out?

[WhyNot2]

Sounds terrible.....any pics?

[Desert-SOHC]

I got a handle on it this morning, the chain is trashed along with the sprockets now.  The master link appears to have failed which caused the initial problem leading to the noise, damage, and would have been a failure.  I caught it before it threw the chain, but just barely.  I didnt replace the sprockets when I did the new chain and I knew it would wear the chain out early, so its on me   .  New chain and sprocket kit is ordered and she should be back up by next week.

[RAFster122s]

Ouch!
glad you caught it before total catastophic failure.  At least it is fixable and you did not have a wreck/spill as a result.

David

[BomberMann650]

Wow that thing really went to work on that cover!

[MoMo]

pretty sure I have a spare cover if you need one.  As David(raf) said you could have had a terrible spill when the rear wheel locked up

[Desert-SOHC]

Yeah, it looked pretty sketchy this morning, but I think it would have just dropped the chain on the street rather than lock the rear wheel up.  I'm going with a 530 conversion this time with steel sprockets and am regearing it so that 5th is like an overdrive.  I do alot of highway and I want better than 36mpg.

[seanbarney41]

If you are only getting 36mpg, you got something else other than sprockets wrong

[754]

First time I have seen that..

[Desert-SOHC]

If you are only getting 36mpg, you got something else other than sprockets wrong

She spends most of her life around 6K, and at that rpm thats all she gets.  I have gotten 48ish mpg, but to get that I have to stay around 4500rpm and that gets you run over around here.  The gearing change will get me in that rpm at the speeds I  have to travel.

[seanbarney41]

If you are only getting 36mpg, you got something else other than sprockets wrong

She spends most of her life around 6K, and at that rpm thats all she gets.  I have gotten 48ish mpg, but to get that I have to stay around 4500rpm and that gets you run over around here.  The gearing change will get me in that rpm at the speeds I  have to travel.

you are going to lose a lot of acceleration making that sprocket change and will gain little if any mpg's as you will have to use more throttle.  You should get 42-45 mpg riding at 80mph/approx. 6000 rpm with  17/48 tooth combo or 18/48 and an 18" rear wheel.

[WhyNot2]

WOW....glad you caught that b4 anything worse happened.

I had one come off just on take off, so wasn't going to fast, and no damage.....fortunately.

[754]

It appears that the sideplate must have been partway off but still holding ?
One would think once clip was gone, it would come off easilly if it started hitting anything..

[Desert-SOHC]

I would suspect that the Master Link was installed incorrectly for it to have failed that quickly. Was it a riveted type or "open ended"? If open type, make sure the gap is oriented to the rear tire while the link is on the top of the sprocket. It also could have been an issue of too much slack in your chain allowing the chain to slap across the front sprocket. Make sure you check/adjust your new chain within the first few hundred miles of being newly installed.

Things to double-check...

Thanks Calj, it was a clip master link and was installed correctly.  I tend to think it was caused by a to loose chain myself, I've been meaning to get to adjusting it for awhile now and it just didnt get done.  I usually buy a riveted chain but was on a tight budget then and bought the cheapest chain I could find with the thought of changing it soon...that was a year and a half ago....lol.

[Desert-SOHC]

If you are only getting 36mpg, you got something else other than sprockets wrong

She spends most of her life around 6K, and at that rpm thats all she gets.  I have gotten 48ish mpg, but to get that I have to stay around 4500rpm and that gets you run over around here.  The gearing change will get me in that rpm at the speeds I  have to travel.

you are going to lose a lot of acceleration making that sprocket change and will gain little if any mpg's as you will have to use more throttle.  You should get 42-45 mpg riding at 80mph/approx. 6000 rpm with  17/48 tooth combo or 18/48 and an 18" rear wheel.

Being a 78 it has a 15/41 with a 630 chain and a 17" rear wheel and 6K on it is almost 90mph.  80-85 is the norm on the highway around here and I could probably get into that mpg if I babied her a little more during acceleration, but thats most likely not going to happen...

[Desert-SOHC]

It appears that the sideplate must have been partway off but still holding ?
One would think once clip was gone, it would come off easilly if it started hitting anything..

I think the "clip" broke or came off as I got to the shop or shortly after leaving to go home.  I do a dust wipe down at the shop every day and I would have noticed the damage to the cover then.  At that point I think the sideplate started to come off killing the cover and causing the noise. 

Either way the parts are ordered and should be here by next Wednesday.  Till then I'm driving the Scout.

[przjohn]

I would recommend to anyone that is doing any chain or sprocket replacements to do everything at once. And, pry open the purse, let the Moths loose, buy a good chain tool kit, Motion Pro has one for a fair price. I have to laugh when I hear these guys asking for a "Chain Length" for their bike. WTF, If you don't have the basic knowledge, tools, or mechanical ability to properly measure, cut, and  install a chain and sprockets, GO TO A SHOP!!!!! You are riding Vintage Bikes for crying out loud. Go buy a Harley or a Beemer if you want Gravy. Get some basic tools, follow the prescribed guidelines in The Owner's Manual and you'll be fine. This isn't Rocket Science folks. You cut the chain, and then rivet it back together, or, install a Mater Link properly. If that is out of your realm of capabilities  than have a pro do it. Seriously, to quote the great Dirt Bike Magazine Editor Mr. Know It All, "You Should Have Known"

[Desert-SOHC]

Thanks mom.   

[przjohn]

Thanks mom.   

Eat your peas!

[BomberMann650]

Thanks mom.   

Eat your peas!

I don't wanna!

[754]

I would recommend to anyone that is doing any chain or sprocket replacements to do everything at once. And, pry open the purse, let the Moths loose, buy a good chain tool kit, Motion Pro has one for a fair price. I have to laugh when I hear these guys asking for a "Chain Length" for their bike. WTF, If you don't have the basic knowledge, tools, or mechanical ability to properly measure, cut, and  install a chain and sprockets, GO TO A SHOP!!!!! You are riding Vintage Bikes for crying out loud. Go buy a Harley or a Beemer if you want Gravy. Get some basic tools, follow the prescribed guidelines in The Owner's Manual and you'll be fine. This isn't Rocket Science folks. You cut the chain, and then rivet it back together, or, install a Mater Link properly. If that is out of your realm of capabilities  than have a pro do it. Seriously, to quote the great Dirt Bike Magazine Editor Mr. Know It All, "You Should Have Known"

 Some days I think people have trouble counting to 50 or 52...

[TomsK8resto]

Chuck,

Sorry to hear about your chain woes.  The fairing is all packed up and I hope to get it shipped tomorrow.

Tom

[Airborne 82nd]

I would recommend to anyone that is doing any chain or sprocket replacements to do everything at once. And, pry open the purse, let the Moths loose, buy a good chain tool kit, Motion Pro has one for a fair price. I have to laugh when I hear these guys asking for a "Chain Length" for their bike. WTF, If you don't have the basic knowledge, tools, or mechanical ability to properly measure, cut, and  install a chain and sprockets, GO TO A SHOP!!!!! You are riding Vintage Bikes for crying out loud. Go buy a Harley or a Beemer if you want Gravy. Get some basic tools, follow the prescribed guidelines in The Owner's Manual and you'll be fine. This isn't Rocket Science folks. You cut the chain, and then rivet it back together, or, install a Mater Link properly. If that is out of your realm of capabilities  than have a pro do it. Seriously, to quote the great Dirt Bike Magazine Editor Mr. Know It All, "You Should Have Known"

Glad you brought that up I like to get a good laugh. Now at  Desert-SOHC what sprockets size and chain length did you go with on the 530 conversion? I'm ready to get rid of my 630. I don't mind extra links on the chain better to long than to short Thanks in advance.

[Desert-SOHC]

Chuck,

Sorry to hear about your chain woes.  The fairing is all packed up and I hope to get it shipped tomorrow.

Tom

Parts should be here Tuesday....

[Vin750]

I would recommend to anyone that is doing any chain or sprocket replacements to do everything at once. And, pry open the purse, let the Moths loose, buy a good chain tool kit, Motion Pro has one for a fair price. I have to laugh when I hear these guys asking for a "Chain Length" for their bike. WTF, If you don't have the basic knowledge, tools, or mechanical ability to properly measure, cut, and  install a chain and sprockets, GO TO A SHOP!!!!! You are riding Vintage Bikes for crying out loud. Go buy a Harley or a Beemer if you want Gravy. Get some basic tools, follow the prescribed guidelines in The Owner's Manual and you'll be fine. This isn't Rocket Science folks. You cut the chain, and then rivet it back together, or, install a Mater Link properly. If that is out of your realm of capabilities  than have a pro do it. Seriously, to quote the great Dirt Bike Magazine Editor Mr. Know It All, "You Should Have Known"

Glad you brought that up I like to get a good laugh. Now at  Desert-SOHC what sprockets size and chain length did you go with on the 530 conversion? I'm ready to get rid of my 630. I don't mind extra links on the chain better to long than to short Thanks in advance.

Excuse my ignorance on the topic but isn't the 630 chain a better and stronger chain? Why go back to 530?

And what brand of chain and sprockets do you guys use?


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[flybox1]

Chains are stronger, lighter, and mechanically more efficient than 40 years ago.  No need for such a heavy chain.

[Desert-SOHC]

Glad you brought that up I like to get a good laugh. Now at  Desert-SOHC what sprockets size and chain length did you go with on the 530 conversion? I'm ready to get rid of my 630. I don't mind extra links on the chain better to long than to short Thanks in advance.

Excuse my ignorance on the topic but isn't the 630 chain a better and stronger chain? Why go back to 530?

And what brand of chain and sprockets do you guys use?

Sorry missed that quote....flybox is correct the 630 chains of yesteryear are not as strong as the 530 chains that are available today.  The ONLY reason I went with a 630 when I brought her back was that the sprockets weren't in that bad of shape to start with and to save a little cash at the time.

I bought a JT 530 conversion kit with steel sprockets in 18/38 and a 530 X chain with a riveted master link.

[Desert-SOHC]

I got the parts in day before yesterday and got the sprockets changed and the chain feed to find a riveted masterlink.  I didnt have a tool so I bought the HF one for $15.00 since my local shop was out of stock on them.  I can say that the HF tool works pretty good once you figure out how it works and what needs to be swapped around to get it to do what you need to, but it does everything.  I had to drop 1 link from the 110 link chain for the 18/38 setup, the wheel was just to far back for my tastes.  I still need a counter cover but mine will work for now.  I went out for a short test ride and I LOVE the new gearing...it now lumbers along at 85 mph at 4,500 rpms.

 

[Airborne 82nd]

I got the parts in day before yesterday and got the sprockets changed and the chain feed to find a riveted masterlink.  I didnt have a tool so I bought the HF one for $15.00 since my local shop was out of stock on them.  I can say that the HF tool works pretty good once you figure out how it works and what needs to be swapped around to get it to do what you need to, but it does everything.  I had to drop 1 link from the 110 link chain for the 18/38 setup, the wheel was just to far back for my tastes.  I still need a counter cover but mine will work for now.  I went out for a short test ride and I LOVE the new gearing...it now lumbers along at 85 mph at 4,500 rpms.

 

Thanks just what I needed.

[Desert-SOHC]

The "stretch" on initial break in of the 530 chain was alot...1 full turn on the adjuster bolts to take the slack back to spec.  I've never had that much stretch with a 630, hopefully it wont continue.

[robvangulik]

.it now lumbers along at 85 mph at 4,500 rpms.

 

So she's now geared for 170 mph at 9000 rpm?
Isn't that a bit very VERY tall? What do you get max in top gear now? Can you even get over 6000 rpm? My '87 CBR1000f is geared for 160 miles at 10k rpm!

[Desert-SOHC]

You sure your axle is snugged up? 1 full turn does seem a lot.

Axle was tight, maybe that was the first stretch on the chain.  Or maybe I need a stronger chain, it's a 530 X-ring with 9,700lbs tensile strength.

[Desert-SOHC]

So she's now geared for 170 mph at 9000 rpm?
Isn't that a bit very VERY tall? What do you get max in top gear now? Can you even get over 6000 rpm? My '87 CBR1000f is geared for 160 miles at 10k rpm!

I've already had her to 100+ with that gearing and still had throttle left and thats good enough for me.  I may drop to a 17 counter in the future.  My main goal was to get into the 4,000-4,800 rpm range on the highway and around here highway speeds are 80+ in the slow lane.

[Desert-SOHC]

Just got back from a little jaunt and rung her out on the street and highway and the adjustment on my chain hasn't changed, so I'd say that its good to go.  On the gearing I tested the highway in 4th and 3rd and if you need motivation a downshift or 2 will make her jump and throw her well above the ton if asked.  5th has now become overdrive, enough revs to keep the battery charged, and she's smooth a glass at 4200 rpm.