Topic: needed a chain in a hurry

[Bliss]

 :-\Did you ever have one of those days when you just had to ride!!!!
My 77 k7 needed a chain now so I went down to TSC-- tractor supply and bought a 530
drive chain and it works fine but how long will it last and what trouble can I expect??
(It was converted from 630 to 530 some time ago) An old honda chopper builder says this what he does all the time to save money, I'm not completely sold on the idea yet.
Any one have any expierence with this?

[TwoTired]

Chains can be made with different material/metal alloys which vary in strength and durability.  Usually, a good manufacturer will state the tensile strength and service limits of the chain.

When a tractor breaks/throws a chain, you have to buy a new chain.

When a 750 breaks/throws a chain, it puts a hole in the lower engine case.  This is why Honda converted to 630, because they didn't want to pull the engine out and replace engine cases under warranty.

Cheers,

[Deltarider]

Nowadays for strength none of the 750's need a 630 chain anymore. 530 chains are well capable to handle far higher loads than the SOHC cb 750 produces.

[TwoTired]

Nowadays for strength none of the 750's need a 630 chain anymore. 530 chains are well capable to handle far higher loads than the SOHC cb 750 produces.

Not all of them!

And just when was the chain at the tractor supply manufactured and by who?

530 chains intended for motorcycle use are probably fine.  But, I'd check the tensile strength rating if it came from China, Pakistan, or other places where "cheap" does not equal "inexpensive".

[Deltarider]

Ofcourse.

[Artfrombama]

How do I tell what chain my CB750K2 uses, 530 or 630?
Now it has a #50 industrial chain.
TIA!

[markjenn]

I bet your tractor supply chain is fine (a stock, good-tune CB750 today produces much less power than a typical beginner's bike), but I would want to know some of the specs on it.  You can tell a lot by the price - if it cost $20, I'd be worried.

It's probably a non-o-ring, so you do need to clean/lube it often and expect shorter life - perhaps 5K with normal every-few-hundred-mile attention, whereas a top-quality o-ring chain might go 20K with maintenance every 1K or so.  OTOH, non-o-ring chains are noticeably more efficient if (big IF) they're maintained well.

- Mark

[TwoTired]

How do I tell what chain my CB750K2 uses, 530 or 630?
Now it has a #50 industrial chain.
TIA!

The first number in the chain number is the number of 1/8 inches between pivot pins.  A 530 would have 5/8 inch spacing.  A 630 would have 6/8 inch spacing between roller centers.

Honda used 530 chains until the K7 or F2 model on the 750's, which used 630.

Cheers,

[bryanj]

Industrial chain NO GOOD, not designed for the snatch loading of motorcycles

[gregk]

I just went through this same problem.  Somehow I got a 50 grade chain on my 76 750F and put about 2000km on before realizing that it was the wrong chain.  I had to adjust the chain just about every day (as i was travelling ) and the chain always showed signs of fatigue.  i lubed and adjusted the chain until it was virtually falling of the back of the rear wheel sprocket.  By this time I was in Oregon and as luck would have it, I couldn't get a proper chain on the coast.  All the dealers seemed to be inland.  The dealers that I talked to either had a roller chain but the mechanic wasn't working that day and he had the breaker tool or they would have to order the chain.  I was able to finally get the chain at Honda World in Coos Bay, Oregon.  The parts manager (Garrel Potter) had a conventional chain and as soon as I stopped in the parking lot, he came out and helped me take the old chain off and measured the new one and cut it.  The whole operation took about half an hour with his help. 
I must admit I was very concerned about wrecking the crankcase with the old chain and was very carefull how I shifted and applied the throttle. 
The old chain which I purchased from a motorcycle shop was an RK 50 chain and the new chain is a DID 50 chain which the parts manager assured me was the correct chain. 
My advise to you is put the correct chain on the bike and be able to ride in peace.

Greg

[333]

My answer would be; not long if you didn't replace the sprockets.  In addition to the others answers, the sprockets should always be replaced at the same time as the chain.  As the chain wears(the holes in the inner link goes from round to oval, making it look like it "stretches", and indeed does get longer), the sprockets wear at the same rate.  A new chain will not fit the old sprockets, and will damage the chain.

[Raul CB750K1]

My answer would be; not long if you didn't replace the sprockets.  In addition to the others answers, the sprockets should always be replaced at the same time as the chain.  As the chain wears(the holes in the inner link goes from round to oval, making it look like it "stretches", and indeed does get longer), the sprockets wear at the same rate.  A new chain will not fit the old sprockets, and will damage the chain.

Didn't we talk about this a few weeks ago? 


Bryan, do you know first-hand somebody who has had trouble with industrial chains? Motorcycle couriers here always use industrial chain and I don't know about anyone having issues. Could it be that the "industrial chain not for motorcycles" is some more "conventional wisdom" or is there some truth on it?

[bryanj]

yes I do Raul---ME But admittedly it was years ago when we bought Reynolds chain by the 100ft box and were sold the wrong sort once, at least they gave us 2 boxes to replace it so we could placate irate customers

[Raul CB750K1]

yes I do Raul---ME

Enough said