Topic: 550 crankcase chainwear

[sololson]

Hello all, I need a little help on my 75 550k.  I just recently (@200 miles ago) replaced my shifter shaft seal thinking I had a leak there.  I also installed a new front and rear sprocket, and a new RK 530 RX-ring chain.  After riding the bike a found my rear tire still covered in oil.  I bought a new seal for my front chain sprocket shaft, but when I went to put it on today I noticed my new chain has been rubbing my transmission seal.  I looked through some old posts, and I think maybe my chain and sprocket are too big.  It doesn't look like the tranny seal is leaking yet, and I read you have to break the case open to replace it.  Should I be worried about it at this point, or just leave it alone and see what happens?  Also, do I need to switch to a 520 chain?  Does it matter O-ring or X-ring?  Will I ever have this bike on the road more than its in the garage?  (Dont answer that!)

[TwoTired]

Oring and Xring chains are too wide for the 550 without modification to the front sprocket (milling).  The damage you see is typical after misapplication of components.

If it is not leaking, replace the lost rubber with some gasket sealer.

Use a standard 530 chain NOT oring NOT xRing, and you should be ok.


Cheers,

[turin39789]

well crappers.  I think I knew this but forgot it.  I noticed on z1 that when I select a 550 it shows the x-ring chain and that's what I picked up.  Going to have to see if I can return it and get a standard.

[turin39789]

Oring and Xring chains are too wide for the 550 without modification to the front sprocket (milling).  The damage you see is typical after misapplication of components.

If it is not leaking, replace the lost rubber with some gasket sealer.

Use a standard 530 chain NOT oring NOT xRing, and you should be ok.


Cheers,

what brand do you use/where do you get it?  I was looking for an RK but can't find the standard anywhere.

[Spikeybike]

denniskirk.com has standard RK chains

[turin39789]

who'd in charge of the FAQ's?  This seems like an important detail to add to the chain/sprocket FAQ thread for new 550 owners

[sololson]

well crappers.  I think I knew this but forgot it.  I noticed on z1 that when I select a 550 it shows the x-ring chain and that's what I picked up.  Going to have to see if I can return it and get a standard.

I bought mine from Z1.  Front and rear sprockets and the chain.  I really wish I would have seen anything about this before I installed it.  I dont see any leakage yet, but I haven't run it since I found the problem.  Ill try the gasket sealer and see if it will work.  Thanks for the help.

[TwoTired]

I think I've only used DID chains my 550's.  I don't know if they are the best, but, they've worked well for me.  I've been using PJ1 Chain lube on them, Black Can.

Cheers,

[sololson]

Two Tired, thank you very much for the help.  Do you see any potential problems with the sprocket, or is it just the chain?

[TwoTired]

No, a 530 Sprocket is a 530 sprocket.
If you mill off about 1/8 inch from the outside face of the sprocket, you can gain clearance for an oring/xring chain.  This offsets the front sprocket away from the engine.  The amount offset should be half the difference in chain width between the standard 530 chain and the wider type selected.

I think I'd be more comfortable adding a spacer to the inside of the sprocket, the same thickness as what was milled off the outside.

Maybe I'll try this someday.

Cheers,

[TheFox]

I'm so thankful for the search feature on this forum. I was trying to sell my 550 for a while and one day someone came over to ride the bike and came back with the bike puking oil from what I can only assume was the transmission. I had an extremely sloppy chain on the bike and really shouldn't have been riding it. I thought the tranny grenaded. Now that I see this, I'm pretty sure I have the same problem. What exactly is the seal that was getting rubbed on your bike? Is it a part that I can install myself or should I just bend over for my mechanic and take one? Some help would really be appreciated because I'm getting really discouraged and I really don't want to get rid of the bike. Thanks.

Brad

Here's the girl BTW

[TwoTired]

Take off the left sprocket cover.
There is a shaft seal that gets eroded next to the sprocket if the chain is rubbing.
Pretty sure you have to split the cases to replace that seal with a new one.  However, an effective patch can be made with some JB weld after a good cleaning.

Leaks from the same area can be from the the neutral switch, the shifter shaft seal, and/or the oil pump itself.

Take a look, clean off the oil, and if it is not obvious where the oil is coming from (slow leaks), spray some foot powder where the suspected leak is.


Cheers,

 

[SteveD CB500F]

who'd in charge of the FAQ's? 

I am.

But I don't write them - I just collect and publish them!

If you or TT would like to write this up, I'll put it in the FAQs

Steve

[bryanj]

Last time i tried i found it very difficult to get that rubber plug and yea to fit it properly you do have to split the cases, i seem to remember a "peg" on the OD fitting into a hole,

Reason it leaks a lot is the 550 has a small pump to feed the gearbox with oil.

Clean up with some volatile solvent so its super oil free and clean and as suggested one of the epoxies will stop it until you really need to split the cases BUT find another one NOW