Topic: Various oddities

[78whiteorbs]

BTW there was no "master link on the purple runner. It was an endless chain. The parts bike had a master link though.
I talked to my local Honda parts man and asked about the o-ring chain versus the non on my bike. He said it would be fine. I am leary as I don't want anything chewed up but this man  was a pro and not trying to BS  me into getting an o-ring chain.

I have read of many 550 owners with o-ring chains in my searching and reading. Does anyone have anything to say pro or con?

[TwoTired]

I told you on the first reply in this thread to avoid an o ring chain.  It's too wide and rashes up the casework, if using the stock sprockets.  You'll have to mill and shim the front sprocket  for offset to get it to clear.

Good luck!

[78whiteorbs]

You did indeed , I let that slip . Well , could you tell me were one might find a chain with a msaster link that is new?

Thanks for  helping , need to clean some wax outta my ears I guess...

[78whiteorbs]

I think I got it reversed in my head( reoccuring theme in my life) and shopping on ebay found  front  and rear sprocket with  o-ring chain at a great price. There are a ton of these listings and  none of the right ones(non o-ring).
Found some NOS chains guess I could cut one and buy a master link seperate. Any other places that  anyone knows of that  have this > forgive my newbiness   

[TwoTired]

I got my chains from Honda before they closed up shop.  Now I get chains from my local motorcycle shop, South Bay Cycles, in Milpitas, Ca. 408-263-2475.
I just called him, about $40.  In stock.

Cheers,

[78whiteorbs]

Could I use any 530 chain and just remove the amount of links I need to and use a masterlink? Is 530 refer to the width?


    What does rk stand for?  Seems like





i can find one of these chains in Charlotte,NC somewhere.

[pdxPope]

Could I use any 530 chain and just remove the amount of links I need to and use a masterlink?

Absolutely!
That pretty much the standard approach. Just remember to measure twice and cut once! 

-JP

[TwoTired]

Could I use any 530 chain and just remove the amount of links I need to and use a masterlink? Is 530 refer to the width?


    What does rk stand for?

The first number is the chain pitch or amount of eights in the pin to pin center distance of the links.  A 530 is a 5/8 inch pitch chain.

The second two numbers show the width of the roller section of the chain in eighth's of an inch with an assumed decimal point between the numbers... So 630 chain is 3/8" wide and 525 chain is 5/16" wide (2.5 eighths)...

520 5/8 inch pitch, 1/4 inch wide...
525 5/8 inch pitch, 5/16 inch wide...
530 5/8 inch pitch, 3/8 inch wide...

The zero at the end actually designates a standard chain.  A light duty chain would end in a one.
If the side plates are heavy duty the number will end in an "H".

Rk is a brand designator.    DID is also.  And, Tsubaki yet another.  There are many brands.

I've frequently purchased a longer chain and removed the un-needed links.  Grind off the end of the desired pin and punch the pin out the other side.  I vise is handy for this operation.  Or, you could buy a chain breaker tool.  I don't have one, though.

Cheers,

[78whiteorbs]

Very thorough explaination twotired. That is exactly what I wanted to know.

gracias amigo

[bradweingartner]

The axle nut can be on either side without issue.

However if the wheel moved then that axle nut is not tight. It needs to be. Somebody may have tightned it and then backed off too much to get the cotter pin through. That's my guess. A little riding later and it worked the clearances down enough to make it loose. That will make things pretty squirly.

[754]

3 things,
You are clearly not grasping the fact that the chain must be adjusted at the TIGHTEST point, that will give a lot of slack in other positions on a badly worn chain. Yours is VERY BADLY WORN.

Yes any 530 chain will fit but it has to be motorcycle chain to perform the task, industrial, no matter how great they tell you it is will wear out quickly.

Your axle nut can go on either side, BUT if you are missing an internal spacer or washer or have a longer axle, it may appear to tighten but be bottoming on the threads..this may be happening on yours.

nobody seems to have mentioned fork oil, yoo light an oil can give a scary ride, much like some of the other things that can be wrong.

[78whiteorbs]

I have accessed that it was a very badly worn/stretched chain. I compared to one that was on another bike and it was way longer  about 2 inches in fact. The play in the rear wheel was due to the fact that the adjusters were "maxed out " and one was not in synch with the other. 

I believe that when I put the new chain and sprockets on when they come in that the wheel will be proper and not have any play whatsoever.    All the spacers , washer, pins where there and tight . It was a chain issue.

It is nice to have a spare parts bike to take apart when need be and not have to worry about damaging anything. it is a great learning tool.

The motor is stuck in my parts bike . Was thinking about some of that mystery oil I have heard so much about. Then I can take alook see how the inside of my motor looks. How difficult is it to rebuild  one of these 55o's I was thinking about getting it bored up to the next size, what is it 600 something. Then make a project bike outta it. way down the road of course but how many frogskins you think I'd be looking at?