Topic: cam chain soft link

[scunny]

has anyone had experience of joining their hivo cam chain with a soft link. thoughts welcome.

[OldSchool_IsCool]

I hired the job out on my 550.  A local old timer here did the whole thing - broke the old chain, threaded the new, peened in the soft link - all for about $30.

[scunny]

cheers old school, I may go down this path instead of pulling the motor to bits.

[bryanj]

Dont think you can get a link for a Hy-Vo chain, only the standard roller type

[scunny]

that's what I thought Bryan but DSS lists them for the 650 ?

[scunny]

well, new cam chain and 2 soft links in hand, first problem has arisen. My thought was to experiment with an old chain first but bugger me days, the soft link pins are slighly larger than the old chain, so do I just cut the new chain to experiment, navel gazing again.

[scunny]

 

[OldSchool_IsCool]

Tough call, cuz if the soft link doesn't fit the new chain then your chain is no good until you can find the right soft link.

[scunny]

still thinking, at times like this a beer is needed. to keep me busy went and got a new rear tyre and tube for the XL250S. now for the beer.

[scunny]

could be back on track...cut the chain thats on the bike and the link pins are the same size as those on the new chain links so experiment can continue. 

[scunny]

ok I can enlighten the crowd. after hours of experimenting and navel gazing I decided to check a soft link on a spare chain. went on good and for the life of me it can't be pulled apart without the use of a dremel and chisel. so I have cut and joined my new chain, no sweat using vice grips and one of the old inner links as a compression aid. me happy