Topic: order new Diamond chain today

[dhall57]

Took HondaMan's advice and order a Diamond XMC-1548-M-102P #530 for my 76 CB750. Found out there is a local Kaman Supply dealer here in Greensboro NC. Larry the guy I talked to couldn't of been more helpful and nice. He said  it would be 3 to 5days from Diamond and be drop shipped to my home address. I will let you know when I get it. Can't wait!

[ekpent]

I forget how many links we need on the 750's,what did you get. Are you running a 17/48 or an 18/48 sprocket set-up ?

[dhall57]

Im running the factory set up 18/48 sprockets. My old chain is 100 links, but HondaMan said 102 links would line right up with the first marks on the swing arms. So Im going with his knowledge and wisdom

[Markcb750]

102 links worked perfect for me.

I bought the Nickle plated O ring.

Kaman was good to me also.

[dhall57]

Took HondaMan's advice and order a Diamond XMC-1548-M-102P #530 for my 76 CB750. Found out there is a local Kaman Supply dealer here in Greensboro NC. Larry the guy I talked to couldn't of been more helpful and nice. He said  it would be 3 to 5days from Diamond and be drop shipped to my home address. I will let you know when I get it. Can't wait!

Well I got my new diamond chain. Im just waiting on my JT sprockets 18/48 from Z1 enterprizes to arrive next week. Man I miss riding my K6

[754]

 Good luck with the nickle.. hope it lasts..


 Think I tried one once but did not get long life out of it.. looked good though...

[Markcb750]

Good luck with the nickle.. hope it lasts..


 Think I tried one once but did not get long life out of it.. looked good though...

It has 4000 miles and almost two years now, how long would you expect it to last? What was your failure mode?

[a700guy]

Tensile strength of the nickle chains is lower, I have also found they seem to gall and get kink/sticky links worse no matter how well I lube them, but they are pretty.

[mycb750k6]

I just gotta add I went 17/48 on my last K1 setup and was amazed at the increased 5th gear torque and power FWIW. It's like I no longer need to downshift in fifth. I'm definitely going to change the 18s to 17s when it's chain change time again on my other 18/48 setups.

[754]

On a good chain I would get 15K or better of combined, city &  touring riding.. that is with a lot of wheelies or laying rubber..

 I think on the nickle I got around half-life..

 The years, should not have any  effect, its the miles or hours that count..
 I got about  4500 miles on a 17 $ chain, but it just will not handle dumping the clutch without rapid wear.. I suspect the nickle run hard, will wear quite fast..

[dhall57]

I just gotta add I went 17/48 on my last K1 setup and was amazed at the increased 5th gear torque and power FWIW. It's like I no longer need to downshift in fifth. I'm definitely going to change the 18s to 17s when it's chain change time again on my other 18/48 setups.
[/quote
With my 18/48 factory setup when I running down the hwy at 70mph she's taching 5 grand. I know these 750's can run all day at that speed and rpm, but going to a 17 tooth frt sprocket wouldn't that increase my rpm to 6 grand or better at the same 70 mph? Is the little extra peppiness worth the increased rpm when out running down a long stretch of open hwy?

[mycb750k6]

"Is the little extra peppiness worth the increased rpm when out running down a long stretch of open hwy?"

Well it is to me    I guess that's why folks get big bore kits too.  I would defer back to the Hondaman book on the topic of 17/48 setups too plus other recent threads here as it is a personal preference. The 17/48 ratio is almost exactly the same as the original 16/45 setup of the K0s FWIW back when chain breaking was all the rage.

[754]

RPM drop should be around 6 or 7 %, ie 350 or 400..

 Depends on where you live/how you ride.. mostly..

 You wont like my favorite 17/54.. if you dont like higher revs...

 Note.. (re last post).not only chainbreaking, but better acceleration!

[dhall57]

In your opinion should I put a 17 in place of the 18

[754]

If you want better off the line acelleration, better passing power, use a 17.


 If you will worry about a 400 more rpm on the hiway, or think it will hurt engine life dont.

 Use of a 17 is preffered by a lot of riders.. depends on riding style, weight/needs/wants..etc..etc..etc..
 

[Markcb750]

Tensile strength of the nickle chains is lower, I have also found they seem to gall and get kink/sticky links worse no matter how well I lube them, but they are pretty.

I don't know what nickle chain you guys are buying, but I see nothing like that on the diamond chain I bought. Ant it is pretty.


I am running 17/48 JT sprockets.

I use very little lube because of the O-ring chain. but I do keep the chain clean.  Most chains fail prematurely because they are not kept clean.

Dirt between the leaves is only good in your compost pile.

[754]

I cant/wont comment re o-ring chains, never used one..
 If I go thru 3 tires to a chain, and get good life, I will stick to what I am used to.

 Check the tensile strength, Do you do a lot of clutch dumping on that nickle chain?

[mycb750k6]

I'll comment. I bought an O-ring chain because it was cheap, $39.00 on ebay. Hondman says they don't deliver the same HP to the rear wheel as the Diamonds so he's more than likely correct. My complaint is they are wide because of the two O-rings. I always have a lot of trouble getting my K1 plastic chain guard from rubbing and the O-ring chain makes it impossible for me.

[Markcb750]

I cant/wont comment re o-ring chains, never used one..
 If I go thru 3 tires to a chain, and get good life, I will stick to what I am used to.

 Check the tensile strength, Do you do a lot of clutch dumping on that nickle chain?

Have not done a lot of clutch dumping on anything since my '63 283 Chevy Bellair.  This action caused a lot of trouble with drive shafts and motors, but taught me a lot about rear end modification, piston and valve replacement, and how expensive High Performance pistons valves and springs are.  Eventually I learned how to launch without over-speeding the motor.  Had to sell the '63 my freshman year in college, my future brother in law had not listened to my stories, he promptly blew it up again, but lacked the skills/money to fix it.  Thanks for reminding me of the good old days.

My 500 Honda did not have a great clutch, so after replacing it twice the first 10K miles, I learned other ways to have fun.  Last clutch lasted to when I sold it at 32K...


Nickle plated chain has the same or higher tensile strength as non plated chain.

http://diamondchain.com/files/DC_cycle_chain.pdf

Again I wonder what failure mode you are seeing, under what conditions?

[Markcb750]

I'll comment. I bought an O-ring chain because it was cheap, $39.00 on ebay. Hondman says they don't deliver the same HP to the rear wheel as the Diamonds so he's more than likely correct. My complaint is they are wide because of the two O-rings. I always have a lot of trouble getting my K1 plastic chain guard from rubbing and the O-ring chain makes it impossible for me.

Do you have a 530 chain?

[mycb750k6]

Yes. And I'll switch back once the paint and other details are finished. Why do you ask?

[Markcb750]

Yes. And I'll switch back once the paint and other details are finished. Why do you ask?

I am wondering where the plastic chain guard is, that rubbing the chain?

My chain guard on the swing arm is metal, it was close to the chain because of the additional width, but after an initial alignment, I have had no other problem.

some have expressed concern about rubbing around the case under the front sprocket so I was cautious when I installed the chain & sprocket to insure I would not have any problem.  I just had the cover off to be chromed ( sin I know) and did not see any indication of rubbing. 

so I guess I am just trying to understand your issues so I can double check my K6

Thanks
Mark

[754]

Plastic chainuard$ are VERY pricey, and hard to find.. I think if it was wearing his steel one, he would not worry much..

 Forget about the clutch dumping, perhaps the wrong term...
What I meant was do you condtantly rev it out to redline, lay rubber , do wheelies.. in short.. run the sh!t outta it. that is the question.
 I believe when I ran nickle, it was kinking, not keeping lubed, wearing quicker,, that kinda thing.. it was DECADEs ago..

 If you dont run it real hard, you should get  really long chain life..

[Markcb750]

No I do not "run the #$%* out of it".

Like I said, I learned other ways to have fun. Although I remember how entertaining it was. 

[mycb750k6]

Ahhhh, let's see. I think the plastic chain guard rubs near the front. They often rub at the rear as well and since they are plastic(nylon), you can't bend them out of the way. There's one metal support near the rear but it doesn't do much to fix the front end. It seems each time I remove the rear wheel I have to fight with it again. And like I said, I've not got it to work with the O-ring chain.

I have three extra plastic chain guards for the 71 and they all rub somewhere. My guess is they worked fine on the original 16/45 setup. Every time I get a chance to get a plastic chain guard, I buy it. Bob at bob@oldschoolcaferacer.com told me he has three, two unopened new he'd sell me for 80 bucks but he's disappeared. Maybe if you bug him he'll sell them to you. Great source of salvage parts at good prices.

I also saw some front sprocket noise with the O-ring chain at first but it seems to have gone away. I'm keeping an eye on that. Anyway I'm going to dump the O-ring chain to get the chain guard on. And BTW, metal ones don't fit on a 71.