Topic: Chain suggestion?

[88BuckMeister]

I was just informed by the fine gentleman with whom I'm storing my CB550, that "hey by the way your chain is old and rusty, you should replace that too".

Do you all have any suggestions? Firstly, does the price difference in chains really make a difference? Or is anchain a chain? Having said that, if a chain is just a chain, then would getting an affordable chain off ebay be an ok choice? It's on a 75 CB550, rear sprocket is original, front sprocket is new 16 tooth. Thanks all

[grcamna2]

I've bought a few Diamond Powersports chains off Ebay and got a great deal on them from this one seller in OH. I prefer to buy the Made in USA Diamond Powersports chains;they have heat treated side links with a special bluing similar to pistols.

[88BuckMeister]

I've bought a few Diamond Powersports chains off Ebay and got a great deal on them from this one seller in OH. I prefer to buy the Made in USA Diamond Powersports chains;they have heat treated side links with a special bluing similar to pistols.

 That's really interesting, thank you so much for the advice!  Do you by chance have a link to this seller or anything question mark I did look on ebay as that's where I've been buying most of the parts for this bike but I'm having trouble finding diamond power spoit's chains

[grcamna2]

I've bought a few Diamond Powersports chains off Ebay and got a great deal on them from this one seller in OH. I prefer to buy the Made in USA Diamond Powersports chains;they have heat treated side links with a special bluing similar to pistols.

 That's really interesting, thank you so much for the advice!  Do you by chance have a link to this seller or anything question mark I did look on ebay as that's where I've been buying most of the parts for this bike but I'm having trouble finding diamond power spoit's chains

Sure,I don't do links too well yet but can provide you with the seller's name on Ebay: sto-00
They have the best deal. I would say to them that you prefer the Made in USA Diamond 530 chain.

[calj737]

If your chain is old and rusty, then replace your sprockets at the same time too. Best to do as a set and maintain the chain going forward to maximize its life and the sprockets.

Also, don’t shim your front sprocket as suggested in the other thread. It causes alignment issues on the chain, stress on the sprockets, and can create a failure in the retaining flange on the front sprocket.

[bryanj]

Any decent 530 hd chain is fine BUT NOT O RING TYPE.
16 tooth sprocket is too small 17 is standard

[Tracksnblades1]

RK (Takasago) chain was Honda OEM choice for their warranty…

RK and Regina chains are the two best chains available (imo). Both have the highest tensile strength…

In my experiences they are both pretty much indestructible in the dirt and on the road..

Knowingly a stock or mildly peppy CB SOHC of any size won’t tax a modern good chain very much.
Even paying full retail for the finest RK or Regina offerings won’t be near as expensive as the failure of a
 junk chain going through your cases….

Spend wisely in the right places…😁

I agree with Bryan J. The 16 tooth sprocket is a tight turn for a 5/8 chain…

Edit: Perhaps a 520 chain conversion would allow additional front sprocket area clearance. The 520 chains have similar tensile strength as 530s perhaps a little higher because of the narrower pin profile… However, I would be aware of the chain alignment. Because the front sprocket’s alignment is referenced from the shaft groove on the outside. While the rear sprocket’s alignment is referenced from the sprocket hub on the inside. So a shim equal to the rear sprockets thickness’s difference would have to be placed on the rear sprocket’s hub prior to using a rear 520 sprocket.  On the front I would thin a standard Honda sprocket from the back side to the 520 sprocket’s thickness on a lathe,  further increasing the clearance where you need it. While leaving the splined area of the front sprocket full 530 (stock chain) thickness to limit spline and shaft wear to OEM…

While using a 520 chain conversion may allow the clearance to use an x ring type oring chain, I don’t think the 550 will enjoy the  additional parasitic horsepower requirements of an oring chain..

[88BuckMeister]

But I guess what I'm asking is why is the 16 tooth too small? The teeth appear to be the same size. The sprocket itself is slightly smaller, but not by much. And I ask all this because I got the idea from multiple threads on the forum and nobody who did it mentioned needing a different chain. Maybe just adjust the back wheel? If it's gonna be this kind of hassle I'm going to install the stock chain and sprockets and deal with it later. I just thought the 16 tooth front sprocket mod was an R&R. Like I understand the gear ratios front to back conversion and all that, I'm just wondering if the chain will fit and roll properly on the front sprocket, then maybe I could just adjust the back wheel...or maybe that's a horrible idea and you all will save my engine from a catastrophic event

[HondaMan]

The 16T front sprocket on the 750 was a disaster because of its high-speed capability. That sprocket has maintained that reputation ever since. Honda went up to 17T and then 18T on the 750 to greatly reduce the wear on the chain, so the legend tends to follow that path.

That said: the real chain-killer on the 750 was: chain technology at the time of the bike's introduction. This part of the legend doesn't stay with the popular facts, though. When the chains got better, thanks to the ones Bill mentioned above (Diamond XD or XDL being the longest-lasting of that breed) and the RK copies of it, the 16T front sprocket wasn't then such a bike-killer. BUT...it will make for pretty high RPM when running at hiway speeds on a 550, for sure. This change was sometimes made for in-city bikes (like in Chicago, New York, St. Louis in my old stomping grounds) that never seemed to see the freeway, which tended to make them foul the sparkplugs. Lower front gearing was a 'quick-fix' and improved on the acceleration in those cases.

P.S.: the Diamond XDL is still the ONLY chain that I run on my own 750. I'm on the 3rd one, now, at [beyond] 151k miles. Nothing lasts like them.

[88BuckMeister]

The 16T front sprocket on the 750 was a disaster because of its high-speed capability. That sprocket has maintained that reputation ever since. Honda went up to 17T and then 18T on the 750 to greatly reduce the wear on the chain, so the legend tends to follow that path.

That said: the real chain-killer on the 750 was: chain technology at the time of the bike's introduction. This part of the legend doesn't stay with the popular facts, though. When the chains got better, thanks to the ones Bill mentioned above (Diamond XD or XDL being the longest-lasting of that breed) and the RK copies of it, the 16T front sprocket wasn't then such a bike-killer. BUT...it will make for pretty high RPM when running at hiway speeds on a 550, for sure. This change was sometimes made for in-city bikes (like in Chicago, New York, St. Louis in my old stomping grounds) that never seemed to see the freeway, which tended to make them foul the sparkplugs. Lower front gearing was a 'quick-fix' and improved on the acceleration in those cases.

P.S.: the Diamond XDL is still the ONLY chain that I run on my own 750. I'm on the 3rd one, now, at [beyond] 151k miles. Nothing last like them.

Ok you've convinced me. I purchased a new set including non o ring chain and new stock front and rear sprocket. I'll keep the 16 tooth in case I choose to do something with it in the future. Thank you and everyone for taking the time to help properly educate me on the subject. Sometimes R&R quick mods do more damage than good so it seems

[Tracksnblades1]

Just so you know.

The Diamond 530 XD/XDL chain (oil impregnated bushing) is only rated at 6,600 tensile strength.
Diamonds’ standard 5/8 chain (combine, hay baler chain) is rated at 6,000 tensile strength for comparison
of their $25.00 chain.. Everyone remembers what combine chains did to the 750’s cases in the 70s..***see link 1 & 2

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwjFmPWCkoeEAxUzvokEHRngC20QFnoECCoQAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.walmart.com%2Fip%2FDiamond-Rear-Chain-112-Links-530XDL-Self-Lube-6600-Average-Tensile-Strength%2F186085546&usg=AOvVaw1_e6mUt9WbQPPQoQgO4_so&opi=89978449

https://www.timken.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Diamond-Chain-Catalog.pdf

RK has an economy chain rated at 6,800 tensile strength but notice the max horsepower rating of only
30 horsepower. A 7,700 rated 530HD offering, but with a 40hp max. Didn’t the 550 have 50hp or more with a big bore..?
Looks like RK has a narrow 530 chain for vintage English and Honda motorcycles that had a chain rubbing issues, check out that tensile strength, 9,200+…..Bryan J has already posted that heavy duty chains rub on the same plug your’s shows signs of….see Link #3..that wheel has already rolled on previous 550 Sohc chain discussions..

https://rkexcelamerica.com/products/rk-chains/on-road/


RK and Regina has high end chains with near or 12,000 tensile strength for a comparison..
I believe, Brand New Hondas are still sporting their RK chains in the showrooms today…🤔

[Stev-o]

But I guess what I'm asking is why is the 16 tooth too small? The teeth appear to be the same size.

The teeth are the same size but the amount is different.

[grcamna2]

Just so you know.

The Diamond 530 XD/XDL chain (oil impregnated bushing) is only rated at 6,600 tensile strength.
Diamonds’ standard 5/8 chain (combine, hay baler chain) is rated at 6,000 tensile strength for comparison
of their $25.00 chain.. Everyone remembers what combine chains did to the 750’s cases in the 70s..***see link 1 & 2

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwjFmPWCkoeEAxUzvokEHRngC20QFnoECCoQAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.walmart.com%2Fip%2FDiamond-Rear-Chain-112-Links-530XDL-Self-Lube-6600-Average-Tensile-Strength%2F186085546&usg=AOvVaw1_e6mUt9WbQPPQoQgO4_so&opi=89978449

https://www.timken.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Diamond-Chain-Catalog.pdf

RK has an economy chain rated at 6,800 tensile strength but notice the max horsepower rating of only
30 horsepower. A 7,700 rated 530HD offering, but with a 40hp max. Didn’t the 550 have 50hp or more with a big bore..?
Looks like RK has a narrow 530 chain for vintage English and Honda motorcycles that had a chain rubbing issues, check out that tensile strength, 9,200+…..Bryan J has already posted that heavy duty chains rub on the same plug your’s shows signs of….see Link #3..that wheel has already rolled on previous 550 Sohc chain discussions..

https://rkexcelamerica.com/products/rk-chains/on-road/


RK and Regina has high end chains with near or 12,000 tensile strength for a comparison..
I believe, Brand New Hondas are still sporting their RK chains in the showrooms today…🤔

How much tensile strength is needed ?