Z1 Order...530 info

[Guest]

Just placed an order with Z1 and want to make sure it sounds right. I was on the phone with them for awhile so I think Im good.

Bike: 79 GS750

Ordered:
- 118 count 530 chain
- 18/52 F/R sprockets
- - - I wanted to improve acceleration a bit from stock
- NO spacer....this is the only thing i question
- Rivet link
- 17oz chain lube

Should i call back and ask for the spacer? Reading threads on here and it seems like I needed it but he said my stock sprockets are flat so I wouldnt need one?

Matt

[mmattockx]

I don't know about the spacer on your bike, but you are wasting your money on the chain lube if you went with an O or X-ring chain.


Mark

[mattfeet]

Rob at Z1 said I needed it.

[Griffin]

Rob at Z1 said I needed it.

Modern "Chain Lube" doesn't actually lube the chain, it helps clean it, and is primarily a rust preventative.

You still need to clean your chain and keep it rust free. If you don't, rust and grit will get in between the links and grind away, eventually tearing the sealing rings and destroying the chain.

You need it.

[mattfeet]

Gotcha, that makes me feel better.

Any idea on the spacer?

[Griffin]

Every few years (more often lately, because of all the bad advice given on the internet, such as in this thread), I post an email I received from RK chain over ten years ago. I emailed them due to a raging battle on this forum about chain maintenance. Here's what I received, from a major drive chain manufacturer, about chain maintenance in regards to their specific X-Ring chain:

Sent: Mon, Feb 09, 2004 07:28 PM


Thanks for buying RK chains. There should have been warranty cards in the boxes with maintenance instructions.

They come from the factory with that thick sticky grease to help them resist rusting on the ocean voyage and in storage. Leave it on and just add a layer of your favorite o-ring chain lube.

To clean the chain while it's on the bike - apply a good coat of WD-40 and let it soak in. Then wipe the chain down with a rag or soft bristle brush. After you get most of the crud off, put on another coat of lube.

To really clean the chain - take it off the bike and let it soak overnight in a pan of kerosene. Wipe most of the crud off. Hang it by one end and spray well with lube. Wipe most of it off and put the chain back on the bike.

When you lube an o-ring chain, you are not trying to get lube past the o-rings. There is already a lifetime supply of lube sealed in behind the o-rings. What you're doing by lubing the chain is keeping the metal from rusting and the rubber o-rings from drying out.

Leslie Sowden

Director of Sales

FTM Enterprises Inc.

[Griffin]

Gotcha, that makes me feel better.

Any idea on the spacer?

I know you need it for the GS1100E, but I've never done a conversion for an older 750, so can't help you there.

I would trust Z1's advice. If you install the chain and sprockets and things don't look right (you'll be able to see such gross misalignment with your eye), call them and tell them you need a spacer.

[mattfeet]

Sounds good....thank you!

[mrbill5491]

Is it the 6mm spacer? If it is, it goes on the outside of the front sprocket, it's used so the nut will tighten up against the sprocket. not sure if your year model is a bit different or not. Mine is an 80 750E

[mmattockx]

You need it.

No he doesn't. I have at least 60,000 street KM's and 80+ hours on MX bikes using nothing but WD-40 to clean the outside of the chain with no lube to follow and have had nothing but excellent chain life. My GSXR1000 has just under 30,000km on the OEM chain following this practice. It looks like new and has needed one adjustment in that time. If OP's bike lives outside then he does need a LIGHT coat of lube to prevent rust but nothing more. Lube does far more damage by collecting dirt and grit that eats the chain and sprockets up than any good it ever achieves with modern O- and X-ring chains.

Every few years (more often lately, because of all the bad advice given on the internet, such as in this thread)

I will stick by my "bad advice". More chains are ruined prematurely by people slathering lube on and collecting piles of dirt and grit that chew the chain up than anything else.


Mark

[mrbill5491]

No he doesn't. I have at least 60,000 street KM's and 80+ hours on MX bikes using nothing but WD-40 to clean the outside of the chain with no lube to follow and have had nothing but excellent chain life. My GSXR1000 has just under 30,000km on the OEM chain following this practice. It looks like new and has needed one adjustment in that time. If OP's bike lives outside then he does need a LIGHT coat of lube to prevent rust but nothing more. Lube does far more damage by collecting dirt and grit that eats the chain and sprockets up than any good it ever achieves with modern O- and X-ring chains.




I will stick by my "bad advice". More chains are ruined prematurely by people slathering lube on and collecting piles of dirt and grit that chew the chain up than anything else.


Mark

Here is the full quote: "Modern "Chain Lube" doesn't actually lube the chain, it helps clean it, and is primarily a rust preventative.

You still need to clean your chain and keep it rust free. If you don't, rust and grit will get in between the links and grind away, eventually tearing the sealing rings and destroying the chain."

Now with that said, that is why we say here, Properly maintain your chain! Clean it and lube the outside to prevent rust etc.

[mmattockx]

Now with that said, that is why we say here, Properly maintain your chain! Clean it and lube the outside to prevent rust etc.

We agree that chains need to be properly maintained, we disagree on what that entails. I keep my chain clean with WD-40 and then leave it dry afterwards, on both street and MX bikes. My chains have never rusted with this procedure over the last decade or so and I plan to continue with it. If I ride in the rain then I simply wipe the chain down with WD when I return home, and I wipe it off the same after a wash. My chain set life is always excellent because their is no grit getting stuck on lube to eat up the chain and sprockets. As I said, if OP's bike lives outside (mine are garaged) then he will need to use a very minimal coal of lube to prevent rust, but nothing more. I will stand by my assertion that more chains are ruined by using too much lube than by not using enough.


Mark

[mrbill5491]

We agree that chains need to be properly maintained, we disagree on what that entails. I keep my chain clean with WD-40 and then leave it dry afterwards, on both street and MX bikes. My chains have never rusted with this procedure over the last decade or so and I plan to continue with it. If I ride in the rain then I simply wipe the chain down with WD when I return home, and I wipe it off the same after a wash. My chain set life is always excellent because their is no grit getting stuck on lube to eat up the chain and sprockets. As I said, if OP's bike lives outside (mine are garaged) then he will need to use a very minimal coal of lube to prevent rust, but nothing more. I will stand by my assertion that more chains are ruined by using too much lube than by not using enough.


Mark

Go right ahead...that is what I said. Clean and lube to prevent rust.

[mattfeet]

My bikes are garage babies too.

[mattfeet]

Installed everything last night. The 18/52 gearing is uh-may-zing! Im turning 5500RPM at 70mph (about a 500rpm raise) so it's not too aggressive at all. The new gold chain looks pretty slick, too!

Z1 rocks. No spacer needed.

Matt