Chain Tension

[bonanzadave]

And if it's not too much trouble for one/some of you to explain, what exactly happens to the sprockets?

Your suppose to believe only 1/2 of what you read but this guy makes sense to me.....

http://www.visi.com/~dalebor/maint.htm

[SPARKSS]

Hello sir....Merry Christmas to you. I see lots of sound advice concerning possible chain and sprocket causes but suggest you give your swing arm a check for side-to-side movement while you're at it (you know the history of your repairs best!). It can be quite typical that, with play in the swing arm, adjusting the chain on the center stand (wheel down which puts usual worn spots NOT where they are when normally riding) , you might find a large change in chain tension after a ride. Always a good idea to check for both wheel bearing AND chain wheel bearing play when the chain is off as well as these impact on safety and the wearing of the chain (chain/sprocket alignment). Just a couple of beans worth for the pot

[isleoman]

I keep my chains at 3/4" deflection. Loose is better than tight. Tight will kill a chain faster than anything else. You'll get a more accurate deflection measurement on the side stand as opposed to the center stand. When you come off the center stand the chain tightens considerably.

I get 20K miles out of the DID 530 ZVM2 chains. The 630 stuff on my GS never lasted more than 10K.

[chef1366]

This is a great place to buy chains and sprockets. I take off my chain guard and make sure the chain is running straight from front to rear sprocket. If it appears to angle from one side or the other the adjustment is off or the swing arm needs bearings or is bent.

[KEITH KRAUSE]

I can't say for sure without seeing your sprockets, but that stuff about having to change sprockets with the chain is a good waste of money.
You can see if the teeth are worn significantly on one or both sides. Best way to compare is to have a new sprocket around (you will eventually use it if you ride as much as me) and compare it to the old sprocket.
Lay one over the other. I'll bet in many cases you won't see any noticable/significant wear. If so, why change it? Just because you're changing the chain or because it seems like it's been on a long time? I've seen a set of sprockets last through 4 chains, if not more. I'm talking 15K per chain or more.
Of course, this assumes no alignment issues, STEEL sprockets (all other are junk), and keeping the chain reasonably clean and lubed and slacked.
By the way, I use Maxima Chain Wax (gold can) and it's much better at keeping the o-rings supple. Almost zero fling and none at all after initial ride. Much better than PJ blue, a popular product, that allows the o-rings to harden and fall off. The wax also makes a good film/cusion to help against metal to metal contact.

[tone]

I can't say for sure without seeing your sprockets, but that stuff about having to change sprockets with the chain is a good waste of money.
You can see if the teeth are worn significantly on one or both sides. Best way to compare is to have a new sprocket around (you will eventually use it if you ride as much as me) and compare it to the old sprocket.
Lay one over the other. I'll bet in many cases you won't see any noticable/significant wear. If so, why change it? Just because you're changing the chain or because it seems like it's been on a long time? I've seen a set of sprockets last through 4 chains, if not more. I'm talking 15K per chain or more.

Well written, sounds plausable but still utter rubbish imho sorry fella but this needs answering........
you are unlikely to "see" significant wear on sprockets untill they are really bad but you can measure it, teeth will hook slightly at relitively low milages, just because you may ride quite steadilly & preserve your chain & sprockets it wont mean everyone else does.

Do you want to be responsible for someone taking your advice & then having a major accident in years to come due to a chain riding off a sprocket or even worse snapping ?????

Sprockets are designed to last the life of the chain & have been known to stress fracture when used beyond that ! Yes ive seen it & cleaned up the blood before being able to repair the bike :shock:

Decent chains are relitively expensive but sprockets are cheap ! the cheapest decent quality fronts are £7.50 & rears are £12.95 over here what you need to ask yourself is....... is it worth the risk for the price of a few beers ?

Rant over :-D

[KEITH KRAUSE]

Well, this needs to be said.
People can take my advice, or leave it, same as with every other persons advice. Yes, people may take a certain persons advice over anothers but as far as I've ever been told here, my advice has done nothing but help keep these old bikes on the road. So I'm responsible for that. If that sounds like rubbish to you, then that's your opinion.
I've never seen a steel sprocket fracture. Maybe if there were serious alignment issues or on a very high HP bike but not from wear as I previously implied.
If you compare a new sprocket to the old and see no difference regarding the teeth, I see no reason to change it. No chain will snap off this sprocket. No chain will ride off this sprocket.
Find something else to exaggerate about.

[tone]

Fair enough Keith i see no reason to argue, you have your opinion & i have mine no amout of words will change that, i've also been keeping these bikes on the road since the very early 80's both professionally on occasions & as a full time hobby so i think i'm qualified to give an opinion & if you dont like that well tough

you may not have seen a sprocket failure or the resulting damage to both rider & bike but i have, i would not wish that on anybody including you, as always you can make your choice & i'll make mine

thank you & goodnite :-D

[gsgeezer]

If your chain's bad, then replace the spockets. They aren't that expensive and you can decide if you want to use the stock sprocket tooth configuration or mod it.

I like Z1 Enterprises, too. I can't believe how fast their shipping is.

In contrast, I just made an order from "1tail.com" and after ten days they still hadn't even processes my order, so I cancelled. I would have made the order with Z1 but they didn't have the part I needed.

[KEITH KRAUSE]

Fair enough Keith i see no reason to argue, you have your opinion & i have mine no amout of words will change that, i've also been keeping these bikes on the road since the very early 80's both professionally on occasions & as a full time hobby so i think i'm qualified to give an opinion & if you dont like that well tough.

No need to throw in those last few words.
We're all just trying to share our experience with each other. While no one wants to see their advice get hammered, liking it has nothing to do with it.

[bonanzadave]

How to make a Chain thread go 10 pages

No need to throw in those last few words.

If you replace sprockets your a Democrat.
If you dont your Republican.
If you change just one your independent.
If your Mr. Oddfellow who started this thread........youre now confused !!

[Carter Turk]

Am I the only one who checks it while sitting on the bike with my 215 lbs. compressing the suspension.

I think the weight of the rider plays into the tension of the chain when on the road. If you have saggy stock shocks and check it on the centerstand, it seems to me you'd have a chain with no slack at all, once off the stand and going down the road.

[tone]

[quote=KEITH KRAUSE;741148
Find something else to exaggerate about.[/quote]

Well this is the last i'll say on the matter :-D if it wasn't for the above quote you may have got a reply more to your liking after all nobody likes to be called a liar.

carter turk ...... i check my chain tension on a paddock stand, that way the weight of the bike is on the swingarm & compressing the shocks slightly :-D i usually then have a quick look with the bike on its wheels & me sitting on it but rarely have to alter the chain tension i am a fair bit lighter than you though

[KEITH KRAUSE]

Well this is the last i'll say on the matter :-D if it wasn't for the above quote you may have got a reply more to your liking after all nobody likes to be called a liar.

I did not intend for you to think I called you a liar. Any disagreement can result in both sides thinking they've been called liars or don't know what they're talking about.
I've probably seen things that you may doubt or think is a stretch and vice versa.
I don't come here to argue either and it's very easy to interpret typed words with much more "attitude" than intended.
Merry Christmas sir and sorry about any words between us.

[Headphase]

fit your new chain and sprockets, make sure you line the wheels up properly when you do it.
When you've done that, do yourself a huge favour, buy a scottoiler and fit it, and you'll probably not need another chain for the duration of your ownership of the bike.