520 Chain Thickness & clearance

[salty_monk]

Anyone have a list of different chain thickness for 520?

I have a RK X ring which is 20.5mm & a RK XW which is 21mm

PJ quotes his: DID ERV 520 Chain 18.6mm - also an X ring chain...

Any others out there?

What is the side clearance needed for running a chain? How close can you run to the frame or tyre without issues?

Dan

[posplayr]

Anyone have a list of different chain thickness for 520?

I have a RK X ring which is 20.5mm & a RK XW which is 21mm

PJ quotes his: DID ERV 520 Chain 18.6mm - also an X ring chain...

Any others out there?

What is the side clearance needed for running a chain? How close can you run to the frame or tyre without issues?

Dan

Katman published that info a long time ago.

[salty_monk]

Hmm I searched, that's how I found PJ's info, didn't find anything from Katman. Wonder if it's on his website....

[posplayr]

see if this helps; limit search to Katman under advanced search.

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?t=129719&highlight=520

[tone]

What is the side clearance needed for running a chain? How close can you run to the frame or tyre without issues?

Dan

Hey dan if you look at any chain on a bike thats properly tensioned & move it side to side that should give you a good indication of how much a chain is able to move on the sprockets, add a little for when the chain is running slightly slack & you have a good idea of what you can get away with

My personal idea is to centre the chain run in the available space & hopefully end up with a minimum clearance of 5mm a side which i consider to be a safe margin, much less than this & a slightly slack chain can run on the tyre or frame so you would have to keep a constant check on it

hope it helps tone

[salty_monk]

Hmm I have 5mm & more on one side but not the other.. I don't think. I have to align it all properly & take some proper measurements first.

I have a couple of bikes in the garage I can check, neither have centrestands but I shouldn't think it matters....

Wonder what clearances PJ ended up with on his bike, I know it was tight for him.

Just thinking aloud but if things are tight I would think you could fix a Nylon guard to the frame same as they do with the swingarm...

Dan

[posplayr]

Hey dan if you look at any chain on a bike thats properly tensioned & move it side to side that should give you a good indication of how much a chain is able to move on the sprockets, add a little for when the chain is running slightly slack & you have a good idea of what you can get away with

My personal idea is to centre the chain run in the available space & hopefully end up with a minimum clearance of 5mm a side which i consider to be a safe margin, much less than this & a slightly slack chain can run on the tyre or frame so you would have to keep a constant check on it

hope it helps tone

Tone,
I have right at 5.0 and 5.5mm of clearance between chain/frame and chain/tire with my 18" wheel conversion (and 530 chain). The rear wheel is only 18x4.5 with a 170/60-18. I'm not sure how you can maintain a full 5mm eitehr side with a 17x5.5" and 180/55-17. I got the impression that with teh 17" wheels tolerance are much closer and while a 520 chain was almost madatory, the clearances were still very tight.
Pos

[salty_monk]

I have a 170 not a 180...

Yes it looks quite tight.....

[posplayr]

I have a 170 not a 180...

Yes it looks quite tight.....

I forget your rear wheel size?

The 5.5" width probably make it wider than the 4.5"

[jwhelan65]

Not really comparing Apples to Apples here but here is a 520 DID ERV with a 180 on a Bandit swingarm, I have about 3mm of clearance on both sides of the wheel and shock. The frame is more of an issue on mine as you can see from the pic.

[salty_monk]

Any problems with rubbing at 3mm?

I actually have a lot of room but it's all on the tyre side at the moment. Having said that I don't know that I have great wheel alignment yet...

I think I may possibly have to machine the sprocket carrier or switch to the other carrier I have (prelim exam says the other one "may" give me an extra 3mm or so of clearance.

Dan