Author Topic: Stretchy Chain? (Read 3789 times)

insomniac · « **on:** July 10, 2018, 12:08:21 »

Hello
I have just come back from a 1400 miles trip to Ireland (you must do the wild Atlantic Road, its great, I only did the bottom half and can't wait to do the top half now).
Whilst there my chain started rattling like I don't know what. Myself and a friend had a brief look and thought it had stretched a little, dew to the mileage I was doing and the load.
So whilst riding around Ireland I called into a garage and reduced the slack a little. It did help for a couple of days but then the rattling came back and it looked as loose as ever.
When I got home I had another look at it and found that a couple of the links were not moving as they should, hence the rattle.
I don't clean my chain after every trip out but do clean and lube it after say 3 or 4 trips out (when I clean it I get a tooth brush and WD40 to clean and I also have WD40 lube)
I have only done about 7-8000 miles on this chain, is that normal?? My last (and first) bike had a shaft drive so didn't need to worry about this sort of thing

My friend said that he has had rough 15,000+ on his speed triple chain and the other bike I went to Ireland with has had over 25,000 miles on her chain.
I am having a new chain and sprockets put on this weekend and the bloke that is doing it said that I did well to get more than 7000 miles from a chain, so I'm confused.

Also is there an extension you can buy for the chain guard as there is always oil and lube being thrown all up the left side of the bike?

UK_Vstrom650 · « **Reply #1 on:** July 10, 2018, 13:02:15 »

I got 25,000 miles out of my original chain and sprockets. I only use a Scotoiler to lube whilst riding, and occasionally paint the chain with oil using a paint brush. That was replaced with a good quality D.I.D chain.

Do you use any form of oiler? If not fit one. The other thing to check is that your wheels is aligned properly, and the appropriate amount of slack is in the chain (measured with load on the swingarm).

In terms of oil fling, this has always happened on chain bikes - not aware of a chain guard extension for the Strom

My brother's 650 Versys knackered a chain in about 6,000 miles from new...

roganjoshing · « **Reply #2 on:** July 10, 2018, 13:38:58 »

Just changed mine after 26k miles. The mechanic said it had lots of life left. Also use a scottoiler. Might be a bit messy but chains last forever.

insomniac · « **Reply #3 on:** July 10, 2018, 13:39:47 »

Cheers UK
I do have an oiler fitted and need to fill it up every now and agan, so I know the oil coming out somewhere.
when I adjust the chain to 20-30mm I check it in various places (who knew there were tight spots on chains

) and make sure that the rear is perfectly alined after (I bought a gauge to measure that both sides were the same, not relying on the notches on the swing arm).
I adjust it whilst it is on the side stand, and also after ask my wife to sit on the bike whilst I check that I am still getting at least 20mm (although my wife doesn't weight a lot)
The chain was new on when I bought the bike, but it could have been a cheap one, so I have asked that the new one which is going to be fitted this weekend be a D.I.D

Hugo Magnus · « **Reply #4 on:** July 10, 2018, 13:45:43 »

I find that those of us who ride in a more spirited fashion wear out chains, sprockets and tyres far more quickly than the bimblers; the wheelies don't help either

UK_Vstrom650 · « **Reply #5 on:** July 10, 2018, 13:46:57 »

Ah, if it has an unknown history then assume it wasn't cared for...

Don't forget to change the sprockets along with the chain

insomniac · « **Reply #6 on:** July 10, 2018, 13:52:00 »

Yep Sprockets requested as well, thanks

This might now seem like a silly question. The Scottoiler, it only has a single tube to oil one side of the chain, shouldn't there be two?

UK_Vstrom650 · « **Reply #7 on:** July 10, 2018, 14:03:11 »

No. One is enough (it'll do enough) though you can buy dual side versions - they were marketed for tourers I believe. I've used the same single sided version Scotoiler on all my bikes for 10 years (6 years on the current Strom) without issues. I ride all year round too.

You want about 1 drop per minute.

Barbel Mick · « **Reply #8 on:** July 10, 2018, 15:46:07 »

Quote from: insomniac on July 10, 2018, 12:08:21

Also is there an extension you can buy for the chain guard as there is always oil and lube being thrown all up the left side of the bike?

Made my own out of a plastic plant pot. Cut a strip, warmed it up with a heat gun, not too much or you will have to cut another bit

flatten it and bend the end over, if you want to. Couple of little bolts and Robert is your Aunties brother.
Mine extends about 3" from the guard and I still get some splatter but not as much.

TLPower · « **Reply #9 on:** July 10, 2018, 16:46:22 »

I'd seen that on your bike Mick and assumed it was your naughty step.

Barbel Mick · « **Reply #10 on:** July 10, 2018, 16:51:11 »

UK_Vstrom650 · « **Reply #11 on:** July 10, 2018, 21:02:37 »

That's a great idea

If you angled it down more would it reduce the splatter further?

Barbel Mick · « **Reply #12 on:** July 10, 2018, 22:13:03 »

I did try that but it didn't look quite right. I clean the 'bike often enough not to worry too much!

joethebike · « **Reply #13 on:** July 10, 2018, 23:20:48 »

I went one better than a chainguard extension.

Barbel Mick · « **Reply #14 on:** July 10, 2018, 23:37:48 »

I think Brocket mentioned these once or twice!

Hugo Magnus · « **Reply #15 on:** July 11, 2018, 13:00:35 »

Joe the bike is that homemade or off the shelf? it looks good.

insomniac · « **Reply #16 on:** July 11, 2018, 14:12:47 »

nice one, we have plenty of plant ots around the place and I have a heat gun

I'll let you know how it goes

insomniac · « **Reply #17 on:** July 11, 2018, 14:25:12 »

also Mick
I can't believe how clean that bike is, I spend hours trying to get mine clean and I can't get results like that

Barbel Mick · « **Reply #18 on:** July 11, 2018, 17:16:17 »

It was cleaned a couple of days ago and it's not been out since!

Just car wash and water (sometimes snow foam) but I use this (been promoted on here by quite a few users) on the greasy/oily bits with a small stiff brush and paint brush.
https://www.therange.co.uk/household/cleaning/cleaning-products/multi-purpose-cleaners/elbow-grease-all-purp-degreaser-500ml

Rusty Nuts · « **Reply #19 on:** July 11, 2018, 17:24:38 »

So the sprocket carrier's supposed to be a light grey aluminium colour, then? ( mine certainly isn't )