I know I now have a Honda but a chain is a chain..
A few weeks ago I fitted an OEM Honda chain and sprocket kit.
AFTER I had replaced the chain I thought I would watch the "How to replace your chain" video on Delboys garage.. He suggested you measure the width of the plates on the original part of the chain and then press on the Master Link plate to the same dimensions..
I bought the Sealey tool he used on his recommendation.
Then my OCD kicked in good and proper .. OOh I thought..
Now my chain is fitted and its been on for hundreds of miles I will check it with my Digital Caliper..
Lo and behold it was over pressed on by about .6mm
Now to the point of this saga...
Originally I phoned Blackpool Honda to ask them for a Rivet Link but they said it would take 3 weeks to get one in and they are around £20!!!
I went online and ordered a "Genuine DID" Rivet link.. It was a Gold one (about £8) as they didn't have any standard coloured ones..
Later that day I actually found a different seller who had a plain "Genuine DID" Rivet link (£7).. I wasn't too concerned at having 2 Rivet links as I thought a spare may be handy..
I removed the original Rivet link that came with the chain and pressed the new link into the chain with the tool and this time measured the dimensions and did it as recommended on the video..
I thought goody I will go for a ride...
Initially there was a rhythmic vibration in the left footrest that got worse and worse.. It was road speed / chain rotation related..
It got so bad I could hear it..
I returned home very slowly (15mph) and noticed that the link was at the low part of the chain (where you check the slack) and saw it formed a W shape in the chain..
I tried to move the link but it was solid.
I pressed out the link (again) and fitted the gold version..
Long story short, EXACTLY the same thing happened..
These 2 Mater links were from 2 totally different sellers on eBay!!
So I went and Re watched Delboys chain fitting video and noticed that he just pushed the link in with his fingers (from behind the chain)..
Both the links I fitted had to be forced in with the chain tool !!
So there are several possibilities here..
1. Honda asked DID to make the chains for them with a slightly different size of Pin/hole so that they could charge more for the Rivet link
2. The chain and sprocket kit I bought are a fake.. I doubt this as I have only adjusted it once and it isn't stretching after every ride (I once bought a fake DID chain for the GSX1400 I had.. It had to be adjusted after every ride).
3. The Master links I bought are both fake from 2 totally different sellers (The most likely scenario).
A friend of mine has a motorcycle repair business (he makes exhausts as well)..
He asked me to bring the small piece of chain with me that he originally cut off, so he could see if he had a link.
He had many links but unfortunately they were all for the standard chains and not the ZVM-X heavy duty type...
But every link he tried just pushed in by hand!!!
Has anyone had this issue before?
Its more than likely I will just bite the bullet and buy another chain tomorrow as nowhere seems to stock the links
Its a beautiful sunny day here and I have heard dozens of bikes playing out..
I had arranged to go on a really decent ride with several mates but due to the OCD and this chain I am stuck
Mind you look at the master link I have made myself in the photo. !!
Quote from: Speedy1959 on Monday, 12 April 2021, 05:24 AM
I know I now have a Honda but a chain is a chain..
A few weeks ago I fitted an OEM Honda chain and sprocket kit.
AFTER I had replaced the chain I thought I would watch the "How to replace your chain" video on Delboys garage.. He suggested you measure the width of the plates on the original part of the chain and then press on the Master Link plate to the same dimensions..
I bought the Sealey tool he used on his recommendation.
Then my OCD kicked in good and proper .. OOh I thought..
Now my chain is fitted and its been on for hundreds of miles I will check it with my Digital Caliper..
Lo and behold it was over pressed on by about .6mm
Now to the point of this saga...
Originally I phoned Blackpool Honda to ask them for a Rivet Link but they said it would take 3 weeks to get one in and they are around £20!!!
I went online and ordered a "Genuine DID" Rivet link.. It was a Gold one (about £8) as they didn't have any standard coloured ones..
Later that day I actually found a different seller who had a plain "Genuine DID" Rivet link (£7).. I wasn't too concerned at having 2 Rivet links as I thought a spare may be handy..
I removed the original Rivet link that came with the chain and pressed the new link into the chain with the tool and this time measured the dimensions and did it as recommended on the video..
I thought goody I will go for a ride...
Initially there was a rhythmic vibration in the left footrest that got worse and worse.. It was road speed / chain rotation related..
It got so bad I could hear it..
I returned home very slowly (15mph) and noticed that the link was at the low part of the chain (where you check the slack) and saw it formed a W shape in the chain..
I tried to move the link but it was solid.
I pressed out the link (again) and fitted the gold version..
Long story short, EXACTLY the same thing happened..
These 2 Mater links were from 2 totally different sellers on eBay!!
So I went and Re watched Delboys chain fitting video and noticed that he just pushed the link in with his fingers (from behind the chain)..
Both the links I fitted had to be forced in with the chain tool !!
So there are several possibilities here..
1. Honda asked DID to make the chains for them with a slightly different size of Pin/hole so that they could charge more for the Rivet link
2. The chain and sprocket kit I bought are a fake.. I doubt this as I have only adjusted it once and it isn't stretching after every ride (I once bought a fake DID chain for the GSX1400 I had.. It had to be adjusted after every ride).
3. The Master links I bought are both fake from 2 totally different sellers (The most likely scenario).
A friend of mine has a motorcycle repair business (he makes exhausts as well)..
He asked me to bring the small piece of chain with me that he originally cut off, so he could see if he had a link.
He had many links but unfortunately they were all for the standard chains and not the ZVM-X heavy duty type...
But every link he tried just pushed in by hand!!!
Has anyone had this issue before?
Its more than likely I will just bite the bullet and buy another chain tomorrow as nowhere seems to stock the links
Its a beautiful sunny day here and I have heard dozens of bikes playing out..
I had arranged to go on a really decent ride with several mates but due to the OCD and this chain I am stuck
Mind you look at the master link I have made myself in the photo. !!
Riveting story Simon :)
I'd use a bigger cable tie :facepalm:
:rofl2: rule 1. Don't use Delboy to learn things properly.
I've seen a few of delboys videos and lots of comments about them .
I'd call him billy bodger as he's a bit rough to say the least and some of his methods leave alot to be desired if the truth be known .
Now if the stuff folk watch online helps even if it just shows how something comes dpart/goes together all well and good but the method needs to be correct if it's to be followed.
Good on you Simon.
Hi Speedy, I changed the front and rear sprockets and the chain (supplied with rivet link) on my SRAD a couple of weeks ago. BEFORE doing so I watched the same Del Boy video as you and followed his method. I think my measurements off hand were 20.2mm for the width of the chain links and I got the rivet link to within 0.1mm using the rivet tool press and vernier gauge. Very happy with the results as per the pictures which is after about 50 miles of use. It's actually transformed how the bike runs as it's really smooth through the gears and much quieter which I wasn't expecting. There used to be knocks and a few clangs with the old chain which did have a tight spot and the sprockets were quite worn. I fitted a DID 520 chain with Renthal sprockets and used a rip off £10 Sealey like tool which worked fine.
Like Seth has said with Del Boy videos you have to be careful as some of his methods are definitely iffy to say the least. However, some in my opinion are in fact very good as per this one.
I fit the sprockets, bloke with bike shop does the chain. $50. Not that 14 needs chain often. Not worth stuffing around with for that price. Just my way.
I would go your way Grog but my local bike shop wants £35 just to align the wheel never mind fit the chain!
I had a very similar problem with my Ducati chain, spares catalogue said it was a VX type, so that's what I bought but it would not push through by hand so I took it back to the dealer and they looked on their spares list and it should be a VH type. Even though it was not their fault they swapped it over for me. If you cannot push the link through by hand it's the wrong size, once it's in made sure there is no slack in the pins before closing it off.
Yeah, forgot to add my rivet link pushed in perfectly by hand without any resistance whatsoever.
Checked my RK chain i just bought, comes with its own rivet link, so I would expect its the right one.