X - O Rings on Chain

[KiwiCol]

I fitted it. Rivet link.  It's not just that link though, 1 of the link ones has gone, but 5 others have too.

Think I'll just order another $300 chain & be done with it. Get that DID one - the heavy duty job.  Don't like things that are suspect - rather know it's all good. And do it before it stuffs the sprockets too.

They're JT sprockets BTW, came as a set. OK aren't they?

[Mick_J]

JT sprockets are okay, they use a high grade steel.  I would still contact the chain manufacturer though.

[KiwiCol]

Did a bit of looking at google on this specific chain, says for 750 - 1000cc.  Why??  Not the CC, it's the power the machine makes surely! You can get 750 - 1000cc machines putting out 160 - 200hp!


Reckon Mr RK Chain maker would say you'rs is a 1400, chain not for that bike. Like insurance co's.  But it's a 530 pitch, big heavy chain.

[froudy]

This is the kit I use..A lot cheaper in the UK than in NZ Col

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/172324902718?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

[KiwiCol]

Thx Froudy, that is a bloody good price for chain & sprockets, way better that what I've been looking at.


Just seen a chain & it cost (inc shipping of & $162!!) $484


http://www.ebay.com/itm/EK-3D-Z-Premium-Gold-530-150-Link-Chain-4-Extended-Hayabusa-ZX-14-GSXR-ETC-/361426914469


Going by their speil, these are the dogs!  They'd wanna be at that price.

[gsxbarmy]

Try contacting Julian at Just Bandits to see if he can help out Col, he's shipped a load of stuff down under before (he's a member on here now as well)

[grog]

that is a great price Froudy. 200 oz dollars. have swayed me from ek. ek is at least another 150. have bookmarked. well done.

[Dusty ST]

Something else worth checking is the width of the inner links, with a vernier, if they're a bit wider on the ones with failed O rings it's a faulty chain. I had something similar on a DID VX530 chain, on which the joint link O ring squidged out within 200 miles - I renewed the link 4 times, with new links, assuming it was down to my duff riveting, before measuring the inner link width, and finding it to be 0.25mm oversize. I got a no quibble replacement from the supplier, and it's been fine since.

[KiwiCol]

Thx Dusty, I'll have a check of this.

[KiwiCol]

Update to this chain,   (I fitted a new chain yesterday DID VZM-X 530)


I paid particular attention to the riveting on this one, plates are the same distance as manufactures (22mm), flare is 5.6 - 5.7mm on rivet link, manufactures are 5.7mm.  Heaps of grease in & all around the new link.


Anyway, the reason for the post, Dave mentioned about alignment possibly out on the old chain. I went to some lengths to check, using different methods too.  Turns out my marks are almost exactly the same both sides, about ½ the thickness of the 'notch hole' different. That's about .5 - 1mm variance.


(Alignment was fine BTW)


Dave's method of measuring from the back of the adjuster block to the front of the swing arm where the tensioner bolt goes in (great way of checking too Dave, Thx!) gave me a measurement of 82mm on the old chain. 
New chain goes on - I'd wound the adjusters way in, getting the sag right, guess what, the same measurement on the new chain was 81.5mm.   
That means the 'old' chain was hardly worn at all & just the x rings breaking. What a waste of money that RK chain was. The chain itself was ok, just the rings!


The chain is still relatively stiff (like new ones are)  I ground off the rivet link pin & broke it there, I have a new RK530 rivet link which I could use to re-join it. Just these x rings.  Hmmm


Another x ring fell out when I broke the chain - as it would & I checked how it felt, it was more of a plastic feel than a rubbery seal, more hard & brittle, like it would snap if I bent it. Went back to the bench & compared with the rest from the chain - they're the same. Must have been a bad batch of x rings or the chain has got hot and cooked the x rings maybe??  I'm thinking the Wurth dry spray again? That's what this chain had from new till I went to a more 'normal' chain lube from a spray can.


It's interesting to note that on the back of the DID pack it says to lube the chain every 500k with 80-90 oil, & shows where to put the oil.   Just oil, not the sticky chain lube ya get in a can.


Grog was correct, he tried all sorts of lube & reckons that just oil was the best - and so do DID.


I've got a few cans of Wurth in the cave & a couple of cans of spray chain lube too, I've also got some diff oil, 80-90 that's surplus to requirements - guess what one I'm going to use on this new (expensive) chain?


Thx Dave & Grog, I appreciate your assistance every time.  Cheers guys.

[gsxbarmy]

Thx Col, good write-up that 

[grog]

Thanks from me also Col. i think the RK i had was also faulty. It shouldnt have seized up links. Youll smell the gear oil, a smell i dislike from fixing diffs and gearboxes. Get some vmx castrol. Youll find new chain just so nice with oil on it.