53 replies to this topic

[Rallyist]

Slightly off thread but a top tip for removing a clip link. Just offer up a chisel to the open end of the link and give it a tap in the direction of the chain. The clip will come straight off although you might want to have in place a watcher or a white sheet on the floor to find it after it comes off......

make your own tool

https://youtu.be/HjXclzgKK6Y

 

Pity he put the link on in the wrong direction

Edited by Rallyist, 03 November 2018 - 10:28 am.

[DeeBee]

On my first TDM 900 I had a temporary fix done using a clip on the chain, (the bike shop did not have the size chain in stock, so they fitted a clip and said to take it easy, and come back for new chain in a day or or two)

While accelerating onto a round-about the chain flew off just missing the bonnet of the car behind (the slightly shocked driver told me after I had coasted to the side of the road.)

I felt very lucky it had not hit me, the bike or anyone else

I am on my third 900 now, I will never use a clip again and in over 100,000 miles I have never had any breakage issues

Keep it lubed and correct slack and check for any abnormalities

[TKH]

Keep it lubed and correct slack and check for any abnormalities

 

+1

[fixitsan]

On my first TDM 900 I had a temporary fix done using a clip on the chain, (the bike shop did not have the size chain in stock, so they fitted a clip and said to take it easy, and come back for new chain in a day or or two)

While accelerating onto a round-about the chain flew off just missing the bonnet of the car behind (the slightly shocked driver told me after I had coasted to the side of the road.)

I felt very lucky it had not hit me, the bike or anyone else

I am on my third 900 now, I will never use a clip again and in over 100,000 miles I have never had any breakage issues

Keep it lubed and correct slack and check for any abnormalities

 

 

I don't suppose you know if the split link was a match for your chain, because hardly surprisingly they're often different. A DID 525 VX chain link won't necessarily fit well on an RK 525 chain, all o-ring and x-ring chains especially have slightly different pin lengths (because of differences in sealing ring thickness), and the retaining slots for the clip are therefore in different positions to. If the assembled link is not a perfect match for the chain type it's obviously going to be a potential problem

 

When I buy a chain with a split link i usually order at least one more spare split link (including o-rings), or if I can get it just the spring clip on it's own (spring clips are also dimensioned differently from chain to chain.

 

Maybe some people's chain split link issues come from trying to force the wrong link type into the chain, crushing the o-rings too much can load up the clip laterally and make it easier to pop off

Edited by fixitsan, 03 November 2018 - 01:56 pm.

[Hombre]

Pity he put the link on in the wrong direction

 

Southern hemisphere innit.

[Studley Ramrod]

An old mechanic once told me that if the O or X ring swells it can force the split link off the chain, so ya might wanna take care on what you use to clean the chain.

 

Split Link is the name of my local MCC.

[chrisr]

I think there seems to be some confusion regarding split links and rivetted links going on here

[Studley Ramrod]

I was referring to using a chain with a split link.

[steve27bha]

I was referring to using a chain with a split link.

 

AFAIK a split link is one you can join yourself as opposed to an endless chain. The join in a split link can be made by either a clip link or a riveted link, thus making three possible types of join, as I noted earlier in post 38.

 

Several folks have mentioned the availability of a clip link and no recommendations from makers. If you take a look at the DID catalogue I linked to in post 38 you will find on page 13 a table relating bike type/use and engine size to chain spec.. For all engines above 750cc there are only two types of chain listed - VX and ZVM-X - and for all sizes of these two types a ZJ riveted link is included with the chain. Only one size - 525VX - has a clip link as an option.

 

So for a TDM there is only one chain by DID listed with a clip link as an option to the included rivet link - the 525VM.

 

If anyone has evidence that is different to the above I'd like to see it. I'm not asking if you used anything different - that's your choice - but if there is any chain maker's recommendation that is different. Having seen the extensive damage wreaked by a broken chain I'm not prepared to go against recommendations.

 

Fixitsan makes a good point about only using clips and split links made for the specific chain. That's why they are stamped with the spec..

[Studley Ramrod]

I've always called the 'clip' link a split link and the rivet link a rivet link.

[Favs]

Clip link n Rivet link n Split link

 

My $0.02

 

Motorcycle roller chains......are joined by two methods & I have never seen a third joint variety (cotter type), used on a modern motorcycle chain whether straight or offset construction.

 

A chain which is joined by riveting does not have a 'split link' whether supplied as endless or with a rivet type joining link - all links are riveted & disassembly requires destruction of that link.

A rivet link has two parts to assemble (not including seals).

For many years, before I was posh   & could afford a special tool, I used 2 hammers to rivet these chains.

 

'Clip link' has 3 parts to assemble and one part, the clip, is split. Disassembly is easy and quick and requires no special tools. This was very handy (but bad practice), with stretched chains ( remember Reynolds 3/8 5/8 knicker elastic often from the machine shop storeroom?), as you could put off buying a new chain by 'Splitting' the chain, removing a link, reusing the joining link and shoving the spindle right up the fork in the swinging arm  This ability to easily split the chain is what earned the Clip link the common, split link, name.

 

Clip type links are used for less powerful machines AND/OR where the chain speed is low. 

 

Pause for thought - anyone have a clip link as STD in their motorcycle camchain???? No one?

 

Standby for backlash  .......

[fixitsan]

 

 

Pause for thought - anyone have a clip link as STD in their motorcycle camchain???? No one?

 

Standby for backlash  .......

 

 

Backlash lol

 

Replacement cam chains with split links, seen quite a few https://www.ebay.co....&frcectupt=true

 

Not on a new engine though, but perhaps that is because the chain manufacturer is responsible for the time and cost of joining the two ends. Fitting a premade chain on the engine production line is going to be quicker and have less chance of errors, if the chain is already made to length. perhaps that's merely a happy bonus instead ?

 

I've not seen a link for a hyvo type cam chain as used in the TDM, but if they exist i can't imagine how much swearing is involved when you drop the plates on the floor !

Edited by fixitsan, 06 November 2018 - 02:31 pm.

[steve27bha]

For a Hy-Vo you remove a single pin to separate the chain.

 

See this video:-

 

Edited by steve27bha, 06 November 2018 - 09:50 pm.

[TKH]

Going on a slight tangent, has anyone tried rear sprockets like the Stealth https://www.sportsbi...tent_prod/76529. They're aluminium with a steel tooth ring. I've heard various claims for them but they work out at nearly 3 times the price of a reasonable steel sprocket.