53 replies to this topic

[dablik]

You only need to remove the swingarm if you buy an endless chain, which is what i usually buy, a good oppurtunity to grease everything up, especially before winter.

[PICARD]

As above....and remember to loosen front sprocket nut before removing the back wheel or chain....not like someone I know.....ok....me.

[dablik]

As above....and remember to loosen front sprocket nut before removing the back wheel or chain....not like someone I know.....ok....me.

 

i've never done that, iffin you can believe it.

[Apache]

You only need to remove the swingarm if you buy an endless chain, which is what i usually buy, a good oppurtunity to grease everything up, especially before winter.

Endless chain every time for me too Dab.....have you used a source other than Yamaha ?

[dablik]

Endless chain every time for me too Dab.....have you used a source other than Yamaha ?

 

Yes matey, i bought a D.I.D chain online, may have been ebay and seem to recall it was around £70ish, sprockets purchased seperatley.

[fixitsan]

In 30 years I've only fitted one endless chain. All the others were split link, and I've never had  a failure. Just make sure the chain has a) rollers on the links and b)o-rings or x-rings. The 525 chain is only just necessary, it could work with a 520, but then it wouldn't last anywhere near as long

[Favs]

I usually buy DID chain & always split or rivet link (depending on the bike/chain size). Fast n easy just like me

[Apache]

Yes matey, i bought a D.I.D chain online, may have been ebay and seem to recall it was around £70ish, sprockets purchased seperatley.

I'll stick with the endless just for piece of mind....for anybody interested there is a £70 saving over buying the individual parts for the 900 by using part number 5PSW001A00. It won't appear on Fowlers etc parts catalogue but it's available.....friendly parts fella told me about the kits years ago but the gits have discontinued the 4TX kit at £180 all in...one can still buy the parts individually of course for £320. Rubbin bustards

Edited by Apache, 29 October 2018 - 04:50 pm.

[MickC]

I always use split links,but on one occasion haveing been on the motorway pulling 140+ on my 1100- Z1000j got home started washing it and there was no split link clip to be seen the only thing keeping the split link itself in place was the tight fit of it,lucky day for me.

[steve27bha]

You did 140 with a clip holding the chain together?

 

 

You must have (had) a death wish.

 

AFAIK here we are discussing endless vs riveted chains. IMHO clips are for 125s or smaller, and then only under duress.

[Bjørge]

The side plates may be a really tight fit, maybe it can hold the chain together with no lock ?

[fixitsan]

 

 

AFAIK here we are discussing endless vs riveted chains. IMHO clips are for 125s or smaller, and then only under duress.

 

With regards the discussion, are you basing your view on personal experience, hearsay, or supposition ?

 

Is it fair to assume that if split links were incredibly dangerous then they would not be allowed ?  Is there any data to support the idea that split link chains increase the risk of a serious accident ?

 

I have seen the result of an endless chain snapping, because it was of inferior quality,  Ought we not introduce a minimum standard ? Or is it enough to apply a load test, to a chain, and then test all chains using all types of link against that standard ?

 

Just wondering

[thelodger]

I've had a clip link on my TDM without any problem. DiD would not sell them for their X ring VX525 chains if they were in any way unsafe at speed.  They do say that a rivetted link is the preferred method of joining but it is very easy to make a mess of riivetting a link so in practice it may be an inferior way of joining a chain to a clip link. This is especially the case if you do not have a proper rivetting tool and something like a digital caliper gauge for measuring.

[dapleb]

Rivet for me thanks even on Dave. Legs and enjun casings are harder to fix than a rivet!

[Apache]

Personal choice I guess. I wouldn't trust anybody to rivet a chain for me and having no experience of doing it (plate too loose / too tight etc) I just bite the bullet and buy endless. At the end of the day it's only every 30-40k miles and as Dablik said it forces swing arm removal for a proper clean and lube which I do annually regardless....

[fixitsan]

Personal choice I guess. I wouldn't trust anybody to rivet a chain for me and having no experience of doing it (plate too loose / too tight etc) I just bite the bullet and buy endless. At the end of the day it's only every 30-40k miles and as Dablik said it forces swing arm removal for a proper clean and lube which I do annually regardless....

 

 

Fair enough. I did a bit of research and saw a lot of chain break reports, lots of them endless chains. But true enough if a spring clip is incorrectly fitted, or reused after removing (only use new ones) then that is a weak link in the chain.

[TKH]

You did 140 with a clip holding the chain together?

 

 

You must have (had) a death wish.

 

AFAIK here we are discussing endless vs riveted chains. IMHO clips are for 125s or smaller, and then only under duress.

 

When I were a lad split chains (or a length of chain) were pretty much all you could get hold of. I've no problems fitting a chain with a split link did it on my 650 & 750 Triumphs,  550 & 750 Suzukis and one of my Hondas. One of my 750 Yams I know had a split link, was flat out for parts of a European holiday on it.

w.r.t which is best -  I'd go for either but wouldn't go as far as to break a continuous chain only to try and re-rivet it unless I really had to, even if it took more effort.

 

 Also don't think MickC knew the clip was missing.....

[steve27bha]

A few folks seem not to have read what I wrote.

I distinguished between clip, rivet and endless - three types - and suggested that using a clip on a fast and powerful motorcycle is not sensible.

 

RK on their website say:-

Important!
RK recommends using rivet type connecting links whenever possible for the most secure connection.

 

On p14 of the DID catalogue it states:-

Safety clip and loose-fit type - for small size motorcycle

Rivet and press-fit type - for large size motorcycles.

 

I made no comment on riveted vs endless..

 

I also am pretty sure MickC did not know the clip was missing, or IMHO he would have been suicidal to ride at 140 without it.

[fixitsan]

A few folks seem not to have read what I wrote.

I distinguished between clip, rivet and endless - three types - and suggested that using a clip on a fast and powerful motorcycle is not sensible.

 

RK on their website say:-

Important!
RK recommends using rivet type connecting links whenever possible for the most secure connection.

 

On p14 of the DID catalogue it states:-

Safety clip and loose-fit type - for small size motorcycle

Rivet and press-fit type - for large size motorcycles.

 

I made no comment on riveted vs endless..

 

I also am pretty sure MickC did not know the clip was missing, or IMHO he would have been suicidal to ride at 140 without it.

 

 

i think there will be both shared and different opinions all based on different experiences.

 

Drag bikes and MX bikes almost always use clip based links but rarely use o-ring or x-ring sealed links.

 

But, RK and DID sell clip based links in the kits with their 530 sized chains. I don't know any small bike which uses a 530 chain, or even a 525 for that matter.  TDM900 and 850 use a 525 chain, not a chain for a small bike, and they come with clip links.

 

My KTM620 spanks the TDM at lower speeds, uses a 520 chain and i don't think even that is a small motorcycle, despite the chain size

 

One problem seems to be that neither RK or DID want to stick their necks out and define a small motorcycle in terms of cc or engine power

Edited by fixitsan, 03 November 2018 - 08:48 am.

[thelodger]

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......