FOAK: Chain Help

I've had a B6 from new last October, and have covered just under 9,000
miles, but I can no longer [1] adjust the chain to keep it
appropriately tensioned.

Regardless of whether I adjust the chain as per manual recommendations
(using the swing arm marks), measuring rule or straight edge, the
tension of the chain varies when I rotate the back wheel. It looks as
though the chain does not sit uniformly on the sprockets throughout
it's entire length, instead sitting someway up the teeth around the
bottom of the sprocket causing the tension to become too tight.

All the teeth of the sprocket look good, there is no 'hooking' and all
the chain links move freely.

You also hear a slight brushing sound, the frequency of which varies
with speed, when the bike is in motion.

As best as I can tell the wheel is in alignment.

Is this a case of the chain becoming unevenly stretched?

I lubed the chain regularly [2], but summise that this is probably not
sufficient. If I have to shell out for a new chain, would a Scottoiler
help prolong it's life? What is a reasonable life of a chain anyway?

If it's of any consequence, most trips are between 50 and 80 miles;
not a lot of short runs.

[1] Perhaps proof that I never could!
[2] Minimum of monthly, but more in the wet.

 

Yes.

Replace.

 

<SNIP>

It's fucked. Time to replace it.

 

If it's the standard one, it's shite. I've got a DID Xring on my one
now, which is a good chain.

 

Ace wrote in

and if you plan to keep the bike for some time then a Scottoiler will pay
for itself. I fitted one to a TDM850 and the bike still had the original
chain on it at 16,000 miles when I sold it.

 

I've fitted a scottoiler to every bike i've owned and am in the process of
fitting one to my ZX10R (1). Can't recommend them enough really especially
if you ride through winter.

(1) if I can find a space big enough to take the resevoir which is currently
proving difficult.

 

Grimley_Feindish wrote in

Can you fit the number plate kit? Holds the larger touring reservoir.

 

It's a good idea as a last resort and one I hadn't thought of, thanks.
That's another £32.00 though and the number plate arrangement is already a
bit ugly imo. One place I'd thought of was on the rear hugger next to the
chain guard. Will require drilling a couple of small holes to take the cable
ties but it'll be out of the way and easy to route the pipe work. Hope the
weather holds off for Saturday

 

<snip>

Chain's fuckereded. Replace.

Fit a chain oiler. Scottoilers are simple and effective.

Buy a quality chain.

Occasionally turn up the oil flow on the chain oiler to give the chain a
really good oil-wash.

In 9000 miles of both-wheels-on-the-ground riding in all weather I've only
had to adjust the Fazer's chain twice. Each time, it took no more than
half a turn on the adjusters to do it.

 

Rope wrote in

you seem to be typing with a cold

 

I've only had one bike that I fitted a Scotoiler to and that was a GS550
(which are heavy on chains). I really rated it. From adjusting the
chain every 500 miles to adjusting it every "many miles".

There wasn't any appreciable fling; certainly no more than regular
aerosol lubing caused.

 

Chains! Tsssssk!! Waste of time and money

--
Dave OSOS#24 Remove my gerbil for email replies

Yamaha XJ900S & Wessex sidecar, the sexy one
Yamaha XJ900F & Watsonian Monaco, the comfortable one

http://dswindell.members.beeb.net

 

Yep


--

Kevin - Basildon
XV535
GPZ305 (her's)
BOTAFOT#67 BOTAFOF#23
OSOS#29

 

I've never bothered. Modern materials are great, and mean that chains,
unless _severely_ neglected, don't need adjusting at all between
services.

I imagine they'd have done so at the gixxer's first service/rear tyre
change at ~6000km, although there was no noticeable slack at that
point, so they may not heve needed to. I certainly never have.