530 xring chain on 68 650ss

worntorn · Jul 3, 2020

It rolled right on there, no clearance issues.
Rivet type Masterlink.

Glen

texasSlick · Jul 3, 2020

Nice! The bike too.

What brand is it? ..... the chain, not the bike.

worntorn · Jul 3, 2020

Thanks!

DID VX 530

Glen

Matchless · Jul 4, 2020

Glen,

Is the chain guard the original one as it doesn't look the same as mine.

Martyn.

worntorn · Jul 4, 2020

I'm not sure, the bike came to me much as you see it.
Herb Becker, Terry Gower, Ross Thompson Metal Finishing and the Ontario Vintage Motorcycle club restored it some years ago.
Herb bought it from a Bike Breaker. It was in sad shape.
One conrod was poking thru a crankcase half and the bike was missing a lot of parts.

Glen

texasSlick · Jul 4, 2020

I just had a look at my Atlas chain guard with an eye towards the clearance required for an X ring chain. It seems adequate.

I measure 1.2" inside the chain guard, and the conventional chain measures 0.635" across the rivets, leaving 0.28" either side (assuming the guard is centrally astride the sprocket).

Slick

worntorn · Jul 4, 2020

Slick, does your bike have 1/4" or 3/8" wide sprockets?
From the parts books it appears the pre 64 bikes were 1/4" or 520 while post 64 650 and 750 were 3/8 or 530.

Glen

texasSlick · Jul 4, 2020

worntorn said:
Slick, does your bike have 1/4" or 3/8" wide sprockets?
From the parts books it appears the pre 64 bikes were 1/4" or 520 while post 64 650 and 750 were 3/8 or 530.

Glen

I have the 1/4" sprocket.

Unless there is a clearance issue at the gear box, it would appear a 520 X ring would work. Even with a 3/8" sprocket, there appears to be ample room in the chain guard.

I have heard the issue with x ring chains was at the gearbox.

Slick

worntorn · Jul 4, 2020

Yes, should be loads of clearance with a 520 x ring on there. At just .73" pin width, the new DID vx2 520 x ring is narrower than 520 sealed chains of old. Also, Not much wider than your standard chain.

Bodger · Jul 4, 2020

I've been wondering about whether the narrow DID chain would work on the older 1/4 inch chain bikes since I first heard about it. Slick, please report back if you try this as well.

robs ss · Jul 4, 2020

texasSlick said:
I have the 1/4" sprocket.

Unless there is a clearance issue at the gear box, it would appear a 520 X ring would work. Even with a 3/8" sprocket, there appears to be ample room in the chain guard.

I have heard the issue with x ring chains was at the gearbox.

Slick

I'm running a DID 520 x-ring chain on my ES2(model 50) with a Commando primary.
No clearance issues on either the gearbox or primary

texasSlick · Jul 4, 2020

Bodger said:
I've been wondering about whether the narrow DID chain would work on the older 1/4 inch chain bikes since I first heard about it. Slick, please report back if you try this as well.

I intend to wear out the new conventional one I've got before I try it.

But try it I will, now that I know it is possible without gouging the GB.

Slick

worntorn · Jul 4, 2020

I was thinking along those lines then I plucked the new standard chain away from the sprockets and saw that at only 3000 miles it's at least halfway to worn out, by my spec. It strikes me that using a sealed chain, which at 15000 miles pulls away like a new chain, barely at all, means the chain pitch isn't changing with time. This starts in right away with a new standard chain.
It's that ever changing chain pitch that really wears sprockets.
So money spent on the sealed chain saves on sprocket cost over time.
That's my rationalization for replacing the not completely worn out standard chain with an x ring chain.

Glen

texasSlick · Jul 4, 2020

worntorn said:
I was thinking along those lines then I plucked the new standard chain away from the sprockets and saw that at only 3000 miles it's at least halfway to worn out, by my spec. It strikes me that using a sealed chain, which at 15000 miles pulls away like a new chain, barely at all, means the chain pitch isn't changing with time. This starts in right away with a new standard chain.
It's that ever changing chain pitch that really wears sprockets.
So money spent on the sealed chain saves on sprocket cost over time.
That's my rationalization for replacing the not completely worn out standard chain with an x ring chain.

Glen

Good point!

Slick

annajeannette · Jul 5, 2020

hello well from your photo to me it looks like the left-hand passenger footrest has no spacer in the bolt mounts this is a 1/2 inch spacer that keeps the silencer off the backplate just thought to mention is as for chains I use Diamond Chains there a good Chain and made in America

worntorn · Jul 5, 2020

Thanks Anna, I will check that out.
The silencers used have threaded standoffs that keep the silencer bodies about 1/4" away from the bracket.
Will check the line up to see if 1/2" spacers would improve the line of the exhaust.
Just eyeballing it, the builder has lined things up nicely as it is.

Glen

530 xring chain on 68 650ss

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