Drive chain

htown16 · Feb 18, 2016

When I installed my drive chain on my 72 Commando the axles were almost at the back of the slots. Now that it has a couple of thousand miles on it, the chain needs some slack taken out of it but there is very little adjustment left. Any suggestions?

pete.v · Feb 18, 2016

You should be able to take a full link out and run the adjusters up. If you have any usable adjustment left, even if very little, use it up first.

Remember a full link taken out equals a half of length to be taken up by the adjusters.

kerinorton · Feb 18, 2016

19 tooth front sprocket = 98 link rear chain
21 tooth = 99 link
sounds like you have 100 links. Remove 1 complete link. if too short, put your adjustor nuts in front of the lugs. Don't recommend fitting a 1/2 or crank link with 2 removable links, especially as the chain sounds like it is worn.
When this one wears out, buy an IWIS 99 link [ sold as 107 links ] from Andy Chain. Mine has done 2000 odd miles now and still hasn't needed adjusting. [ for those who live in Godzone, I have some of Andys chains here ]

Dereck

Fast Eddie · Feb 18, 2016

kerinorton said:
19 tooth front sprocket = 98 link rear chain
21 tooth = 99 link
sounds like you have 100 links. Remove 1 complete link. if too short, put your adjustor nuts in front of the lugs. Don't recommend fitting a 1/2 or crank link with 2 removable links, especially as the chain sounds like it is worn.
When this one wears out, buy an IWIS 99 link [ sold as 107 links ] from Andy Chain. Mine has done 2000 odd miles now and still hasn't needed adjusting. [ for those who live in Godzone, I have some of Andys chains here ]

Dereck

+ 1 on Andy's chain....

It made me realise just how used to dealing with inferior crap we have become!

andychain · Feb 19, 2016

It is a fact that Jap chains and the cheaper options do not have crank links available to make the odd links.

I had a right lashing recently from a lad who should have fitted a 99 but asked for a 100.

There really is no way to get decent life without having the correct length chain as adjustment is tight on
most Brit classics. Taking links out of a worn chain to make it fit is also a bad idea.

Most dealers, note the word most, just want to maximise profit and it is easier to say we "cant get them",
cranks, than supply the correct chain with the crank riveted in. Even then there is a right way and a wrong
way and I have seen failed chains with it done wrong. See older posts.

Andy

pete.v · Feb 19, 2016

andychain said:
Taking links out of a worn chain to make it fit is also a bad idea.

Andy

Yes, but in this instance the axle was near the end point already. Although a moot point, the requester maybe should have taken a link out when first installed. Anyhow and for what it is worth, I think the chain is young in tis lifespan.

acotrel · Feb 19, 2016

Perhaps you should have a look at the rear sprocket and see if you can pick up the centre of the chain where it goes around the sprocket ? If the chain is stretched, it can damage the teeth on the sprocket by riding up. When the bike is under drive or back-off, the chain should pull down neatly all the way around the sprocket. If you can pick up the centre by one millimetre, it is probably too much. I use single row Japanese MX chain both primary and secondary on the Seeley, seems to be pretty good, and the price is not too bad.

andychain · Feb 19, 2016

Just wont get crank links for the Jap chain

concours · Feb 19, 2016

andychain said:
Just wont get crank links for the Jap chain

I got a dozen 530 DID brand half links for $10. Seem to work ok.

cjandme · Feb 19, 2016

kerinorton said:
................When this one wears out, buy an IWIS 99 link (sold as 107 links) from Andy Chain. Mine has done 2000 odd miles now and still hasn't needed adjusting.... ]Dereck

I know that I will be buying an IWIS drive chain (it will match my cam chain). For me, there is no ignoring the facts, such as the one reported above from Dereck. ,,,,,,,,,I'm just sayin'

andychain · Feb 19, 2016

Concours the price says it all

htown16 · Feb 19, 2016

I'm always a little confused when someone says take a link out. Unless you were to fit a crank link don't you have to take 2 links out?
Anyhow went out and did some counting. Bike has a 19 tooth sprocket and I counted 100 links on the chain. Right now it is almost completely at the back end of the adjusting slot. So I assume I can safely remove 2 links down to 98 and not end up with the chain too short.
I'm also building a 74 850 and it has a 20 tooth sprocket. Would a 98 fit it or do I need to special order a 99 link?

L.A.B. · Feb 19, 2016

htown16 said:
I'm always a little confused when someone says take a link out. Unless you were to fit a crank link don't you have to take 2 links out?

Yes, when someone says "take a link out" they usually mean remove one inner and one outer link so the chain can be rejoined again using the split/master link.

kerinorton · Feb 19, 2016

Htown. Look at my first post here. You need 98 links. It may not be the recommended thing to do, but you will have to shorten it to 98 links. If I sold that chain to you, I would have advised you what to do and you would be running with a 98 link chain [ based on you saying you have a 19 tooth sprocket on the g/box ].
Dereck

htown16 · Feb 19, 2016

Thanks Keri, that was good info. Shorten it to 98 is what I intend to do. Chain has less than 2000 miles on, has always been well lubed. Can't pull it very far off the middle of the rear drum sprocket so looks like it is only modestly worn. What about the 20T sprocket on the 850 I'm building?

kerinorton · Feb 19, 2016

20 tooth sprocket probably ok with 98 links. Its only 1/2 a pitch different from the 19 tooth relative to chain contact area. I changed my 20 tooth to a 21 tooth on my 850 though. There is something to be said about and uneven tooth number will mate better with every link of a chain [ probably an uneven no of pitches on a chain will do the same thing as well ].
Dereck

1up3down · Feb 19, 2016

What about the 20T sprocket on the 850 I'm building?

I have a 20 T front sprocket, my chain is getting worn and so I will be ordering a 99 from him soon, per his recommendation with me today

kerinorton · Feb 20, 2016

I changed the 20 tooth for a 21 on my 850. then used a 99 link chain.
Dereck

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