X rings and other things .

Greetings to all . Yesterday a D.I.D 520VX3 Chain , a 21tooth drive sprocket (in an Andover Norton bag) and a brake drum made in England ,arived from Holland. It took 18 days , Lett's fitt it I thought the 21 tooth was like a c clip in that it had a smooth side and a sharp side I , a few soft 0 for my bank passes with an old chain saw file and the sharp burrs were gone .The dummy axel and bearing etc fitted well. No wheel as yet. Upacked the the very greasy and VERY GOLDEN chain and wrapt it arround the sprockets and sat the ends in place on the rear sprocket.The joining link was in its seperate poutch and in that was poutch of white grease and wow is me a rivett type joining link Bugger . And so $ 663.01 including $30that my bank took for their fee later ,Oh but thats not enough our bank took $35 more you will have to send it to us and another $30to my bank $64 .31 making a total of Au$757.62 And so I searched and found a supplier (they used to call them shops) and got a breaker joiner for a further au $182.90 here in Aust . Au$940.52 A fool from his money is easily parted .(if somone could post the correct quote I would be greatfull )Chears and manny new years Ian

I always say: "why spend a little when you can spend a LOT!"
Merry Christmas

So is the Andover Norton 21 tooth gearbox sprocket actually suitable for a 520 chain?

Is the brake drum suitable for a 520 chain?

I would expect them to supply both in standard size 5/8" x 3/8"

I won't ask why you would need x-ring chain.

I've noticed that Australia is a vast sparsely populated country. So to me it makes sense to have a X-ring chain. Reading the instruction book for my B44, I'm supposed to take off the non-sealed chain every 2000miles (3200km). Clean it and cook it in a grease and graphite mixture. So the idea of doing that after visiting a next door neighbour seems a bit annoying.

X Ring chains are almost as maintenance free as a shaft drive! I run the Holland Norton Works version on my 920 and I don’t think I’ve had to adjust it yet since fitting it.

Not sure if the OP is complaining about the parts, or his bank, or the postal service, or what. But I would certainly vouch for the Holland Norton Works X Ring chain kit 100%.

I put a did 530 vx chain on the 850.
$85 on eBay, not bad.
Do those original back sprockets ever wear?
26,000 miles on mine and it still looks perfect.
The tool I have for setting the rivet link must be a lot less involved than the one Ian purchased.
This one was about $25. Works fine.
After that I put a 530vx on a Rapide and a 530 vx on the 650 ss.
It's not a big expense if you can stay with your existing 530 sprockets, provided they are good.
The 530vx is quite a bit narrower than the old O ring 530.

Glen

A master link is available for X/O ring chains

SteveA said:

So is the Andover Norton 21 tooth gearbox sprocket actually suitable for a 520 chain?

Is the brake drum suitable for a 520 chain?

Click to expand...

You use an Atlas 520 front sprocket with a spacer that centers it to where the 530 sprocket had its center. AN offers a 520 rear brake drum/sprocket suitable for cush drive hubs or the 3 bolt pre-'71 version; just need to source an X-ring chain and be prepared to remove some number of links such that the adjusters are where you want them.

I like the master link as a connector, but they usually come with a link that revits in place. In either case you will need a good quality X/O ring chain tool. When removing link(s) be sure to grind the revits flat or you will break even the best of tools pushing out the revits.

Best.

Best.

That must be an early Atlas part. Around 64 they switched both 650ss and Atlas to 530.
There were complaints that the 520 sprockets were wearing too quickly with the newfound power. The 50s twins were 520, but the most powerful beast then was the 99 with about 34 bhp.
The Doug Hele effect jumped that up to 49 for the 650ss, similar for Atlas.

RoadScholar said:

A master link is available for X/O ring chains


You use an Atlas 520 front sprocket with a spacer that centers it to where the 530 sprocket had its center. AN offers a 520 rear brake drum/sprocket suitable for cush drive hubs or the 3 bolt pre-'71 version; just need to source an X-ring chain and be prepared to remove some number of links such that the adjusters are where you want them.

I like the master link as a connector, but they usually come with a link that revits in place. In either case you will need a good quality X/O ring chain tool. When removing link(s) be sure to grind the revits flat or you will break even the best of tools pushing out the revits.

Best.

Best.

Click to expand...

Could you provide a part number or link to the AN 520 rear sprocket please? I looked on the AN site and could only find the standard sprocket. Cheers.
The other advantage of the x ring chain is it keeps the rear wheel cleaner.

I think I bought a 520 rear sprocket from RGM a couple of years ago.

bsaboss said:

Could you provide a part number or link to the AN 520 rear sprocket please? I looked on the AN site and could only find the standard sprocket. Cheers.

Click to expand...

I can't, and apologize. I have simply called my local British supplier and asked for one; it (they) come in AN warping, say "Made in England" and always fit, but they like the 530 rear sprockets/drums are still a PIA to fit into the cush drive pads.

Do, however, check this RGM link, I think it will cover your question.


Scroll down.

Best

Has anyone got a mileage for a 520 ?
Even on my low hp DR650 going from the stock 530 to 520 was a step backwards.

I'm not sure why people switch to 520 even now when there are narrow 530x ring chains. It adds a lot of cost ( see 1st post) and reduces sprocket life.
By dropping down to a 520 the tooth pressure increases by 50%!
Worst case scenario you might have to clean out a tiny bit of aluminium from the trans case. On most its already been removed by use.
The case is very thick right there, a 1/16 divot won't hurt.
On the 3 bikes I installed 530vx on, it cleared without any alteration.
Rivet type masterlink helps.

Glen

worntorn said:

I'm not sure why people switch to 520 even now when there are narrow 530x ring chains. It adds a lot of cost ( see 1st post) and reduces sprocket life.

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A 520 "O" ring chain on 520 sprockets that are properly aligned and maintained will, most likely, out live 3 (or more) top end overhauls; the 520 "O" ring chain is strong enough to tow a cruise ship. Additionally I wouldn't think the norrower roller would matter, but I certainly agree that they (the rollers) carry more load than a 530, however a 520 is fitted to motorcycles with more than double, virtually, any street Commando.

If an owners sprockets aren't worn your suggestion of fitting a narrow 530 would be the ticket; I did read, don't remember where, an "X" ring chain is not recommended for street use, no idea why.

The general case is that most Commando owners are still running with factory installed sprockets. At some point the same owners with worn ISOs will throw the chain off with a multitude of possible outcomes, none of which are likely to have positive consequences.

The OP paid an arm and a leg for the pieces, possibly a kit. If you do some digging and asking the 4 individual pieces are much less than when they appear in kit form (can't say for sure), so it is possible to spend less and get greater value. Changing the final drive is quite time consuming, but is a nice compliment to, virtually, any work done inside the primary case or gearbox.

When I build an English motorcycle I want the end result to represent a machine that is much better then it was turned loose from the factory; I don't build to a price point, and when I sell my work on I give a limited warranty of one year unlimited miles. I always lose money when I sell, but I really enjoy building; my financial losses are considerable less than keeping a mistress or the divorce attorney that is surely to become part of the marital armageddon.

Best.

SteveA said:

So is the Andover Norton 21 tooth gearbox sprocket actually suitable for a 520 chain?

Is the brake drum suitable for a 520 chain?

I would expect them to supply both in standard size 5/8" x 3/8"

I won't ask why you would need x-ring chain.

Click to expand...

(

Yes both sprocketts fit the new chain

#H21.

The narrow x ring 530 are a relatively new thing.
Until fairly recently it was necessary to switch to 520 in order to get the sealed chain to fit.
That's what I have on the Rapide that was switched over to sealed chain about ten years ago. I've worn out two sealed chains and one unsealed chain with that bike, still on the same top end and still good on leakdown.
On that bike, the sealed chains last about 20,000 miles for me. The first was an oring, the second was an xring that was supposed to be superior in every way. It lasted about the same as the Oring, 20,000 miles or so then you start adjusting which means it's done, the seals are poking out.

We have had some difficulty with early sprocket wear with the 520 setup on those bikes. 20,000 on a chain is a long way, just haven't found sprockets in 520 that will last that long. That's why I'm interested in getting back to a 530 setup but with the new narrow sealed chain.
I've got narrow 530x on the other Rapide, just installed, will monitor wear.
The Thruxton R came with x ring chain and alloy sprockets.
It's in 525 size and looks to be cooked at 22,000 kms, about 14,000 miles. Lots of torque on that chain!

A Norton top end should do 40,000 miles I would guess?
Hope so, mine is at 26,000 now and still tests well on leakdown.

Glen

Must be true if its on the net.....

The 520 is about a pound lighter but I'm pretty sure the HP gain claim between 530 or 525 and 520 is not factual.

Glen