Magna Owners Of Texas

Public Forums => The Garage => Topic started by: Troystg on May 07, 2010, 11:01:37 PM

Title: Chain life span?
Post by: Troystg on May 07, 2010, 11:01:37 PM
Well I bought the new chain and sprocket combo from ebay yesterday and it should be here next week.  However a friend called and wanted to meet in Beaumont Saturday and I don't "think" I can make the trip on the current chain.

Robert had a spare that I bought and picked up tonight (Thanks Cajun) and I will be putting it on in the morning before the ride.

So as I was there and talking to him he asked how many miles I had on the old chain.  When I told him there was ~35K miles on the bike he said chains don't usually last that long..

I check and adjust my chain fairly regularly and the chain / sprockets have looked great until a month or so ago.  Then I started hearing the "crunching" sound from the drive system.  I investigated and it "appeared" to be th chain hence the new order and emergency local purchase.

But the question is, what is the expected life span of the chain?



Title: Re: Chain life span?
Post by: TLRam1 on May 08, 2010, 12:36:29 AM
I think you will recognize this bike Troy.

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Title: Re: Chain life span?
Post by: Charles S Otwell on May 08, 2010, 01:53:49 AM
QuoteWhen I told him there was ~35K miles on the bike he said chains don't usually last that long..

Sounds like you've got the formula for success with chains 8). Whatever you've been doing keep doing it, I think it would be next to impossible for anyone to duplicate anyone else's exact or even close results, just to many variables. You might find an average, but doubt you would be able to maintain it with any consistencency. Just my thoughts.
Title: Re: Chain life span?
Post by: Troystg on May 08, 2010, 06:46:12 AM
Quote from: TLRam1 on May 08, 2010, 12:36:29 AM
I think you will recognize this bike Troy.

Terry-

That is exactly it.  Same Purple color too.  :-)  The one I restored had an authentic "vintage" Suzuki checkered flag sticker on one of the side covers and one STUPID modification..  He put a "hood emblem" of a race horse on the front fender...

I have print pictures somewhere in storage and when I come across them again I will scan them to show you.

If you know someone interested in it I can give you the number to the owner.  He may still have it, and may sell it.  I personally would love to have it after all the work I put into it, but because of the pride thing, I would never offer to buy it from them.


It was a very nice bike but I still wouldn't trade Ole Blu for it.
Title: Re: Chain life span?
Post by: Troystg on May 08, 2010, 07:00:55 AM
Was looking for instructions this morning and came across this!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5BAojcQq6o

Title: Re: Chain life span?
Post by: Troystg on May 08, 2010, 10:09:31 AM
Just finished changing the chain...

Ouch was that painful.


Next time I am RUNNING to the belt conversion mod..

Title: Re: Chain life span?
Post by: Magnum Magna on May 09, 2010, 10:39:29 PM
I don't remember how many miles I had but it was around 40K before replacing it.
Title: Re: Chain life span?
Post by: hootmon on May 10, 2010, 06:48:23 AM
I would say my chain went about as far as yours did.. It did have some chain slap for a while, but I guess not bad enough for me to change it..  :lol:

Funny to me that the guy in the video has after market pipes, but then goes with a 17 tooth front sprocket.. I've never tried this, but unless I did mostly Highway riding, I wouldn't go with a 17... I would have figured he would have went with a 15, so the bike would jump off the line faster.. Just my two cents.
Title: Re: Chain life span?
Post by: Troystg on May 10, 2010, 01:03:07 PM
The voice in the video said chain swap was a 17K mile maint.

Mine was absolutely fine and then BANG in less than 1K miles it died.  Literally stretched beyond adjustability and got "crunchy" sounding.

The new chain worked fine and I was able to test the clip master link @ 6K rpms for 3 hours of the trip from Lafayette to Beaumont and back.

I will still swap it out with the riveted master at MM#8 but the clip will have to do for now.
Title: Re: Chain life span?
Post by: hootmon on May 10, 2010, 05:31:44 PM
Quote from: Troystg on May 10, 2010, 01:03:07 PM
I was able to test the clip master link @ 6K rpms for 3 hours of the trip from Lafayette to Beaumont and back.

I will still swap it out with the riveted master at MM#8 but the clip will have to do for now.

Just make sure the open side of the clip faces to the rear when is on top of the sprockets and toward the front when on the bottom. This makes it so IF the master link should come in contact with anything, it will force the link into the pins rather than push it out of the pins..
Title: Re: Chain life span?
Post by: Troystg on May 10, 2010, 06:02:42 PM
Quote from: hootmon on May 10, 2010, 05:31:44 PM
Quote from: Troystg on May 10, 2010, 01:03:07 PM
I was able to test the clip master link @ 6K rpms for 3 hours of the trip from Lafayette to Beaumont and back.

I will still swap it out with the riveted master at MM#8 but the clip will have to do for now.

Just make sure the open side of the clip faces to the rear when is on top of the sprockets and toward the front when on the bottom. This makes it so IF the master link should come in contact with anything, it will force the link into the pins rather than push it out of the pins..

As per instructions on the box I faced the opening in the clip OPPOSITE the direction of tire / chain rotation.

With that said, I "think" that would be the same orientation..