Chain & Sprocket replacement

[inspectorgadget]

Hello People, I'm new to the forum, new to not having enough cash to get someone else to get dirty :( so have just purchased a set of tyres / Chain/Sprocket set for my K3 (faired). Anyone know of any pitfalls I should look out for when changing the chain/sprocket set (know where I can get a manual (foc on web)/ taking off the wheels to get the tyres done.... Am pretty competent technically, but have not tried this before - jut bought X-ring Gold C&S Set / Conti Sport Attacks - thanks!

[riktherider]

to shange the front sprocket, the easier way is to leave the rear wheel in, then you can wedge a bit of timber through the wheel and swingarm, so when you try to undo the front sprocket, the wheel stops against the timber and you can easily undo the nut. remember to get a new lock washer as well. alternatively, if you have a buddy, he can press the rear brake, which allows you to undo the front sprocket. same in reverse aswell.

[rictus01]

manuals on the home page Here (http://www.sv650.org/) (then FAQ/ fourth article down "23/01/01 - You can now get an SV manual" link at end)..

Cheers Mark.

[inspectorgadget]

Many thanks for the advice, looking forward to a day sitting on my drive next week, with a beer in one hand & a big lump of wood in the other & seeing how things pan out.... BTW, I can just keep the old chain tensioners can't I, they just need to be reset?

[rictus01]

where abouts in surrey are you, you never know ask nicely and you maybe able to get someone pop by and point and laugh, Errr no I mean lend a hand :D

Cheers Mark.

[inspectorgadget]

....nope can't find that manual, looked in all the sections... maybe my glasses need changing :confused:

[inspectorgadget]

Woking...actually Knaphill... no fear of me doing it during my time though, especially now I can leave the oars at home :D

[rictus01]

....nope can't find that manual, looked in all the sections... maybe my glasses need changing :confused:

home page (click the logo above left).

FAQ & How to's button on the left menu (5th one down).

fourth article down titled "23/01/01 - You can now get an SV manual"

link at end (click the word here on this sentence at the end "Or you can download from this site here")

select the one you want and download.

Cheers Mark.

[rictus01]

Woking...actually Knaphill... no fear of me doing it during my time though, especially now I can leave the oars at home :D


That'll be the Guildford Massive area then, as I say, if you need help it never hurts to ask, normal price is tea & biscuits ;)

Cheers Mark.

[inspectorgadget]

Eureka!! Thanks Mark

BTW - if I get stuck I'll shout (but probably only at the cat)

Ian

[rictus01]

Eureka!! Thanks Mark

BTW - if I get stuck I'll shout (but probably only at the cat)

Ian

Why :smt102 cat a mechanic then :smt044

[riktherider]

cats are good to shout at. i have dogs so i shout at them. they dont punch back like humans do!

[Alpinestarhero]

Cats just give you a funny stare. Then walk over with their tail in the air, rub up against you and try their best to dissolve your frustration.

Or, they head towards the cuboard with their food in

Matt

[RhythmJunkie]

I suppose this is a bit late but its good info with pics.

http://www.webbikeworld.com/t2/motorcycle-chain-sprocket/

[northwind]

This is one of the few jobs I don't do myself... Well, I get a clip link and fit it all myself, then get my dealership to rivet it. Reason being, it costs me hardly anything- a fiver if they're busy, but they've done it for free in the past. The price of even a good chain tool is a few times that, and with a scottoiler chains last a long time, I don't do enough miles for it to pay for itself in a sensible timescale...

Course, you can rivet the link with a pair of hammers, but I'm a cackhanded monkey and I'd get it wrong.

[yorkie_chris]

What about endless chains?

Seems a good idea to me, convinces you to get some grease in the chassis bearings while you're at it.

[northwind]

Seems a good idea to me, convinces you to get some grease in the chassis bearings while you're at it.

:notworthy: It shouldn't take a chain change to convince people to do it of course, but nobody ever does, then they complain about how bad their handling is :) Endless chains are fairly uncommon though, if you buy OE for a bike you often find them but aftermarket tends to be... ended?

[Lissa]

We picked up our replacement OEM chain and sprocket set today. £97. Which is very reasonable IMO. The chain is endlesss but the kit includes a link if you want to break it and rivet it to facilitate fitting.

[Biker Biggles]

I reckon an OEM endless chain is best.They just seem to last so much longer than the ones you rivet after fitting.Greaseing up the swingarm linkages as a by product of fitting it can only be a bonus too.

[yorkie_chris]

£97. Which is very reasonable IMO.

Just out of curiousity, does anyone know if you can get different than standard gearing with the OEM parts, mine is wayyy over geared with the 33bhp kit.

[petevtwin650]

Wonder if the kit for a GS 500 would fit. Guess that would have lower gearing.

Or a Vstrom 650?

[inspectorgadget]

Why :smt102 cat a mechanic then :smt044
Yep & probably reason for me joining this forum though, it taught me all I know, which is precisely nowt :)

[inspectorgadget]

Must admit, the more of this thread I read, the more I think I may take it ot a dealer

1. Not sure if my chain is sealed or endless, if endless, sort of scuppers my DIY idea

2. At what stage will I know I'll have to remove the swingarm? Looking at it from a laymans point of view, are we saying a sealed chain will not fit on the sprocket without me doing this...if so...aw feck!

[petevtwin650]

A quick look at your new chain will soon show you if it's endless or not. If it's not OEM then I would say it will need riveting. So you will need to invest in a special tool. You could do as Northwind does, change the sprockets and get a spring link and then go directly to a garage to get them to rivet it.

[inspectorgadget]

Ah..I think I'm following, an OEM is made for bike so sealed & no need to rivet, but non-OEM is probably 'endless' so will need to be measured for correct length, then spring linked, then rivetted to seal.

So in both cases no need to remove arm...that is my fear, if I know I have to do this, then it's straight to the dealer

[Biker Biggles]

Eh No.
An endless chain is just that----a complete circle.Most chains are supplied as a length,not joined up,and with a separate link which is used to join the ends together.These can be fitted without removing the swingarm,but need to be rivetted up by someone with the correct tools and who knows what they are doing.
I suggest you take it to a bikeshop and get them to fit a new chain and sprocket set.

[inspectorgadget]

Cheers - I did actually see what you meant just got a bit dyslexic with the teminology #-o Just wanted to know if or if not I had to remove swingarm & you have clarified that now - Thanks :D

[northwind]

On the subject of OE, the OE for SVs is DID isn't it? I think B&C Express sell DID steel sprockets, so if you really want the endless chain you could get that from Suzuki, and possibly the different sprocket elsewhere. Or, you can swap between S and N models for 1 tooth change on the rear.

[RhythmJunkie]

Must admit, the more of this thread I read, the more I think I may take it ot a dealer

Years ago everyone used to do their own maintenance and repairs and servicing! Why? Cos no-one had enough money to pay a mechanic to do it!

Nowadays people have more cash to throw away so the industry have been quick to take advantage.
Take note before you decide on throwing your cash at a mechanic!

Years ago oil was simple and needed changing often.
Machining was crap so running in for ever was required.
Tyres were dire and wouldn't grip wet or dry.
They were always puncturing cos the rubber was useless and steel radials hadn't been invented.
Wheels were steel so changing tyres was easy so was mending punctures cos most bikes would only do about 90 flat out and 0-60 in about 28 seconds!.
Servicing was easy cos you could see all the bits and you were able to get at them, they were designed to be user friendly.
You could change your brake shoes at the side of the road and be on your way in half an hour.
Just flip open the holder to your air filter, wash in warm & soapy then oil it up a bit and that was that for another 1000 miles.

:Welcome in the 21st century:

(contradiction 1)
Oils are quite complex these days and protect like never before. Yet they still expect you to change it every month after telling you how good it is!

(contradiction 2)
Running in today is simpler due to much better machining, closer tollerances and bench redlining!!! Yet they still tell you to go really careful for the first 500 miles just like they did in 1979! Why?

(contradiction 3)
Tyres today are nothing short of a miracle, you can get yer elbow on the road while cornering without trying and thats in the wet!! The modern construction makes them near indestructable as anyone witnessing a burnout will testify. Modern plugs and sealants make excellent repairs as the lack of fear from litigation proves. Yet you are told that any tyre repairs not done by a specialist may blow out and send you to the RAC man in the sky! But they just told me how tough and amazing their tyres were and well worth £130 each?? I'm confused!

(contradiction 4)
The biggest obstacle to self-servicing a modern bike is the difficulty of accessing the bits. Its the same with modern cars. They are designed to be difficult so you are "forced" to use a trained mechanic. They offer you a 2 year warranty as a sweetner then tell you that any self servicing and the warranty is void. Yet all the servicing for the first 2 years is basic stuff right down to changing your coolant. Basic servicing is doable by anyone, even quiet extensive stuff like brake pad replacement and clutch plate replacement just requires a little knowledge and the odd special tool, which once purchased will probably outlast you!
The point I'm making is that they are willing to offer you a good warranty on a couple of new plugs and some oil which tells you something.....what? Oh yes...that their product is one reliable piece of kit which only needs a drop of 21st century oil to prevent it from blowing up in your face and making you look like Father Biggley!

(special contradiction 5)
Changing your brake pads at the side of the road? Hmmm! The industry would call that a 'specialist' job best performed by a "brake specialist". Say....£90? Brake specialist my R's! If you look out for wear & tear then this should never happen but you could probably replace them more easily than the old fashioned shoes, you certainly don't have to take yer wheel out!. Side of the road? Perfectly doable!

(contradiction 6)
Lastly the air filter. Actually one of the most important bits and should never be underestimated. The "power" of a new air filter is legendary, also cleaning your existing one is a good idea if its a spongey one! If easily got at then an airline on a paper one is also good! Perfect excuse to hold up everyone at the local Sainsbury's airline while you take your bike to bits to blow out the air filter hehehehheee!
Just don't let them tell you its a specialist job!

The satisfaction you get when you "know" you oil and sparks etc are new and fresh and tight is an adrenalin rush on its own. Be your own mechanic its a great feeling! Know things have been done and done properly and save a fortune too! Its only knowledge and its available to everyone! Don't let them frighten you into thinking you're useless cos yer not! I know a managing director who was frightened to do his own maintenance till he saw how easy it was! His own words...."but you should let a mechanic do that?"...... :rolleyes:

[RhythmJunkie]

Why is taking out your swing arm frightening? I took one out of a Superdream and an RD400 to grease 'em up for the winter, I can't remember it being difficult? A bit time consuming and messy but not difficult!


Ahhh ang about....that'll be a specialist job that! :-dd

[northwind]

I think suspending the bike freaks people out a bit, for some reason. Also, taking large bits off is scary to people even when it's straightforward.

[RhythmJunkie]

I can see your logic! :)

[Tiger 55]

Woking...actually Knaphill...
Ah, the impossible romance of a swift half in The Garibaldi...

[petevtwin650]

Why is taking out your swing arm frightening? I took one out of a Superdream and an RD400 to grease 'em up for the winter, I can't remember it being difficult?

They had centrestands though didn't they?

I reckon it's like Northwind says it's the mechanics of supporting the bike coupled with the apparent size of the task.

I've got an Abba stand, with the swingarm removal adaptors, but I still find excuses not to do it.:oops: :smt088

[RhythmJunkie]

Yep that is true....even lubing me chain is a pain with the SV.
To do list:
1/ buy paddock stand! :)

[chazzyb]

Yep that is true....even lubing me chain is a pain with the SV.
To do list:
1/ buy paddock stand! :)

Or

2/ Buy a centrestand.

[RhythmJunkie]

Ooh didn't know you could! :)

[pencil shavings]

I think suspending the bike freaks people out a bit, for some reason. Also, taking large bits off is scary to people even when it's straightforward.

This is so true, we are ruled by fear that we arnt good enough at what ever; Buy this face wash or you will have spots and the girls wont want you
Stick to the diet or the boys wont like you
Buy this big gas guzzling moster of a car or everyone will think you have a small d**k
Kill all the germs in your house will 50liters of bleach etc. under fear of causeing a new plague epedmic and killing your childen.
everyone is a terroist - be affriad
etc, you get the idea.


BUT I dont suscribe to this and always try to play with my bikes myself, I think the first thing I did was tighten the chain on my RS125, then do the spark plug, then chain/sproket under the watchful eye of my uncle who also fabricated a padock stand of it!

Anyway, my message is - try and do it, if it dosent work and you give up, put it back together and take it to the shop. BUT TRY FIRST :cool:

[2mths]

Is there an ignore feature on the site where you can hide some people's posts? Some make me so angry it would be so nice to avoid the riding blood pressure.

[RhythmJunkie]

Is there an ignore feature on the site where you can hide some people's posts

Yep...click on 'private messages' at the top right corner of the page.
Then 'click buddy/ignore lists' the rest is self explanatory! :)

[yorkie_chris]

Isn't that only for PMs?

[RhythmJunkie]

Could be right there dude! :(


.....though it does say 'miscellaneous'! :(

[Richie]

to shange the front sprocket, the easier way is to leave the rear wheel in, then you can wedge a bit of timber through the wheel and swingarm, so when you try to undo the front sprocket, the wheel stops against the timber and you can easily undo the nut. .

Also make sure where you put the timber through the wheel is not the part where the shraider valve is... :smt087 (lesson learn't the hard way...)

[inspectorgadget]

[quote=RhythmJunkie;1256758]Why is taking out your swing arm frightening? I took one out of a Superdream and an RD400 to grease 'em up for the winter, I can't remember it being difficult? A bit time consuming and messy but not difficult!


Ah!! Those were the days, my 1st road bike was a 'spanking new wet-dream & then an RD350LC, what a difference!

[inspectorgadget]

Ah, the impossible romance of a swift half in The Garibaldi...


Been in the Corwn once & Hunters for lunch a couple of timess... & why have a swift half when you can have 9 or 10....:drunken:

BTW - Been rushed off feet all week...feckers at work made me redundant so looking for job...darn it!

Am attempting Chain / Sprockets Saturday AM, cos off to a closed supercar 3/4 mile drag shootout on Sunday...should be fun

[RhythmJunkie]

my 1st road bike was a 'spanking new wet-dream & then an RD350LC, what a difference

One looks like a motorcycle and the other is a motorcycle? :smt003

One wheelies the other can't?

One of them falls over you pick it up....the other one falls over you get a few passers by to help you pick it up? :)

[iaincX04]

Hi all

It seems to be a really common thing, but I've just been told that I need a new chain and sprocket (my chain's eating into the top part of the chain guard so I want to get it sorted ASAP).

I've seen loads of kits for sale on Ebay and B&C which I can order ok, but I don't have any tools/garage facilities at home so if any members near Hemel Hempstead know what they're doing with sprockets and chains, and fancy earning a few extra quid please email me. Or, if anyone can recommend somewhere reasonable to get it done (for about 100 squid), I'd really appreciate some garage recommendations. My local one wants over 200.

Ta
Iain

[shortz]

Ive just finished changing my chain and sprockets and its a fairly messy time consuming job..... but straight forward.

The only thing i'll say is dont start until you have the RIGHT TOOLS. without the right tools the job would be quite difficult.

Firstly, you need some method of riviting the chain. i wasnt going to splash out on the special tool so i improvised.
i changed the sprockets, you need a size 27 socket head to remove the axle and a size 32 to remove the front sprocket. id also suggest havin a very long handled rachet to remove the front sprocket, you could pull all sorts of muscles trying to loosen the bolt.
The chain being removed was endless, so i had to use a mini angle grinder to remove the studs on one link of the chain. I used a centre punch and hammer to remove the pins. EASY

Attach the new chain to the old one and drag it through onto the front sprocket. disconnect the old chain and with the new link connect the ends of the new chain together.
Here comes the improvisation, place the chain link plate onto the pins and use a g-clamp to squeeze it on. i wouldnt use a hammer for this as it could deform the pins.

once the heads of the pins are through (about 1.7mm of pin showing) i used a lump hammer and a normal hammer to deform the soft heads of the link. this makes it impossible for the link to come back out.

JOB DONE.

This was the first time i did the job, and alltough im pretty well kitted out with regards to tools i needed to buy a size 32 socket head (€32) and a set of G-clapms (€20, i only wanted 1 but had to buy a set of 4)

My advice is, if you have the time and patience, oh and money, go for it. Your gonna need decent tools. Get as far as ya can and if ya need tools go buy them.

[CB1ROCKET]

Hi all

It seems to be a really common thing, but I've just been told that I need a new chain and sprocket (my chain's eating into the top part of the chain guard so I want to get it sorted ASAP).

I've seen loads of kits for sale on Ebay and B&C which I can order ok, but I don't have any tools/garage facilities at home so if any members near Hemel Hempstead know what they're doing with sprockets and chains, and fancy earning a few extra quid please email me. Or, if anyone can recommend somewhere reasonable to get it done (for about 100 squid), I'd really appreciate some garage recommendations. My local one wants over 200.

Ta
Iain


Is this a garage trying to scare you into getting your chain changed? Sounds like to me the chain is too slack. Have you adjusted it recently?

[2mths]

I'd love to know what chain riveters proper workshops (in dealers or elsewhere) use. The one I have (borrowed) cost it's owner a fair whack from his local dealer. Having done just 2 chains with it I'm not sure it'll do many more. It bends when you rivet up the pin.

[iaincX04]

Hi all

Many thanks for the hints & tips to a newbie rider who needed to get a new chain & sprockets fitted.

I ended up ordering a Kit from Stealth products http://www.stealthproducts.co.uk/ who were recommended on here.

Ended up with Renthal Sprockets, and new X-Ring chain for £86. Got it fitted for £50 at my local Suzuki dealer (who took about 15 mins to do it start to finish!).

Thanks again for all the input, am well chuffed that I managed to save £50 off the original dealer price for a standard O ring replacement.

Ta

Iain

[Spanner Man]

I'd love to know what chain riveters proper workshops (in dealers or elsewhere) use. The one I have (borrowed) cost it's owner a fair whack from his local dealer. Having done just 2 chains with it I'm not sure it'll do many more. It bends when you rivet up the pin.

Morning all.

I have 3 different riveters. The official DID one, the official RK one. These cost around £85 each.
I also have a 'Whale' riveter which is the one I use mostly these days, as I tend to supply Tsubaki chain which have solid tipped pins.
The 'Whale' costs around £55, is very robust, & can be used on CLF type rivet links, (these are the ones with a dimple in the tip of the pin).
However, using the 'Whale' on a chain when it's fitted to the bike is a little tricky, & requires practise to get it right. It can also be a bit painful as you have to hold the riveter whilst striking it with a hammer, & you can scrape your knuckles on the rear wheel if you're not careful. (ask biker Billy).

It's not a problem for me cos I'M HARD!!:D

Cheers.

[yorkie_chris]

It's not a problem for me cos I'M HARD!!:D

Cheers.

Pfft Southerners.

Do you ever use the technique of putting a big hammer behind and hitting with a small hammer from the outside of the chain?

[Spanner Man]

Pfft Southerners.

Do you ever use the technique of putting a big hammer behind and hitting with a small hammer from the outside of the chain?

Enough of that Northern Monkeyboy!!:D

I used to use the time honoured two hammer technique to good effect, back when God was a boy, & I had hair!:D
When using the Whale riveter there's not enough room on most bikes to get anything behind to support the Whale when clouting it, & there's always the danger of something slipping a damaging the wheel or swinging arm. So I prefer to let my MANSIZE southern hands to do their stuff.

When using the Whale it really helps to have the chain tight, & the bike in gear. I find around 3 or 4 sharp taps with a 2lb club hammer to be enough.

Cheers.

[Biker Biker]

Thanks for all the useful tips..... I've printed off the linky info, ticked all the boxes for the tools, picked up an Xring and standard sprocket (£124 in total)
I've bought a riveter/ chain splitter thingy (£24 thanks to Mr Honda).

Ready to rock and roll