So what do you all think of DID chains?

[fastdruid]

Originally Posted by Spanner Man

Some years ago there was an issue with DID VM grade chain, in 520 & 530 sizes. They were cracking on the sideplates. Both DID & Bickers (the importer), were frankly downright appalling in their attitude towards the problem, & I have avoided using DID ever since.

Hmmm, how many years ago? I only ask as my last chain / sprocket change on the VFR was because the (Scotoiler lubricated) DID chain broke a sideplate.

Druid

[Spanner Man]

Good morning all.


It was during late 2000 that the dodgy chains were supplied. I had 9 chains that I fitted, crack in 2001.

DID & Bickers claimed it was our road salt! Which as it happened to a chain I fitted in June, which broke in July is obviously cobblers.

The problem was only with gold chains in 520 & 530 VM grade. It didn't effect 525VM or 530ZVM which were the only other gold chains DID produced at the time. Nor did it effect black chain from DID or any other manufacturer.

I have always felt that DID gold chains were somewhat harder than their black counterparts, due to the extra effort required to press the sideplate on. I suspected that there had been a change in the production process which had led to the problem.
I had 9 chains crack, & I had replaced lots more that I had supplied, at my own expense so I was somewhat hacked off. However, despite really having the bit between my teeth I couldn't get to the bottom of it.

Speaking to the Bickers rep recently, I was given the story that the problem was due to an independent importer bringing in a load of reject chains that should have been destroyed. Utter Baloney if ever I've heard it!

I have since been suspicious of DID chains & have heard of isolated incidents of the same probem. So either there's still an issue, or the one you had was old stock.


Cheers.

[fastdruid]

This would have been purchased I think 2004, I can't remember the grade off the top of my head but it was a gold 530 DID chain.

To be fair it was after ~30k.

Druid

[yorkie_chris]

Originally Posted by Spanner Man

I have always felt that DID gold chains were somewhat harder than their black counterparts, due to the extra effort required to press the sideplate on. I suspected that there had been a change in the production process which had led to the problem.

If they'd just added the coating that would make the pins larger/hole smaller and put a large stress around the plate.

Where on the plate were they cracking? If it was due to stress like that I would expect it to be vertical from the center of the pin.

[Spanner Man]

Originally Posted by fastdruid

This would have been purchased I think 2004, I can't remember the grade off the top of my head but it was a gold 530 DID chain.

To be fair it was after ~30k.

Druid

That would be about right for an old stock chain. Despite it doing 30k it shouldn't have cracked a sideplate.

YC. The sideplates were cracking in all directions. Some had cracked from the pin outwards, & some had cracked along the length of the sideplate between the pins. This is what lead me to believe that the sideplates had been over stressed when they were pressed on during manufacture.

The worst one I had, was a 530 VM from a Bandit 600 that had 13 cracked plates, not including the one that snapped, or the one next to it that got mangled


Cheers.

Originally Posted by Spanner Man

Some years ago there was an issue with DID VM grade chain, in 520 & 530 sizes. They were cracking on the sideplates. Both DID & Bickers (the importer), were frankly downright appalling in their attitude towards the problem, & I have avoided using DID ever since.

You're talking about nearly 10 bloody years ago, isn't it about time you moved on?

Have DID had any problems since... did they have any problems before? Answer - No

FWIW, I was one of the reps going out and trying to clear up the mess with the VM chains that broke - not nearly enough of them were legitimate claims as plenty were unlubed and some were even rusted to hell when they broke. In those cases we had no option but to refuse the claim regardless.

Some individuals tried claiming for far more damage than was done by the chain breaking, such as the local idiot, who had no idea where I lived, who claimed the chain caused him to crash and then tried to show me the accident damage that was very obviously quite old. I helpfully pointed out to him that I knew the previous owner of his bike and that the damage he'd just pointed out was there when he'd bought the bike 8 months earlier. He strongly denied this so I made a simple phone call on speakerphone to my friend and asked him the reg number and to describe the damage that he sold the bike with, and then asked who he sold the bike to. It didn't help matey's case that he hadn't even bothered to remove the bike club sticker my mate had put on the tailpiece above the rear light or change the number plate with my mate's nickname on the bottom. The only damage to that particular bike was to the rear sprocket and some minor scratches to the rear wheel, which we sorted for him.

If you'd seen the hassles we had with people during that debacle you'd appreciate why we were a bit untrusting in some cases. I saw many cases dealt with quite quickly to the owners satisfaction, but no-one ever mentions the good times do they.

[yorkie_chris]

Obviously whoever was the rep in spanner mans area did not do such a good job of clearing the mess up...

We were all given the same brief on dealing with it. Head Office would get a call from an individual or dealer, rep goes to see the bike and assess damage with an insurance assessor. Between the two of us we decide if the claim is legit and take action to repair if it is, or tell the owner that his rusted to hell or dry as a bone chain would be regarded as neglected and their claim is invalid.

[yorkie_chris]

Well your accounts don't match, Stewart there describes what I believe is technically termed "blamestorming" or a "clusterf*ck".

Even if chains are rusty and dry you don't expect them to fail there, for that to explain it you'd be seeing a hell of a lot more neglected tsubakis snapping.

Originally Posted by yorkie_chris

Well your accounts don't match, Stewart there describes what I believe is technically termed "blamestorming" or a "clusterf*ck".

Even if chains are rusty and dry you don't expect them to fail there, for that to explain it you'd be seeing a hell of a lot more neglected tsubakis snapping.

Didn't matter if the dryness contributed or not. It clearly states in the maintenance instructions that the chain should be lubed regularly. If there was obvious evidence that it wasn't then we rejected the claim on the grounds that the chain was neglected. It's much the same as making a warranty claim for knackered cams when you've not bothered to get the bike serviced. You may well have changed the oil yourself, but you failed in your warranty obligation to have it changed and recorded by a professional at a recognised legitimate bike workshop.