Mediocrely maintained chain life?
 

Just a quick query, I've done almost 11k on my original chain, I'm not the best at maintaining it and I still haven't got around to getting a scottoiler, it was making a lot of noise last week but I tightened it and oiled it at the weekend and its a lot better today, just wondering how it is doing in line with wear expectation, I suspect it's past it but wanted to get some other opinions.

Re: Mediocrely maintained chain life?
 

11k sounds really good for a chain with no scotoiler. Keep it oiled and adjusted correct and should last you a good amount of time. I would expact 11k from a cheap o ring chain.

Re: Mediocrely maintained chain life?
 

You can check whether your chain is worn by measuring the distance between a certain amount of pins.

Exactly how many pins and what the maximum distance is I've no idea! I'll check my manual and get back to you. A quick check is to pull the chain away from the rear sprocket and see if it lifts more than half a tooth height.

My bike has about 12000 miles on it, and I think the original chain, but then I do make a point of cleaning, lubing and keeping it adjusted.

Re: Mediocrely maintained chain life?
 

With it properly adjusted try to pull it away from the rear sprocket at three o clock.Not at 1500 hrs I mean horizontally towards the rear.If it lifts significantly away from the cogs it is worn.

Re: Mediocrely maintained chain life?
 

I use my bike all year round and the original Suzuki chain is now getting definitely worn at 24k miles. I would expect to get more with dry miles only, after a ride in the wet the rear of the bike is covered in a fine grit.
The local gravel pits perhaps.

The chain is oiled with engine oil from a washing up liquid bottle. I just lube the exposed section of chain round the sprocket before leaving home.

I did try one of the sticky chain lubes, PJ1 but I think the grit off the road sticks to it to form a nice grinding paste.
Have recently extended the chain guard to stop the road crap from the tyre hitting the chain.

Re: Mediocrely maintained chain life?
 

Ah interesting points of view, thanks for those, most threads I have read are about people meticulously maintaining their chains etc but mine is usually covered in grime and I don't adjust it as often as I should, hopefully that will improve now I've ordered a paddock stand too.

mine is used all year round in any weather and it gets cleaned in the summer a few times but rarely in the winter, protective dirt theory and all that heh.
will check the wear with the pulling from the sprocket when I next get chance, thanks for all the feedback.

Re: Mediocrely maintained chain life?
 

Protective dirt theory falls on its rse when attempted on a chain! Only proper solution is a flow of oil from any of the automatic ones on the market. Loobman, scottoiler, lubetronic etc etc. This also cleans the chain for you.

Re: Mediocrely maintained chain life?
 

I'm still on my original chain and have done over 18k. I think it will need changing in the not too distant future as the difference between the tighest and slackest spots is fairly significant.
I think I have only got to this mileage as I clean and lube (Wurth high perf dry lube) on a regular basis.

Re: Mediocrely maintained chain life?
 

I have noticed the same thing. And you have to rotate the rear wheel more than one turn to find the tightest and slackest spots.