Renthal sprockets

[northwind]

I use Renthal sprockets, naturally they do last less well than a quality steel one will, and that effectively wipes out the chain too, but they're not disasterously awful. Unhardened alloy sprockets like Vortex are total mince, I've read of people wearing them out in under 5000 miles, the renthals use a hard anodising process which does seem to make a difference.

Steel makes more sense though... What you're getting with alloy is a bit less weight, which you won't feel, and of course the corrosion resistance, but I've never had a steel sprocket rust either. Oh yeah, you absolutely can't neglect an alloy sprocket set, a stiff chain will rip it to bits in no time- you obviously shouldn't neglect steel either, but you can get away with more abuse.

Why do I use renthal then, is the question? Well, they're pretty, and the bike is a fair bit lighter than usual because of cumultive mods, of which this is just one, which is helpful for me with my weak leg. The accelerated wear just never really bothers me, they still last a reasonable length of time.

What's reasonable Northy

Originally Posted by northwind

I use Renthal sprockets, naturally they do last less well than a quality steel one will, and that effectively wipes out the chain too, .

How so?

Surely a chain is worn out when the rollers/roller pins wear ... how will having cheese sprockets accelerate this? If anything having 'sacrificial' sprockets would wear the OUTSIDE of the rollers LESS?

Not lubing it WILL destroy it in no time mind

[northwind]

Just because after 10-15000 miles you won't want to put new sprockets on the existing chain, as it'll have stretched and worn a bit. The chain itself would probably still be good for more miles so you could stick it on a new set if you wanted, but it doesn't seem like a good plan to me.

Reasonable = approximately 16000 miles from the last one I think including 2 winters, despite some spells of neglect... I'm not sure if it would have lasted longer, the chain had a stiff link and from then on the sprockets wore like mad, my fault... I'd expect more than twice that from quality steel. Thing is, for a lot of people that's years of riding, so the wear isn't always an issue. If you do high annual miles anything but steel is madness really, even for my moderate use steel makes more sense but I don't mind.

Originally Posted by northwind

Just because after 10-15000 miles you won't want to put new sprockets on the existing chain, as it'll have stretched and worn a bit. The chain itself would probably still be good for more miles so you could stick it on a new set if you wanted, but it doesn't seem like a good plan to me.

Why not?

You answer is probably going to be because they will wear faster ...

My response will be so what?!?!

It'll still probably work out cheaper to put a second set of sprockets in, wear them slightly prematurely and spread the chain replacement out than the wear benefit of replacing the chain every time

[northwind]

I could see that one going either way... The chain will definately be more worn than, say, a 15000 mile old chain on good sprockets, and it'll eat the new sprockets much faster than a new chain would I think, I'd be surprised to get half the normal life from the new sprockets but that's a guess. Also there's the labour involved, which isn't huge but it's all a consideration. Considering how rarely it happens, I'd either fit a whole new set or, if saving money is the object, fit steel, personally.

ok then, where to get a good quality - not too expensive, sprocket set & chain?

Originally Posted by northwind

I could see that one going either way... The chain will definately be more worn than, say, a 15000 mile old chain on good sprockets, and it'll eat the new sprockets much faster than a new chain would I think, I'd be surprised to get half the normal life from the new sprockets but that's a guess. Also there's the labour involved, which isn't huge but it's all a consideration. Considering how rarely it happens, I'd either fit a whole new set or, if saving money is the object, fit steel, personally.

Chains are more of a pain than sprockets to change ... also I think your wear rates might be a bit pessimistic ... lets face it, neither of us really know ....

All I know is that I fitted a new chain (it had tightsots) to old/part worn sprockets the other day coz they were in OK condition and logically, I really can’t see how it will accelerate wear to any great degree!!!!

Originally Posted by Blue_SV650S

Sounds like you need to oil/lube your chain more often ... there is so much 'flung' oil on my sprockets, they'd never rust now even left at the bottom of the sea!!

What's a reasonable amount of fling to get on the rear wheel Blue? I put a Scott Oiler on last spring and, although I have adjusted the flow so that it drops according to the destructions, I get appreciable fling onto the back wheel on a rideout.

Originally Posted by ejohnh

What's a reasonable amount of fling to get on the rear wheel Blue? I put a Scott Oiler on last spring and, although I have adjusted the flow so that it drops according to the destructions, I get appreciable fling onto the back wheel on a rideout.

I don't have a scott oiler (on this bike), I just put old engine oil on the chain every couple of days (every day if it has been wet) ... so I get loads of fling!! - looks a bit messy, but so what, nothing is gonna rust?!?!?

My chains last forever mind, so it's all good