Chain too long
Discussion
Bear with me here as I'm a bit of a bike noob; I bought my first bike a few weeks ago and have put about 500 miles on it since. It's a 2001 VFR800. I'm having a great time on it but I decided to check the chain tension and lube it today for the first time. When I was buying it, the seller put a new set of chain and sprockets on as the last set were done.
Checking it today it seemed a bit loose, but no matter how I adjusted the rear hub it wouldn't tighten up any further. Checking online I see that it should be a 108 link chain, but I counted it and there are 110 links. There are also two connecting links (master links?) on the chain for some reason.
The chain wear indicator is missing but you can see where it was stuck on previously in the below photo and how the rear sprocket is far past it:
I don't have the correct chain breaker or riveter tool (apart from a bicycle one!) but how big a job is it to remove a couple of links and then join it again? Can it be done on the bike without removing it? I'm all for buying new tools if they aren't extortionate and I assume they would come in handy in the future or is this a job better left to an expert?
Cheers
Checking it today it seemed a bit loose, but no matter how I adjusted the rear hub it wouldn't tighten up any further. Checking online I see that it should be a 108 link chain, but I counted it and there are 110 links. There are also two connecting links (master links?) on the chain for some reason.
The chain wear indicator is missing but you can see where it was stuck on previously in the below photo and how the rear sprocket is far past it:
I don't have the correct chain breaker or riveter tool (apart from a bicycle one!) but how big a job is it to remove a couple of links and then join it again? Can it be done on the bike without removing it? I'm all for buying new tools if they aren't extortionate and I assume they would come in handy in the future or is this a job better left to an expert?
Cheers
The important thing to answer before you start messing with your chain is how much movement you have when you move the chain up and down
https://www.bennetts.co.uk/bikesocial/news-and-vie...
https://www.bennetts.co.uk/bikesocial/news-and-vie...
keirik said:
The important thing to answer before you start messing with your chain is how much movement you have when you move the chain up and down
https://www.bennetts.co.uk/bikesocial/news-and-vie...
ETA unless I misunderstand your photo that missing sticker won't be a wear indicator. Can you imagine if your sprocket was lined up with that (you wouldn't be able to anyway)https://www.bennetts.co.uk/bikesocial/news-and-vie...
keirik said:
The important thing to answer before you start messing with your chain is how much movement you have when you move the chain up and down
https://www.bennetts.co.uk/bikesocial/news-and-vie...
Yea I should have said, it's about 2" or so and the manual states 1.2" max https://www.bennetts.co.uk/bikesocial/news-and-vie...
The fact that the chain has both too many links and two softlinks (the joining links) suggests that the previous owner has been a bit of a bodger.
I would suspect that he has bought (or been given) the wrong size of chain and only realised after he has fitted it.
He has then shortened it a little by cutting out a link but has just cut the chain anywhere instead of removing the original softlink.
Either that, or he's double-bodged two bits of chain together...
No matter what, the chain is too long and needs shortened. Take the bike to your local bike shop and pay the man £20 to do it properly.
I would suspect that he has bought (or been given) the wrong size of chain and only realised after he has fitted it.
He has then shortened it a little by cutting out a link but has just cut the chain anywhere instead of removing the original softlink.
Either that, or he's double-bodged two bits of chain together...
No matter what, the chain is too long and needs shortened. Take the bike to your local bike shop and pay the man £20 to do it properly.
Pictures show just one joining rivet. A rivet is two pins.
If you can identify the chain / ask previous owner then buy a new rivet link and a remove a few links - angle grinder taking the tops of the pins off is my method.
I'd be tempted to just buy a 45t rear sprocket in your position and not mess with the chain at all.
If you can identify the chain / ask previous owner then buy a new rivet link and a remove a few links - angle grinder taking the tops of the pins off is my method.
I'd be tempted to just buy a 45t rear sprocket in your position and not mess with the chain at all.
moto_traxport said:
Pictures show just one joining rivet. A rivet is two pins.
If you can identify the chain / ask previous owner then buy a new rivet link and a remove a few links - angle grinder taking the tops of the pins off is my method.
I'd be tempted to just buy a 45t rear sprocket in your position and not mess with the chain at all.
Sorry I took a photo of the same joining link but there is another half way around the chain. I'm kinda hesitant to start changing the gearing already since I'm just getting used to it as it is. I think I'll call round my local mechanic tomorrow and let him sort it. If you can identify the chain / ask previous owner then buy a new rivet link and a remove a few links - angle grinder taking the tops of the pins off is my method.
I'd be tempted to just buy a 45t rear sprocket in your position and not mess with the chain at all.
Rubin215 said:
The fact that the chain has both too many links and two softlinks (the joining links) suggests that the previous owner has been a bit of a bodger.
I would suspect that he has bought (or been given) the wrong size of chain and only realised after he has fitted it.
He has then shortened it a little by cutting out a link but has just cut the chain anywhere instead of removing the original softlink.
Either that, or he's double-bodged two bits of chain together...
No matter what, the chain is too long and needs shortened. Take the bike to your local bike shop and pay the man £20 to do it properly.
Yeah a bodger sounds about right, although to be fair it was fairly cheap. I think for peace of mind I'll let a pro handle it. Cheers! I would suspect that he has bought (or been given) the wrong size of chain and only realised after he has fitted it.
He has then shortened it a little by cutting out a link but has just cut the chain anywhere instead of removing the original softlink.
Either that, or he's double-bodged two bits of chain together...
No matter what, the chain is too long and needs shortened. Take the bike to your local bike shop and pay the man £20 to do it properly.
edit: Just out of interest if a bike takes a 108 link chain, is that 108 altogether or 108 + the joining link?
Edited by BugLebowski on Friday 23 August 21:31
BugLebowski said:
I don't have the correct chain breaker or riveter tool (apart from a bicycle one!) but how big a job is it to remove a couple of links and then join it again? Can it be done on the bike without removing it? I'm all for buying new tools if they aren't extortionate and I assume they would come in handy in the future or is this a job better left to an expert?
You will need to buy a new soft link of the correct size as well. Not a difficult job with a decent chain breaker/riveting tool and it has to be done on the bike.Gassing Station | Biker Banter | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff