Front drive chain sprocket wear

[1970Cadillac_imp]

yes it was

[dave]

You guys are getting 10k more miles out of your chain and sprockets that I got, how are you doing this? I clean my chain regularly (wire brush and use high-compressed air to remove dirt), maintain proper adjustment, and lubricate regularly (about every 300 miles). My bike has only been ridden in a very slight rain twice, and for less than 20 miles each time. I am using Chain Wax as a lubricant. and I am easy on my shifts and my starts. 75% of my riding is two-up, but I'm not sure how much effect this has on chain life. My sprockets both looked good (I replaced them anyway), but the chain developed a tight spot (the slack deviated by almost one inch from tightest spot to the loosest spot). So what's your secret?

[the Ferret]

Geez mine are really abused compared to yours Dave. They get adjusted when I get my tires replaced. Rarely in between. I ride in all weather. It gets lubed a couple of times between tire replacements, but I'm not fanatical about it. I lube it when it looks dry or I realize that I haven't done it in a long time. I use Chain Wax as a lubricant. I never clean it. I ride solo and am easy with take offs and shifting. I don't know why you got a kink in yours, but it would have lasted as long as ours without the kink I'm sure.

Some of the guys on the NC forum said they only got 8,000 miles out of their stock 520 chains. I'm at 22,000 and still going with the same treatment I give the CB chain. I think I've adjusted it once in between tire changes.

[peterbaron]

^^+1^^ ...and I service my chain (when due) right after ride when chain is warm
Any applied coat will penetrate tight spots and minimize or no splashing when riding next time.

[GoldOxide_imp]

You guys are getting 10k more miles out of your chain and sprockets that I got, how are you doing this? I clean my chain regularly (wire brush and use high-compressed air to remove dirt), maintain proper adjustment, and lubricate regularly (about every 300 miles). My bike has only been ridden in a very slight rain twice, and for less than 20 miles each time. I am using Chain Wax as a lubricant. and I am easy on my shifts and my starts. 75% of my riding is two-up, but I'm not sure how much effect this has on chain life. My sprockets both looked good (I replaced them anyway), but the chain developed a tight spot (the slack deviated by almost one inch from tightest spot to the loosest spot). So what's your secret?

I have gotten over 55000 kms on a chain and sprockets and they still didn't need replacing. I never clean or scrub my chains. In fact, I hate chains.

I use [url=https://www.tutorochainoiler.com/]Tutoro.

How is your gear shifting style?

[dave]

Some of the guys on the NC forum said they only got 8,000 miles out of their stock 520 chains. I'm at 22,000 and still going with the same treatment I give the CB chain. I think I've adjusted it once in between tire changes.
[/quote]

Thanks Ferret. If some guys only got 8,000 miles out of their original chain then I am doing really well. I can remember the old days (late 70's) before I ever owned an o-ring chain, and I would only get about 8,000 - 10,000 miles per chain on my CB750F. I never cleaned my street bike chains then, but I did keep them adjusted, and lubricated.
How is your gear shifting style?
[/quote]

I shift gently. I really ride my CB1100 conservatively.

As I stated, my chain slack varied by about one-inch as the chain completed one complete revolution. The tight / loose spots were not consistent to a location on the rear sprocket, so I ruled out a rear sprocket with uneven wear. There were not any links that were visibly binding, or kinking, that would cause the slack to change so much. I find it hard to believe that the chain stretched more in one area that in another area, but I have the chain in the garage and I plan to make some measurements on it with a caliper to see if I can detect uneven chain stretch - one of these days.

On the topic of chain wear, and chain stretch: Does a chain really stretch - do the individual link side-plates actually elongate? Some people say they do. To do so, the chain would have to exceed it's maximum rated yield strength, which I don't think is likely with a bike that is ridden reasonably. My guess is that wear develops on the rollers and the pins, allowing the center-to-center distances between adjoining links to increase, and this is why a sealed chain lasts so much longer because this wear is greatly reduced. Any feedback or comments is appreciated.