Drive chains

[j98sprint]

What's the best chain out there? How many miles, on average, are you getting out of it? What is your method of cleaning and lubing?

[Hinckley]

I don't have a Sprint but, I swapped from a Regina to a D.I.D. X ring last fall. I only have about 1000 miles on it, so far so good.

I have a '94 Sprint and had problems with the factory regina chain. It went bad after 7,000 kms. and and the factory wouldn't look after it under warranty. This has left a bad taste in my mouth ever since. On the other hand the DID replacement that I purchased lasted about 30,000 kms with few adjustments and I am hoping for even longer from the Tsubaki X-ring chain that I installed with new sprockets last year. No other significant problems and in general am very pleased with the bike. Looking forward to a new Trophy 1300 next year to replace it though????

[j98sprint]

I got 20,000 miles out of my stock Regina chain. I then went to an x-ring chain, can't remember the brand, but it broke 10,000 miles later at 90mph on I-95 in So. Florida. It damaged the sprocket cover. That was one time that I wished that I had one of the new Sprints with the simple plastic sprocket covers. As you know, the vintage Sprint sprocket cover carries the clutch slave cyl. and the oil dipstick and costs $100 to replace. I then went with OEM sprockets and OEM Regina chain. At about the same time I fit new tires, brakes, K&N air cleaner, synced the carbs, so, of course my riding went from very aggressive to very, very aggressive and I wore out that chain in a short 10,000 miles. I'm now on a some o-ring chain I bought at the local shop. I've slowed down a little so I'm looking for some better mileage out of this one. I'll keep you posted.

I have a 96 Daytona, got 17,000 out of the stock chain. Replaced with D.I.D x-ring chain. Have 21000 on the clock and so far so good. Last D.I.D chain I had was on an Interceptor and lasted 30,000.

Have any of you changed the chain yourself? Are there any special tools and such?

thanks
:-D :-D

[Slinky]

You will need a chain splitter & rivetter, usually they come together in a combination tool.
Or, you could cut the old chain off and use a spring link to join the new one, but spring links are not recommended.

On 2003-02-07 11:11, mgrey wrote:
Have any of you changed the chain yourself? Are there any special tools and such?

thanks
:-D :-D

[j98sprint]

Mgrey,

About your question concerning chain tools. Triumph has a part number for a really high quality chain tool set. It has three parts; A chain splitter, a side plate press-on tool and a peening tool. It's made by Regina and it's part number is 3880205. The retail list was $103 but my local dealer let me have it for $79. It's such a beautiful tool set that I would have gladly paid full price.

I love tools.

j98sprint.

The trick I used to change the chain and sprockets was to do the job myself, remove the old chain with an angle grinder (remove the rivets and tap the pins out) and put the new one on with a spring link. Then ride the bike down to the dealer who fitted a new rivetted link in place of the sprung one!
As a general rule Spring links are bad news!