Triumphrat

meister · 04-30-2007, 06:06 PM

Well I got a new chain last week because it's looking kind of loose and is almost to the end of adjusting. Also a co-worker of mine that rides an old cafed bwm checked it out and said it is fairly stretched for 5000 miles. Anyone ever replace a chain this soon? I know I get on it at ever other light. Also I'm not sure of the previous owners riding habits. One more question is about the new chain. It is a DID x-ring 525. On DID's web site they say the chain is good up to 750cc. Since my Bonnie is a 790 will this be a problem. The chain was bought at Newbonneville and I know they post on here. Maybe they can help.

Baltobonneville · 04-30-2007, 10:34 PM

The spec is for a 525 chain, from the Haynes manual. I wouldn't put much stock in the 750cc "limit". I don't think that these bikes are putting undue stress on the chains or any other components.

What I was wondering is why you think you have to replace the chain at 5000 miles? It's normal for them to have some slack, the spec is 25-35mm, and some riders on this forum say to stay on the loose side of that. Mine has only been adjusted three times in 5000+ miles, and my last "adjustment" pretty much left it where it was.

The wear spec is 321mm from pin 1 to pin 21, although you're supposed to hang a 10-20kg weight--somehow--from the bottom run of the chain to measure this across the top run.

I did notice that the chain adjuster from new seems to be far back in its range, but I suppose that's the way they make them.

Maybe riders with more mileage can tell us when they decided they needed new chains.

RedBird · 04-30-2007, 10:41 PM

The DID 525 is what Triumph put on the bike, so I would not worry about that. The only way I can think of one wearing out one of these chains in 5K miles is to run it too tight. Adjust the chain according to the owner's handbook and try to adjust it close to the loose end of the specs (1.0"--1.37"). Remember, measure the chain slack on the side stand and adjust on the center stand if you have a center stand.

My guess would be that the previous owner used some chemical on the chain (to clean it) that destroyed the O-ring seals. This could cause a very short lived chain, IMHO.

I have 20,000 miles on my chain, and I have adjusted it three times. It is still in good shape, and I probably get on it more than you do--I have the NARK, Togas, and modified igniter with a rev limit of 8100 rpm. :-D I try to clean and lube the chain every 500--1000 miles, but I fail to do so more than I probably should. I do not use any lube that attracts dirt...IMHO, that can be hard on chain life.

Larry

ohiorider · 04-30-2007, 10:50 PM

Until my W650 and T100, I'd been ridinig shaft-drive bikes for the past 20 years. I was given some bad info when I purchased the W650 .... " you don't need to lube the chain, it's an O-ring that's been lubed by the manufacturer...".

Well, that knocked my chain life down to little more than 15000 miles, and it was really shot by then.

From that time, I've been averaging 20000 miles per chain and sprocket set, but I've been lubing the chain every 400 or so miles with PJ1 Blue lube. The Bonnie chain looks pretty good at almost 17000 miles, and a buddy ran his first chain and sprocket set on his Bonnie to 24000 miles.

You should probably check some web sites (DID Chains) that will provide you with a description of worn chains and sprockets, with some pictorial examples of wear. This will give you a better idea of what condition your chain and sprockets are in.

Bob

DickBender · 05-01-2007, 06:59 PM

I recently upgraded the chain & sprocket to 530. The chain and sprockets (in XW 530) were cheaper than a X525 chain.
Why?
I'm glad you asked the 525 is not a very common size, while the 530 is almost universal on bikes above 750cc.
The old chain was stuffed and I was meticulous about cleaning it. 28000 km.

chaingang.com.au
Not the greatest website ever but give em a call or an email.

rmak · 05-01-2007, 07:54 PM

I don't want to resurrect an old topic unnecessarily, but do people still agree with the WD-40 theory of chain lubrication? This was promoted a few months ago and on the strength of what I read I cleaned and lubed the chain using that light spray stuff. I've always been a heavy chain oiler before, and I used that white spray stuff on my last chain driven bike. This chain wear discussion made me start thinking about it again. Thanks.

Geoff · 05-01-2007, 08:42 PM

huh?

RedBird · 05-01-2007, 10:24 PM

rmak,

WD-40 is mostly kerosene with a million dollar add campaign. There is NO lubricating properties in WD-40, nor is there ANY Water Displacement properties--other than what may be in kerosene. WD-40 will not hurt your chain if you use it to clean the chain; however, I would recommend using it from a container that is not a spray can (much cheaper) AND using a lubricant on the chain after cleaning. The lubricant is mainly for the chain roller to sprocket surfaces, IMHO.

Larry

Wake up call for all your WD-40 worshippers :-D

ohiorider · 05-01-2007, 10:30 PM

Larry - you make a good point about non-spray containers of WD-40. I purchased a gallon can of the stuff which I use for a variety of cleaning tasks, including wiping down the chrome wheels on the Bonnie, and wiping down the chain and rear sprocket. Lots cheaper, and the can doesn't run out of propellant at the most inconvenient time.

Bob

PS - the gallon will outlast me ...it's over 3 year's old, and I've barely put a dent in it.

rmak · 05-01-2007, 11:03 PM

Unless I've gone completely senile (some possibility of that) I'm convinced I read a kind of long topic with people suggesting WD-40 only on the chain. I've tried to sort in a couple of different ways and didn't find it. Anyhow, glad I asked. Back to oiling the chain and cleaning it off the back wheel.

Just for my mental health, if anyone else remembers the topic with WD-40 on the chain (to lubricate, not just clean), I would appreciate hearing that there really was one. Thanks!