chain tension

[geezer]

receintly i have been informed of the negative effects of running your chain to tight. these include output shaft seal leaking, damaged chain and sprokets, etc. obviously if your running your chain to tight there wont be enough slack in it for when the suspension compresses. now what about how loose you run it? now that i know the negatives on to tight a chain i have been purposel running with a loose chain. more than the spec in the handbook of .8 inches but not more than it takes to hit the bottom of the swing arm, that would be wy to loose. i ask you all with more miles on a bike than me. what works the best?

[blaine]

I always left about 1/2" of play. :) :2tup:

[geezer]

how many miles did you get outta your sprokets and chain? i would think that 1/2 in is to tight

[blaine]

how many miles did you get outta your sprokets and chain? i would think that 1/2 in is to tight
I put 30000 kms on a o-ring chain,and front sprocket.They showed very little wear when I sold the bike.I never had any more than 9/16" max.I always cleaned,lubed,and adjusted the chain every 1000 kms.Always cleaned with kerosene and lubed with PJ-1 chain wax.As you can see from my avatar that my bike was well looked after.
:biggrin: :)

[geezer]

so would that be around 22000 miles? well that kinda milage speaks for itself. sorry im american, dumb american at that. im trying to keep mine in great shape too. i just cleaned my chain too, first time ever cleaning a chain and ive been riding for 6 yrs :retard: never saw the need. but when i look at my baby gz all shiney then i see that gross chain i just had too hahaha.
now what about running loose like i am? anyone logged anymiles on a loose chain?

[blaine]

so would that be around 22000 miles?
Closer to 18500 miles. :tongue: :poke2:

[geezer]

told you! :biggrin: so no one else has an opinion? i hope you are all just sleeping and chime in the morning :yawn:

[Water Warrior 2]

Very early morning here. The chain is probably best at the max according to the manual. My opinion of course but I don't like the idea of an overly tight chain if it is set at the minimum. Also remember to rotate the rear wheel to find the tightest position and make your adjustments from that position. Really easy to do when you have a lift of some sort or a center stand.

[jonathan180iq]

A loose chain will chatter and bounce in the sprocket grooves, as it spins, wearing them faster than necessary.
Like you mentioned, a loose chain is just as bad as a tight chain for excessive wear on the driveline parts.

Just set it within the given limits and you'll be good to go for a long time.

[bonehead]

Got 24,000 out of my oem chain. I had the 16t sprocket on the bike and it was fubar when I replaced the chain. Now I have a new chain and back to the 15 oem front sprocket. I set my chain at approx. 1/2".

[geezer]

thanks for the numbers guys. i appreciate it. also jon thanks for that info that makes sence. guess ill stop letting my chain flop in the wind :tongue:

[Water Warrior 2]

Don't let this happen to you. 1:30 this morning a fellow on a bike had the chain come off and destroy the engine. 1800 kms on a new chain and sprockets. Seems the initial wear/break-in on the chain was too the extreme and he had not checked it since installation. At least he did not fall or suffer any injuries but it could have been a disaster.

[geezer]

yeah it could have. i had my own scary moment a few years back after popping a massive wheelie on my fzr the chain snapped and sent sparks flying everywhere. i wonder where i went wrong :??: :tongue:

[Water Warrior 2]

Sounds like you successfully found the weakest link. :2tup:

[PimpS]

Does the chain and sprockets kit for marauder gz 125 fits to gz250?
Thanks!

PimpS

[Water Warrior 2]

Does the chain and sprockets kit for marauder gz 125 fits to gz250?
Thanks!

PimpS
Good question. Your best bet is to go to an online supplier in Europe who sells 125 and 250 parts. The part numbers may be the same. I would think there "might" be a different number of teeth on the sprockets but you won't know until you do a search online. Chain size and number of links are likely the same if the sprockets are the same. From pics that have been posted the only visible difference is the upper engine parts while the bottom cases seem to be the same. This would be sensible from a manufacturing stand point to keep costs down.

[alantf]

so would that be around 22000 miles?
Closer to 18500 miles. :tongue: :poke2:

18,641 miles, 238.9 yards actually. :whistle: :crackup :jawdrop:

[PimpS]

Thank you Water Warrior! I'll check!

[Water Warrior 2]

so would that be around 22000 miles?
Closer to 18500 miles. :tongue: :poke2:

18,641 miles, 238.9 yards actually. :whistle: :crackup :jawdrop:
18641.645 miles. My calculator says 18641 miles 1135.2 yards. The computer says 18641 miles 1135.2 yards equals 30,000.8 kms. Where did the 0.8 kms come from ??

[alantf]

From a site called metric-conversions.

[Water Warrior 2]

From a site called metric-conversions.
I guess a 0.00266% difference is not that big in the grand scheme of things.

[PimpS]

Hey guys!

Too bad i don't have a pic, but seeing my chain i decided to check and buy a new chain.
Does any of you have experience and opinion on this chain:

http://www.wemoto.com/bikes/Suzuki/GZ_2 ... ty_X-Ring/ (http://www.wemoto.com/bikes/Suzuki/GZ_250_K2-K8_Marauder/02-08/picture/Chain_DID_VX_Heavy_Duty_X-Ring/)

I believe it should fit on my 2000 gz...

Thank you!

[Water Warrior 2]

DID makes a good product. Probably better than OEM chains in most cases. The X-ring is a good design and better than an O-ring chain. Properly maintained it should last a long time on a GZ.

[Gz Rider]

...

[PimpS]

OK, then you give me your blessing for x-ring chain kit? I must say that i'm having trouble to understand your words, cause of mine ignorance, Gz Rider...
Instead of having to wear out a larger amount of area represented by the donut, all I have to do it wear out ONE of the smaller edges of the x-ring in order for it to fail.

Thank you very much guys, I already got an email from a seller, and he's charging 98 euros.
I'll check a store in Austria!

Take care and drive well!

Primoz

[PimpS]

Just this:
The seller wrote me that he has a chain set DID X-RING 520VX2. Will call him and ask if he is sure that fits to gz 250.

[PimpS]

I smell my newbiness... Feeling like a child again... (Bikemaster is a label, chain x-ring is in one piece or you put it together like o ring...) ... :?

[Gz Rider]

...

[Water Warrior 2]

[quote="Water Warrior":2iststz1]DID makes a good product. Probably better than OEM chains in most cases. The X-ring is a good design and better than an O-ring chain. Properly maintained it should last a long time on a GZ.

I used an x-ring from bikemaster. I have somewhere between 13-14,000 miles on it and I measured it the other day as part of regular maintenance and it is still within the 12.57 inch spec.

I don't like the x-ring concept. To me I'd rather have a donut (o-ring) than a cruller(?) (x-ring). Instead of having to wear out a larger amount of area represented by the donut, all I have to do it wear out ONE of the smaller edges of the x-ring in order for it to fail. That said, I have seen no failure of my chain or heard of anyone else complaining about them and remember, I am always at war with the "new and improved". The chain I put in was part number 194068. I paid 85.00 from the dealer in 12/2009.[/quote:2iststz1]
The idea behind the X-ring is to have two seals as apposed to one on an O-ring. I too was a sceptic until I saw a good pic and explaination of the X-ring and how it sealed with two surfaces.

[Water Warrior 2]

I apologize for my lack of clearity. I try not to dicate my opinions unless I'm absolutely sure about something. What I was doing was to give you my experience plus what I see as the pluses and minuses and you could decide for yourself. I don't see any major problem with either design.

Yes Bikemaster is a brand. I don't know if it is a respected brand or not.

The only difference I am aware of between an x-ring and an 0-ring is the shape of the washers that are built into the chain. The o-rings are like a donut. It's hard to describe the x-ring. Try this link for a pic of an x-ring:

http://catalog.precisionassoc.com/produ ... ng/x-rings (http://catalog.precisionassoc.com/product/precision-associates-inc-x-ring/x-rings)

In that pic the ring has been cut so that you can understand its design.
Hah, posted while I was typing. Gives a good reason to consider the X without guessing.

The chains themselves look pretty much the same without very close examination. With both chains you will get a length of chain, a master link to connect the chain into one full peice and some grease to fill the master link during assembly.

[Gz Rider]

...

[Water Warrior 2]

It may be true that each seal is thinner but I would think the area between the two thinner seals would contain lube and help to prevent failure.

[Gz Rider]

...

[Water Warrior 2]

The design of the X may allow the rings to flex more and wear less as it goes around the sprockets. Just my opinion and no engineering degree to back it up. I did get better service from an X-ring chain as opposed to the OEM O-ring on the Vstrom. Both at 25,000 kms(15,500 miles) and the OEM was just slightly past it's service length while the X was just a little short of service length when measuring for chain stretch.