How knackered is my chain?

SPRIDDLER · Post by **SPRIDDLER** » Wed Sep 12, 2007 4:00 pm

Removed the dynamo this morning which ceased dyning at the International and I shall need some lights soon(winter draws on). Took me 20 minutes ('54 G3LS)to get it off and the the rest of this morning immaculating the bits - removing old silicone, cleaning the Buckingham seal etc. Wore latex gloves for the first time - What a fag! Spent quite a while trying to rub / roll off the last piece of silicone lurking behind the inner chaincase eventually to realise that what I could feel (but couldn't see)was a piece of the torn latex glove on my fingertip.
Found that the clip on the chain joining link was at the bottom of the gunge in the chaincase. For how long, Lord alone knows.
Anyway, the chain is 65 links (32 and a 1/2" long). I laid it out flat on the bench and pulled the ends around to form a bow shape. The max deflection (at the middle of the chain) is 5" which seems a lot to me. Is it? It was already fitted when I bought the bike 30 months and 16000 miles ago.
I've ordered a new chain from AMC Classic Spares since I need it by the weekend. I phoned JSL first but they can't take an order until tomorrow morning. Whilst about it I ordered a new dynamo chain, advance/retard cable and ammeter. Pity I can't wait for JSL but I'm a working chap who can't phone during the morning on a work day. No point ordering on-line since if they don't have stock I'll never know until the important reassembly bits don't turn up, then I'm stuffed for the weekend. (Not a whinge nor complaint but a statement of the reality of not being able to check stock / order by phone in the afternoon). Not a problem for me fortunately since there are other suppliers.
STOP PRESS
Just heard that I could check stock on-line at JSL. Sigh.

I'll put aside some time to learn to do it - once I've been on the 'Understanding Your Gas Bill' seminar and the three day residential 'Mobile Phones Made Easy' course.Edited by - SPRIDDLER on 12 Sep 2007 5:21:08 PM

itma · Post by **itma** » Wed Sep 12, 2007 6:00 pm

Sounds like one of those cheapo chains Neville, get a proper Reynolds chain.
Go on you know you're worth it.........

Don Madden · Post by **Don Madden** » Wed Sep 12, 2007 6:09 pm

Ahhh, you have it easy, Mate! Overseas orders are dispatched only on Thursday, & we have to wait for at least two postal delivery systems to deliver, then find out whats lacking.

Chains are usally checked by first pushing the length together, then pulling apart to see how much the chain as stretched. I first adjust the chain to take up excess slack, then see how much slack I can pull off the sprocket where it wraps around. !/2 roller diameter slack is excessive. Of course, this assumes the sprocket is in good condition.

I agree that your chain is worn, & it is wise to replace it.

Cheers, Don.

SPRIDDLER · Post by **SPRIDDLER** » Wed Sep 12, 2007 6:49 pm

quote:
Ahhh, you have it easy, Mate! Overseas orders are dispatched only on Thursday, & we have to wait for at least two postal delivery systems to deliver, then find out whats lacking.

Ah, Don, so you think we have it easy?
We have to show our passports and give mother's milkman's name just to get into the parcels collection office. And that's in addition to completing the 6 page, 40 question 'Postal Suitability (Senders and Receivers) Accreditation)' test. Don't know why they still insist on that - Nearly everyone gets at least 39 right these days. They put the failures down to the legalised Class B glue.
I measured my chain and it extends way above your figures. In future I'll put bromide in the chaincase instead of my usual Viagra 20/50.

SPRIDDLER · Post by **SPRIDDLER** » Wed Sep 12, 2007 7:18 pm

quote:
Sounds like one of those cheapo chains Neville, get a proper Reynolds chain.
Go on you know you're worth it.........

Thanks for the tip, Ken, but I've always bought mine from the Anne Summers 'H-D riders' catalogue. Order by phone anytime and it's delivered in a nice plain brown envelope too. Although I found the "Exciting, Free, See-Through, Pure Silk Workshop Thong" a bit constricting over the hernia truss, nevertheless it polishes the helmet a treat.Edited by - SPRIDDLER on 12 Sep 2007 6:43:10 PM

Merlin · Post by **Merlin** » Wed Sep 12, 2007 11:20 pm

Helmet

56G80S · Post by **56G80S** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 12:01 am

Don

That's how I do it, by laying the chain flat, minimising the length and then stretching out to see how much slack there is. But I seem to have forgotten the allowable stretch per set length of chain! I also would clean it first. I do this - horror - by putting it in a 2 litre plastic coke bottle with parafin and shaking the bottle vigourously for some time, leaving to drain. Later, old fashioned, I placing in melted, previously solid, graphite grease.

Spriddler - hope you're fitting the clip the right way round?

Johnny B

SPRIDDLER · Post by **SPRIDDLER** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 12:23 am

Oh Johnny! B good!
Course I did.