I'm sort of curious about this too...just because you read so much paranoia about these types of failures on sites like this. I just don't know if the statistics are there to warrant all that concern. I've cracked side plates on chains before, but never had a problem with a master link. I'm certainly no expert, so enlighten me!
i have to say i have never ever had a master link fail. not even in years of hare scrambles and motocross wear the chain load would be harder. always used clip style and never had one knocked off by a rock or log. i have broke a few chains but never at the masterlink. master links just dont fail often. the likely fail area would be the side clip or plate getting knocked off sideways, but since chains run in shear load to the pins, and not a tension load that could off pull the side plate, that is unlikely to happen
i have never snapped a master link... but i have snapped chains with less than 100 miles on them with a vfr. just pull up to light..rev the bastich to the moon..dump the clutch...2 things may happen..1, the front wheel goes up..the chain snaps and the wheel drops... or .2, the front wheel comes up and you rocket down the road... scary shit either way...
BusyLittleShop, Dec 3 2006, 11:14 AM Mercy... that's a astonishing rate of failures... please list the details of at least 8 of them???
You're kidding right? That's working at four different bike shops over 15 years. It's not like they all failed on my bike.
15 years = 5475 days (not including leap days). If I pick eight dates, can you recall what you had for lunch?(IMG:style_emoticons/oldemoticons/smile.gif)
gll429, Dec 3 2006, 11:14 PM i have never snapped a master link... but i have snapped chains with less than 100 miles on them with a vfr. just pull up to light..rev the bastich to the moon..dump the clutch...2 things may happen..1, the front wheel goes up..the chain snaps and the wheel drops... or .2, the front wheel comes up and you rocket down the road... scary shit either way...
Where was the battery vent tube routed? The venting gas can weaken hardened steel.
I recall a magazine article that went through the calculations to determine the engine power required to overload a chain of a certain tensile strength. Do I remember which one and when? No.
rhubarb, Dec 3 2006, 10:15 PM You're kidding right? That's working at four different bike shops over 15 years. It's not like they all failed on my bike.
I was serious... because if someone can't recall details then their whole warning rest on shaky ground...
There! I can't believe no one said it yet. (IMG:style_emoticons/oldemoticons/smile.gif)
But seriously. The only statistic that would concern me is if I wound up to be a part of the statistic. Even if link failure happens only 1% of the time it happens 100% of the time if it happens to ME. Every time you add another link you halve the "mean time between failure" of the link/chain.
From the previous debate here, I can tell that it's very much a personal opinion. In my opinion, there is already so much at risk on a motorcycle that amount to buy a longer chain in comparison to what could happen were there a failure does not make it worth the risk.
Best,
Dan
BusyLittleShop, Dec 4 2006, 02:46 AM I was serious... because if someone can't recall details then their whole warning rest on shaky ground...
Rhubarb,
I think that BSL isn't really looking for dates but more for details. I agree, few of us would ever record dates of something like chain failure. Especially if they were in the biz.
However, I think that being provided more detail about these occurences might be interesting (and helpful) to the conversation. If you could provide details, I know that I for one would find it very interesting.
Please note that I am not trying to challenge you. I am asking for purely intellectual reasons.
rhubarb, Dec 4 2006, 07:15 AM Where was the battery vent tube routed? The venting gas can weaken hardened steel.
This doen't occur while riding. I think you are refering to hydrogen permeation that may occur while applying a corrosion resistant coating to a hardened or high tensile strength steel, e.g. electrolytic Zn-Ni and Cd coatings.
rhubarb, Dec 4 2006, 07:15 AM I recall a magazine article that went through the calculations to determine the engine power required to overload a chain of a certain tensile strength. Do I remember which one and when? No.
Any math whiz around?
Engine power/torque is not the only factor. Chain slack also plays an important role. So here's a tip for gll429: before you "...rev the bastich to the moon..dump the clutch...", roll the bike back a few inches to take the slack out of the top half of the chain.
Seeing just one broken chain every two years doesn't seem like a lot. Do you know how many of these chains broke at the masterlink, and were these chains installed using the proper tools?
V4 Rosso, Dec 4 2006, 06:56 AM This doen't occur while riding. I think you are refering to hydrogen permeation that may occur while applying a corrosion resistant coating to a hardened or high tensile strength steel, e.g. electrolytic Zn-Ni and Cd coatings.
No, I was referring to somebody who has the battery vent tube outlet routed near the chain. The master link is the weakest link. To have a chain fail elsewhere usually requires some help.
V4 Rosso, Dec 4 2006, 06:56 AMSeeing just one broken chain every two years doesn't seem like a lot. Do you know how many of these chains broke at the masterlink, and were these chains installed using the proper tools?
Again, I don't recall the details of every one. And no, one every two years doesn't seem like a lot but it does happen. It seems rational not to tempt fate and willingly install two master links.
The most recent one I do remember involved a GSXR. The chain took out the sprocket cover and water pump at speed and left the rider stranded on the highway. It was a riveted link installed by the rider. Whether he did it correctly is unknown.
Remembering details of past events seems to be dependent on how unusual the event is. As I've seen a few failures it's no longer a significant occurence. Sonembody says their chain broke and I'm there to sell them a new one. There are much more worthy things to remember. If you asked me about unusual motorcycles and the strange people who ride them, I have a few stories.
rhubarb, Dec 4 2006, 11:08 PM No, I was referring to somebody who has the battery vent tube outlet routed near the chain. The master link is the weakest link. To have a chain fail elsewhere usually requires some help. Again, I don't recall the details of every one. And no, one every two years doesn't seem like a lot but it does happen. It seems rational not to tempt fate and willingly install two master links.
The most recent one I do remember involved a GSXR. The chain took out the sprocket cover and water pump at speed and left the rider stranded on the highway. It was a riveted link installed by the rider. Whether he did it correctly is unknown.
Remembering details of past events seems to be dependent on how unusual the event is. As I've seen a few failures it's no longer a significant occurence. Sonembody says their chain broke and I'm there to sell them a new one. There are much more worthy things to remember. If you asked me about unusual motorcycles and the strange people who ride them, I have a few stories.
What did BLS have for lunch? (IMG:style_emoticons/oldemoticons/biggrin.gif)
End of thread · 11 posts recoveredWayback Machine snapshot 29 Mar 2007