For the past few weeks I've been commuting 120 miles per day. My chain and sprockets were replaced about 5k ago. (new front 16 tooth up from a 15t last week)
My chain has been needing adjustment every 300-400 miles which seems a little often, but I keep it clean and lubed.
Today I went to adjust the chain and noticed this...
It IS a steel sprocket, the chain rollers look fine, the front sprocket I removed last week looks normal also. So why is the rear so torn up?
Is this caused from a loose chain? or am I an idiot missing something obvious?
That sprocket is totally worn out, are ya sure it was replaced 5k ago , I say no way, even aluminum doesnt wear that fast. Id say it was never replaced 5 k ago?
That sprocket is totally worn out, are ya sure it was replaced 5k ago , I say no way, even aluminum doesnt wear that fast. Id say it was never replaced 5 k ago?
Yep, a new chain and sprockets were installed a little over 5k miles ago.
I'm going to reevaluate my chain adjusting procedure....
It's on the center stand and everything feels tight. No play in the swingarm or wheel bearings
I wasn't the one who installed the chain or rear sprocket. It was done at a motorcycle shop who's owner was a huge VFR fan and owner. (It's why I chose the shop)
I either use PJ1 blue lable chain lube or motor oil every 3-400 miles when I adjust.
Oh, and No wrecks that I'm aware of.
I'll have to go deeper tomorrow and find out what is going on.
Thanks for the suggestions. :)
That sprocket is so bad, your whole set up is trashed(no doubt).
Id like to see the front sprocket, it wears about 3 times the rate.
you have massive wallowing out of the teeth, a loose chain wont cause that, an excessively out of spec chain can, how many times have you adjusted the chain in that time frame?
It should take about 50,000+ miles and running totally dry to see that kind of wear with a steel rear , if running excessively tight chain would look like that, but in 5k
even that bad seems unlikely. Could that sprocket be some kind of Pig metal?
The front sprocket i pulled off last week looks good. PBI 366 15t USA I have a JT 16 tooth on now
Rear sprocket only says "43" unless it is stamped on the inside against the hub ? I'll post any info on it when I pull it off. ( don't want anyone wasting money on one)
Here is the 15 tooth that was on the bike for the past 4500 miles or so.
That sprocket is so bad, your whole set up is trashed(no doubt).
Id like to see the front sprocket, it wears about 3 times the rate.
you have massive wallowing out of the teeth, a loose chain wont cause that, an excessively out of spec chain can, how many times have you adjusted the chain in that time frame?
It should take about 50,000+ miles and running totally dry to see that kind of wear with a steel rear , if running excessively tight chain would look like that, but in 5k
even that bad seems unlikely. Could that sprocket be some kind of Pig metal?
It really doesnt make alot of sense
I've been adjusting this set up every 3-400 miles. More often than the original set up before. I was thinking it was an initial stretching period, but it just never ceased needing adjustment...
The chain rollers look great. no out of round rollers from what I see so far.
A steel sprocket should not wear that bad in 5K miles....unless you maybe have like 200/300 HP going to that rear wheel and drive in deep sand all the time. Just doesn't make sense.I wonder if there's a defect in the heat treatment of that particular sprocket that made it soft and wear like that. Even then, I don't think that alone can cause such wear in 5K miles. Do you hear or feel any anomalous noises or vibration if you spin the wheel in neutral while on the center stand? I'd even risk running the bike at low revs in gear on the center stand to see if there's any kind of gnashing or popping int he drivetrain that might be causing that. If you do find the problem, I suggest you also replace both sprockets and chain with new ones just to start out fresh and avoid passing any wear in the system on to the new sprocket.
If the chain required adjustment frequently from day one then it was a poor chain and started stretching from day one. That combined with aftermarket sprockets which would likely be of lower quality. Can't use that front sprocket either after having that chain on it.
For guaranteed quality go with OEM sprockets and a D.I.D X-ring chain.
The front sprocket looks alot better than I expected, it actually looks like a recently replaced sprocket( for aftermarket), cant say that for the rear though.
If you been adjusting the chain every 3 or 4 hundred miles,chain is pretty much stretched, roller condition that you see on the outside isnt going to show that. Its possible due to the severe wear of the rear sprocket, all the chain adjustment was due to that and not the chain itself.
But stand the chain on the side plates, and try to make a half circle with it, how far will it bend?
Put the bike on the center stand and SLOWLY rotate the rear wheel with your hand for a full revolution or two of the chain. I would guess that you will encounter a tight spot somewhere in it. You will feel the resistance when that spot goes around the smaller front sprocket. Either way, you need to start over with a whole new set up. I would also start out by taking it back to the shop that did the work and in a very non-accusatory manner, ask why that would happen in such a short distance.
Thanks everyone. Unfortunately the shop that did the work is in Texas 1100 miles away, so it looks like its going to be lesson learned for me. This won't be the first time cheap parts have let me down.
I'll replace the whole sha-bang with quality parts this time.
The front sprocket i pulled off last week looks good. PBI 366 15t USA I have a JT 16 tooth on now
Rear sprocket only says "43" unless it is stamped on the inside against the hub ? I'll post any info on it when I pull it off. ( don't want anyone wasting money on one)
Here is the 15 tooth that was on the bike for the past 4500 miles or so.
That sprocket is so bad, your whole set up is trashed(no doubt).
Id like to see the front sprocket, it wears about 3 times the rate.
you have massive wallowing out of the teeth, a loose chain wont cause that, an excessively out of spec chain can, how many times have you adjusted the chain in that time frame?
It should take about 50,000+ miles and running totally dry to see that kind of wear with a steel rear , if running excessively tight chain would look like that, but in 5k
even that bad seems unlikely. Could that sprocket be some kind of Pig metal?
It really doesnt make alot of sense
I've been adjusting this set up every 3-400 miles. More often than the original set up before. I was thinking it was an initial stretching period, but it just never ceased needing adjustment...
The chain rollers look great. no out of round rollers from what I see so far.
I'll get a better look in the daylight.
Chicken and egg question, this, but I'd never heard of TYC chain before. That's not a good sign!
I have had problems with aluminum sprockets wearing quickly when commuting. Especially if you get a tight spot in the chain...if you have a tight spot, and don't realize it, if it's not where you adjust the chain, your tight spot gets tighter, and wrecks your aluminum sproket. It will reaaaally wear a steel one, as well.
I went with a DID 530 ZVMX Gold X'ring and steel spockets (stock front, 45t rear) from the sprocket center. I made one adjustment after 500 miles, checked at 1k miles (no adjustment needed), and it has remained in spec for the last several thousand miles. I spent about $265 on the setup, but it's supposed to last for 40k miles if well cared for. I highly recommend the sprocket center.
I'm thinking I over tightened the chain, plus it has a bind at the master link. It was doomed from day one...
I'm going to order a new chain and sprockets from sprocket center. What do you guys suggest, D.I.D. or RK ?
End of thread · 20 posts recoveredWayback Machine snapshot 7 Apr 2013