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Post by elnoodle the reasonable on Sept 27, 2022 17:54:01 GMT
In almost 40 years of riding bikes, I can't recall ever snapping a chain yet the Fireblade has now done it twice.
The latest one happened 5 minutes after it was MoT'd so I can assume it was properly tensioned (I checked last week but have done a 200 mile trip since then). It was lubed and had done no more than 2-3000 miles. Adjustment indicator was still in the green zone. Due to working from home it's not done many miles in the last couple of years but the chain seemed in good condition with no corrosion (plus it had just passed an MoT). It was dealer fitted. I recovered it from the road and it looks like the rivet link has snapped it's side plates.
So, is this just bad luck or is there potentially a problem with the bike?
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Post by mekon on Sept 27, 2022 18:09:51 GMT
It's too powerful. Get an A2 bike.
Maybe the rivets just weren't splayed properly? like overly done so the link wasn't moving properly?
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Post by elnoodle the reasonable on Sept 27, 2022 18:18:53 GMT
Aye that could be an explanation. Think I'll do the next one myself.
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Post by elnoodle the reasonable on Sept 28, 2022 8:32:45 GMT
Having thought about it, I reckon that the most likely cause is the rear suspension not being properly adjusted for my weight. I've never been a fiddler (fnarr) you see and I suspect that the rear is squatting excessively under power and stretching the chain. One tight spot is all it takes.
I'll add a bit of preload but also err on the side of slightly more play in the chain when I'm adjusting it.
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Post by mekon on Sept 28, 2022 9:41:08 GMT
Alternatively you could go on a MotoGP style crash diet and look like Aleix Espargaro. Or just go with a c spanner if you think that's easier.
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Post by pantah on Sept 28, 2022 18:25:57 GMT
My conclusion is bad luck. Seems like you did all the right stuff and chains are uber strong these days (apart from the weakest link)
Only once had one snap on the road, 1st day back on my Falco after a winter lay off so the reason was definitely poor maintenance and excessive use of the throttle.
Had one snap on the track and weirdly it whacked me on the back for good measure.
Was spectating at the southern 100 road races when a sidecar snapped the chain and despite the senior marshall yelling at the junior to not pick it up he did so with inevitable consequences as the fucker was red hot.
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Post by beefus on Sept 28, 2022 19:22:25 GMT
Is it the original shock?...how many miles?..
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Post by elnoodle the reasonable on Sept 28, 2022 20:28:03 GMT
Aye, original shock on 21k miles.
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Post by Diego the toe clipper on Sept 28, 2022 20:34:40 GMT
I dunno, with the correct tension the chain should be able to cope with full suspension travel without snapping, regardless of the state of the shock (which only really affects damping). Sure you haven't been over-tightening it?
Could it be getting too much lash from worn cush drives?
Are you the first owner? Can you be 100% sure the swing arm isn't slightly bent, making the chain run skewed?
Be wary of doing the chain yourself. Hollow soft links for splaying are not the best way of joining a chain, but they are the easier, but solid links that required quad staking need quite careful installation and/or some good tools.
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Post by elnoodle the reasonable on Sept 28, 2022 22:01:34 GMT
Fairly sure it's not been overtightened ClipClop plus it had just been MoT'd. I'm sure he would have mentioned it. I'm the second owner but I've owned it for a very long time and when I bought it, it looked like it has never been ridden. Certainly not the scruffy condition you would expect of a bike with a colourful history.
Maybe it does need a bit more play than most bikes. Maybe the shock needs replacing (although it's clearly in decent enough condition for an MoT). Both times the chain snapped when I was getting on the gas.
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Post by elnoodle the reasonable on Sept 29, 2022 15:52:55 GMT
This video is pretty good. I've bought a new chain and sprocket kit and the riveting tool. I had planned to go up 2 teeth at the rear but the local dealer only had a standard kit so maybe next time.
The really interesting bit on this video is about 7.45 in where he shows you how tight the chain is on his race bike. I would never have run a chain as slack as that but I will from now on. 2-3cm of play can get fucked.
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Post by mekon on Sept 29, 2022 20:13:42 GMT
The rc390 had fuck all slack as factory recommendation. It had a marked tension measurement point and it was really small amount , about 5mm from the swingarm. Then again that had fuck all power.
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Post by mekon on Sept 29, 2022 20:15:39 GMT
When I put a new chain on Sv I did the rivets to 25nm or lbs ft, cant remember, it was listed though.
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Post by elnoodle the reasonable on Oct 2, 2022 20:34:00 GMT
New chain and sprockets fitted. Rear sprocket looked OK but the front had a bit of wear and there was a some play between the sprocket and the drive shaft spline.
The chain riveting tool was quite expensive given I'm unlikely to need it again but it made fitting the chain a piece of piss.
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Post by Diego the toe clipper on Oct 3, 2022 18:21:07 GMT
front had a bit of wear and there was a some play between the sprocket and the drive shaft spline. That's not usually a good sign. The only way there can be wear on the spline surfaces is if the front sprocket was loose surely? |
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