Why does my motorcycle chain appear to sag when i have not ridden it much?

[crazydj]

Hi guys...

 

I was just wondering. I have not ridden my bike for weeks. Its just sitting there in the sheltered carpark, maybe i take it out once or twice a week for very short rides? I have not adjusted my chain for months. Its always nice and proper. Then i realised that over the weeks, the chain is sagging and sagging everyday. Why is this so ah? So funny...

[CSV]

someone else rode the bike on your behalf.

 

seriously though, could be just extended period of staying in same position.

 

like how tyres will be deformed in one section if left on a stationery car for too long, but we're talking long periods like 6 months.

[stsoh]

apparently u dun understand about chains.

u can check chain tensile strength (TS) from manufacturers web site.

the higher the tensile strength of the chain the lesser the stretch is.

once the pulling force is beyond it's elasticity of pins n links.

there is no return, it will keep on stretching....so this is ur case.

 

dun buy cheap china made chain coz they dun have any QA, most r at low TS, eg. 4,500 ft/lb.

good chain like 428 pitch 'XW' ring have the highest TS, ie. 5,400~5,800 ft/lb.

[ezzyoiler]

chain wear...see the result of bad lub/maintenance...

 

you may need to figure out....what you have done for chain maintenance..obviouslly need a better maintenance programme.

[crazydj]

apparently u dun understand about chains.

u can check chain tensile strength (TS) from manufacturers web site.

the higher the tensile strength of the chain the lesser the stretch is.

once the pulling force is beyond it's elasticity of pins n links.

there is no return, it will keep on stretching....so this is ur case.

 

dun buy cheap china made chain coz they dun have any QA, most r at low TS, eg. 4,500 ft/lb.

good chain like 428 pitch 'XW' ring have the highest TS, ie. 5,400~5,800 ft/lb.

 

Yes i do no understand about chains, hence, i posted a question here on SBF! My chains are the DID chain with Hodaka sprockets. The box says made in Japan though. This is not the first time though. It seems whenever i am riding everyday, as long i am riding it, the chain will be nice and taut. When i dont, like in a month, perhaps once or twice a week, it will slack.

 

Once i adjust it, and ride everyday, it will be normal. But once i leave it for about 2 weeks or so with minimal riding, it will slack again. I just have to keep riding regularly so that it will 'taut' itself? Haha. Dunno la.

 

chain wear...see the result of bad lub/maintenance...

 

you may need to figure out....what you have done for chain maintenance..obviouslly need a better maintenance programme.

 

My maintenance program has worked fine for a few years thanks. I was just wondering how come it slacks to a noticeable difference when i do not ride it everyday. Its not really an issue, i cant just go down and adjust it, but i was more interested in the science and theory behind why it slacks when i do not ride it for prolonged periods of time.

Edited October 21, 2011 by crazydj

[stsoh]

chain wun stretch when u didn't ride coz there is no force extending it.

wat u saw might be when ur bike is on main stand n the swing arm is in downward position.

chain slack slowly after a few days due to the swing arm + tire weights extending the shock absorber.

the longest length is when sprockets n swing arm r in straight alignment.

tat's the reason why there is a 1.5" slack given when adjusting the chain otherwise the chain will bind onto the sprockets cozing stress on drive shaft n rear wheel hub.

Edited October 21, 2011 by stsoh

[ezzyoiler]

when the chain experience a condition where after chain tensioning.. afew rides later the chain slack is more than recommended...

it means the chain is a baskt case...time to change it..

 

the reason is...for anology ...it is equivalent to a four horse carriage..

when one horse "dieded'..the other 3 horses have to take up the slack...

the over work horse would die faster.. and left with 2,,the horses are going to work even harder..and of course it will die even faster..

 

samewith chains...you will notice the chain drives covers half of the sprockets..lets say there are twenty teeth engaged with the chains rollers..

when your chain lengthens..not all ttwenty rollers/sprocket are engaged say 15...and the chains wears and legtheniing accelerates....as less sprockets are driving thus accelerate the wear and tear.

until you will faced a problem..that tensioning does not work any more ie today you tension it and tomorrow its gone..

 

check your chain wear...pull chains away fromt the sprocket ..if chains can be pulled by 3 mm...watch out..the chain is a goner...by 5mm an accident waiting to happen.

[crazydj]

Hmm, bike in same position, never moved at all. No one has touched it. The sprocket teeth are okay. But of course, like old chains, can move a little bit when i pull from the sprocket.

 

The chain and sprocket were installed in April 2010 and has done about 13,175km. Normally change change when ah?

[kinwei]

Maybe you tighten the chain too tight or there is already some dead link.

[ezzyoiler]

heavy duty chains are rated at 10,000km i think

and o rings chains at 20, 000 km..

a vigourous maintenance is practiced..ie CLEAN AND LUBE regime at 500km...will see some going past 50000 km...some with auto oilers even claims that 100,000km is easily attained.

 

if your chains are terribly dirty with kinks in it and dead links...you will have a tough time retensioning it...no matter what you do..either it is over tighten or still sag a lot after ride.

 

i wopuld suggest to you get your chains properly cleaned and the lube..check for stiff links..

hope this helps to save your chains from early failures...

 

this is my pesonal views only...good luck .

[stsoh]

replace ur chain with RK GB428GXW (cl2b), GB520GXW (cl2a), GB525GXW (cl2), & GB530GXW (cl2) respectively.

it's expensive but will last the longest, value for money n lesser work on chain adjusting maintenance.

 

note for cl2b bikes:

be aware tat 'XW' ring links r extra bigger than other ring type chain.

use minimum front 15t sprocket, do not use smaller sprockets eg. 14t or 13t coz the retainer bolts will hit/roll-on the links.

Edited October 22, 2011 by stsoh

[ezzyoiler]

have you figure out your problem??

 

installed a auto oiler on a bike...

chain tension ..wear check ..ok..

 

bike came back a week later for another job..

check chain tension...woah,,, sagging out of recommendation..

the chain is dirty pack with grease and what not.before installation of oile

 

now very clean...explained to customer..the oiler has cleaned out the dirt/road girmes out of the chain

 

the end result the chains can sag easily compard to before the ezzyoiler installation,,the owner mentioned he does not clean chains just keep on lubbing only..

 

maybe the same problem applies to your chain.