| Author | Message | |||
     Bob_thompson |
Thanks to Dana of DKW Performance I received my Baker chain conversion kit in only two days. Excellant service and good price. Installed in about two hours. Well engineered and quality parts. Shakedown tomorrow. Will repost then. Bob T. | |||
| Bob_thompson |
Shakedown completed this morning. No problems. Installation pretty easy. Made a seal driver out of 3" tubing to replace trans seal easier. Bakers chain guide/roller works well. Adjusted per instructions so it doesn't touch the chain except on rapid deceleration. Neat. I know its old school but too many problems with stones and belts. A belt could last years or a day if it injests a rock(pebble), pea size. 'nuf said. Bob | |||
| Crusty |
Bob, I just picked up my kit, but it doesn't have any instructions in it. Could you copy yours and either post them here, or e mail them to me? my address is: nmwe@verizon.net Thanks edited by Crusty on June 20, 2004 | |||
| Newfie_buell |
Pictures please!!!! | |||
| Koz5150 |
I assume the chain did not come with it? How much extra and what kind of maintanance do you expect? | |||
| Crusty |
Koz, The kit comes with a standard Diamond 530 chain. I'm going to replace it with a good O-ring (or X-ring) chain, once I run it and see how it shakes out. | |||
| Koz5150 |
What's the differemnce in chains? | |||
| Crusty |
The standard chain isn't as strong, and needs frequent lubrication. A good O-ring (or X-ring) chain is sealed between the sideplates and rollers to keep lubrication in and dirt out. An O-ring chain won't stretch as much as quickly, and requires less maintenance. | |||
| Bob_thompson |
Crusty, will work on e-mailing you instructions today. Newfie, I didn't take any pictures while doing the installation but can now. Anything in particular you would like? 120 mile ride this morning. Chain stretched quite a bit and had to readjust. Not unexpected. It put a little gouge in the swingarm bcause I did not have the roller/guide up high enough. OK now with 30 minutes work. Didn't expect road construction but ran into a repaving crew. Small gravel everywhere. Had to slow to about 15 MPH so bike ahead wouldn't send pebbles through my full face visor. Felt more secure with chain. Threw off a minor amount of chain lube; easily cleaned. All in all I'm glad I switched. When I need a new chain I'll probably do like suggested and get a really good "O" ring chain. Bob | |||
| Fullpower |
regarding 530 roller chain on 1998 sportster. diamond brand chain is junk, had to adjust twice a day. ran out of adjustment on axle after 2 weeks, absolute junk. Tsubaki sigma oring pretty good, after initial adjustment, was ok for 5000 miles, then needed small adjust about every 1000 miles, after 12000 miles it started getting stretchy, requiring adjustment after a couple hard 2nd gear wheelies, so i got rid of it. new sprockets and a Harley Davidson brand chain ( made in japan by RK, nickle plated, oring, very nice)very tough chains. dont have an odometer or speedo on the sportster anymore. tighten chain about every other month. replace each spring. i highly recommend the nickle plated HD chain, cost is less then tsubaki, and i have not broken any of them yet, and i ride like a teenager on his little brothers bike. | |||
| Crusty |
I put my Chain kit on last Friday. (Thanks for E-mailing the directions, Bob.)It was an easy and straightforward job. Went out today, and gave it a shakedown run to see how it works. It grooved the top of my swingarm, a little, even though I adjusted it as recommended. I will be putting on an O- or X-ring chain in the very near future. I have a steel swingarm from a '98 tuber, and I'm debating whether I'll swap it for the aluminum piece. In the meantime, it's nice to ride through all the road construction that's going on around here without worrying that it'll cause my belt to break. | |||
| Bob_thompson |
Your welcome Crusty, my second extended ride yesterday, Sunday, saw the Diamond chain slow down on stretching but chain guide did its job. Still going to get a real good chain though soon. Don't believe I'll ever look back either. | |||
| Tripp |
bob, if you wouldn't mind please email me the instructions as well, my mail is frno@msn.com thank you, tripp | |||
| Crusty |
Tripp, I'm in Central Mass. (Leominster). If you want, I can copy the set that I have and I could (snail)mail them to you. If you want me to, just send me your address at nmwe@verizon.net edited by Crusty on June 28, 2004 | |||
| Newfie_buell |
I have not adjusted the chain in about 10000km, I can't remember what kind it is but its obviously a good one. I am using Chain Wax on it and its working great. Just recently cleaned the two sprockets and gave the chain a good cleaning, relubed and I am good for another while. The frame does have chain marks on it but its a small price to pay considering I am not going to snap another stinkin belt. | |||
| Crusty |
There'll be at least two chain drive Buells in Newfoundland next month! Mine won't have this P.O.S. Diamond chain on it, though. Probably an RK; I've had good luck in the past with that brand. Plus, they have that 20,000 mile warranty. | |||
| Tripp |
thanks crusty i'll email you today! | |||
| Crusty |
Well, I wound up with a Tsubaki Sigma chain. Supposedly, it has a higher tensile strength than an RK, and my dealer (a small repair and accessories shop) had one in stock. After 1,000 miles, it hasn't stretched enough to count. I like it! | |||
| Bomber |
Koz Chains -- like everything else, more complex than you might think they don't strech, btw, the little pins that connect the links together wear (narrow) allowing the chain to get longer, appear to have streched O-ring (and x-ring) chains arer nop stronger than non-o ring (or x ring) chains, all things being equal -- the ring, no matter what cross section, is there to keep the factory applied lube where it belongs, between the pins and the rollers that ride on them . . . ."lubing" and o-ring chain doesn't lub that area at all (with a ring type chain), but does lube the links that rub together, and certainly keeps it from corroding (both good things) . . . . . as with everything else, barring huge sales, you pretty much get whacha pay for . . . . me, I always buy an o-ring (or x-ring) chain, and clean and chain wax it regularly . . . . and, most important, replace it, and the sprokets, before they get really badly worn . . . . busting a belt is a pain, busting a chain will very likely hole your cases | |||
| M1combat |
Or your leg, or tear your swingarm brace directly off... Sorry, not a fan of chains. Lost two dirtbikes to em. I liked that IT250 too. | |||
| Bomber |
definately down-sides to chains, no doubt . . . busted chain killed my first bike (two days after the pic was taken), but, properly maintained, they can be aces!
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| Crusty |
With all the bikes I've owned over the years, I never broken a chain. Four times,a belt has broken without warning and left me on the side of the road. It's easy to tell when a chain is in need of replacement. It's not necessary to dismantle half the bike in order to replace a chain. M1, how long do you think a belt would last on a dirt bike? Wouldn't it be fun to be halfway into an enduro and have to replace that $175 belt after it snapped because a stone got between the belt and sprocket? Belts are good in a sterile environment, but I ride in the real world. I've broken one belt too many. Chains aren't perfect, but they're a whole lot stronger and can take a lot more abuse than a belt can. | |||
| Outrider |
I share Crusty's and the other positive perspective of chains. Having owned chain, shaft and belt drive bikes, the chain drive is my personal favorite and the other two are ranked in the order listed. If there were a fourth alternative, it most likely would be preferred over belt drive as well. To be perfectly honest with you, the belt drive is the primary reason I don't travel far or off the beaten path with either my Buell or Harley. When I first got my Buell, I was ignorant of the belts weaknesses and enjoyed many long distance rides in the outback alone. Now, after having witnessed and read about all the failures, the thought of getting stranded, as so many have, is what prevents me from riding and exploring the remote areas that I have done with other bikes. Quite simply, if a belt breaks, I am at the mercy of a cell phone, the rider assistance program and the nearest dealer that stocks and services Buell belts and parts. Why am I concerned? Look at BruceLee's posts about getting a clutch cable in Southern California. A normal wear part and there isn't one in stock at any dealer on the HD parts network in the entire State! Plus, he has been waiting over 10 days for a replacement. That is disgusting. Just imagine being stranded a long distance from home and having to incur the cost of either lodging or transportation home. Gee, I wonder how dealers in my area have a belt in stock for my X1? Chains are cheap, easily replaced and if you are off in the boonies a small section and some master links will get you home. Only down side is you need to clean, lube and adjust them but that is quick and easy once you get the hang of it. Shaft drives work great too, but the splines and seals are the weak link and the primary maintenance items that should be checked and lubed at each tire change. Replace parts as necessary to prevent getting stranded. Belts are a no brainer. They just work well on paved surfaces until they break and for some reason they do so without notice at the most inopportune time. Even though it is quite expensive, the temporary use replacement belt HD has is a step in the right direction but I don't see where one is available for our Buells. If there is, let me know and it will be in my tank bag in a NY minute and I will be out enjoying the boonies alone again. | |||
| Johncr250 |
How is the chain drive going? Do you have any concerns using it on the street. It might be tough on the trans without using a cush drive or something to absorb some of the driveline shock. | |||
| Outrider |
Wow, you guys got me so excited about chain drive and all the reasons why I like it, I just put a bid in on Hal's chain drive street legal (barely as they say) XB9 race bike. Is the street going version of Cicotta's bike with full fairing and all the cute little engine mods. Was originally built for Rick, Hal's former Buell manager, who was there when I was active in Brew City Brag. Only 1800 miles on the bike and it has never been titled or raced. Plus, it gets stock XB9R paperwork for the title. No Buell warranty obviously, but Hal's will stand behind their work. I bet my insurance goes down as the XB9 has less CC's than my X1. LMAO Oh well, we will see if this goes through. Could lose it, but that is no big deal. There is another buyer that in finance currently but does not have a lock on the bike as no down payment was made yet. |
