As the title says i need a new chain as my old one wont tighten up on the adjuster any further and its still loose on the sprockets, My sprockets however look fine. So is it going to damage a new chain if i put one on the old sprockets? Also 525 pitch and 520, do you maintain them in the same way? Im confused because ive read about people taking them off and soaking them for a few days and i wasnt sure if this was for x rings, o rings, 520 pitch or 525. Im having a nightmare here, such a noddy when it comes to chain and sprockets!

Cheers guys,
Kieran.

You will find that the chain and sprockets have worn as a set and a new chain will not fit the old sprocket profile well and will thus wear faster than it normally would, trying to match the old sprocket shape.

A short term fix if you wish to simply tighten the old chain a bit would be to break the chain, remove a link set, and then use a joining link.

Chain size ie 525 or 520 makes no difference to maintenance methods. Non O-ring chains can be soaked in heated grease to allow lubricant to penetrate the inner workings, O ring chains have the inner lubricant sealed in by the O rings. Lubricant sprayed on the outside of either type of chain only lubricates the sprocket/chain contact surfaces.

It all depends, but essentially Magg is correct they wear as a set
However - if quality sprockets are used with a cheap shit ebay special chain (like elastic SSS chains or similar) then often its just the chain that's scrap and the sprockets are hardly worn.
I like the honda OE stuff, the sprockets are made from stern stuff and last forever compared to aftermarket stuff (same with chains too)

Right cheers for the help, i will buy a complete set then, i was thinking about taking one or two links out of the chain but its done about 15000km's ridden all through the winter so id imagine its well past its best. Whats your opinion on renthal C&S compared with the OEM honda stuff paul?