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Chain stretch

Posted: Sun Feb 07, 2016 1:48 am
by balen1
Hey guys any one know if a brand new chain should stretch unevenly within the first few rides of installing it. It was a bit uneven as soon as I put it on but has gotten a fair bit worse. Not a cheap chain either, it's a did x ring chain from gf racing. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks

Re: Chain stretch

Posted: Sun Feb 07, 2016 3:30 am
by magg
If new chain was uneven on the old sprockets, better option would have been to change sprockets. If a new chain is a tight fit over the old sprocket teeth, then old sprockets could be reused. No chains in Sydney?

Re: Chain stretch

Posted: Sun Feb 07, 2016 9:23 am
by balen1
No there are but I was getting some other stuff and decided to buy through him. Also I replaced the sprockets with new renthal ones when I replaced the chain. So it shouldn't be stretching the way it has should it?

Re: Chain stretch

Posted: Mon Feb 08, 2016 9:25 am
by manicguitarist
Short answer - no it shouldn't. Especially if, as you have done, changed sprockets and chain at the same time.

Re: Chain stretch

Posted: Mon Feb 08, 2016 10:56 am
by magg
New sprockets and new chain should not be uneven tension. How did you determine that the tension was uneven.

Re: Chain stretch

Posted: Mon Feb 08, 2016 1:20 pm
by Neosophist
i agree.

if something is not set correctly though you can easily ruin a new chain a few km.

i had a pinch bolt come loose and tighten up the chain once and destroyed the chain within 50km and before i noticed (was on the highway) very lucky that when i let of the gas i felt it slow down awfully quick.. glad it didnt ruin the output shaft.

in theory a new chain should have all soft links.. any tight spots must be from the sprokcets?

what did you change / not change and how did you do intial tension?

how does it feel now? what do you mean by wearing uneven?

if you take the chain off does it feel like there are any tight links in it?

Re: Chain stretch

Posted: Tue Feb 09, 2016 7:10 am
by balen1
Changed both sprockets and chain together with all brand new stuff. Did everything by the Haynes manual. When I say chain stretch I mean that the distance between the chain and underside of the swingarm is uneven as you turn the wheel. Haven't takin the chain of to check yet but was all good when I put it on. I tensioned the chain so there was just enough movement to just touch the under side of the swing arm.

Thoughts?

Re: Chain stretch

Posted: Tue Feb 09, 2016 8:11 am
by manicguitarist
Get a chain monkey...makes setting the tension easy.

Re: Chain stretch

Posted: Tue Feb 09, 2016 8:46 am
by magg
Did you buy the GF racing DID525VX2 GOLD X RING chain, interesting that I can only find a 525VX chain on the DID website. The side links have DID525VX stamped on them? You used a riveted joining link? In your first post you said the chain was a bit uneven when first installed.

Re: Chain stretch

Posted: Tue Feb 09, 2016 9:06 am
by manicguitarist
Also with the friendly power level and delivery of the V4 400 - it shouldn't stretch any chain at first - even the very cheap ones.

M