Sprocket Life

[Rut Row]

I thoroughly respect Al's wisdom a skills as a mechanic, rider and machinist, but I'm concerned he insisted that I replace my rear sprocket to soon.

What do you think?

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I'm thinking it had, oh, maybe another 5-10 miles on it, eh?

[Teethgrinder]

15 if you were lucky. That thing has seen many better days. Is that the original sprocket? How many miles did it give you?

[Rut Row]

15 if you were lucky. That thing has seen many better days. Is that the original sprocket? How many miles did it give you?

yup - 18K

[Bucho]

Frack, I still have the original sprocket on mine. About the same mileage too.
Was planning on a New River Gorge trip at the end of June w/ my brother. Looks like I'll have to take a closer look at mine.

[Roadracer_Al]

Yeah, I think you'll find it runs quieter on the highway as well.

When Zina took it for a ride around the block, I heard some funny crunchy noises, and made a mental note to have a look at the chain.

[Bucho]

Stupid question.

I went ahead and ordered new sprockets and chain. I've never installed a new chain/sprockets. My stock chain has no master link, do I need to cut it or will I be able to pull it off when I take the sprocket off?

[Rut Row]

You need to break the chain - or pull the swingarm. Al has oodles of cool tools and can handle it in a fiffy.

[mdubya]

Stupid question.

I went ahead and ordered new sprockets and chain. I've never installed a new chain/sprockets. My stock chain has no master link, do I need to cut it or will I be able to pull it off when I take the sprocket off?

Use a dremmel to grind the ends off the rivets on one of the links and break it. A big screw driver and hammer will help pry the side plate off.

[Roadracer_Al]

Mike's got the plot well in hand.

Just a word to the wise, the $30 "chain breakers" that look sort of like mutant pliers won't actually push a riveted head through the chain. However, they are useful for removing a ground-off link.



However, the kind that sports a forged body and no floppy hinges *should* do the job without any trouble.



Regarding your new chain, the next question is what about the master link? Do you have a clip-type, or do you have a rivet link?





If you have a rivet master link, you'll need a $140 riveting tool, or some way to "stake" the rivet -- I use a heavy backing bar, and a pneumatic hammer with a blunt cone-shaped tool. This is the nuclear option of chain tools -- it will break, press the side-plates, and rivet all in one tool. They're expensive, and I've been meaning to build or buy one for ages. With an adequate supply of "other" tools, you can do all the functions of this tool, but not as conveniently. To seat the side plate, I use the above-mentioned heavy backing bar, and a small section of tube slipped over the pins, which I beat on with a hammer. It takes 3 hands to do it.



Here's another type:

[mdubya]

I have never seem a chain tool I would use to push the pin out with out first grinding the head off the rivet. Chain tools are great for seating the new side plate and peaning the new rivet heads. I think Motion Pro makes one for about $80.