Keith ! Chain advice needed ...........

[Mole]

Hi Keith,

Managed to get a Haynes manual today for the Honda NC30 (VFR400) and
set about checking the chain adjustment !

No problems with that, in fact it's a lot easier with the single swing arm
and the snail cam adjuster.

However, with correct 15-25mm slack measured at the tightest run of the
chain, at the slackest it's excesive about 45mm.

The dealer or the previous owner has used this chain wax stuff, would
it be worth cleaning it up (in case of sticking links etc.) and oiling or,
buying a new chain and sprocket set? As far as I can see both sprockets seem in good nick. The manual say's to change the chain remove the Swing Arm!

Rather drastic I thought! Is it O.K. to grind of one of the links, and fit the new chain using the clamp/punch gadget? also, does a new chain come
as a fixed loop or is it open ended ?

Cheers Keith

Mole
____________________
V4's R Us!!!
Mole, the oldest 18year old on the block !

[Korn]

Hey Mole, I ain't Keith but I've done a fair bit of mucking around with the chain on my RVF.

I don't like the wax stuff, tends to just attract crap to stick to the chain ... What I do is drown it in plenty of scottoil straight from the refill bottle. Might be easier to just fit a scottoiler if you do many miles on the bike, but I like doing it this was because you get a chance to tighten and inspect the chain at the same time. The excess liquid drips off quickly and it soaks into every bit of the links unlike the wax sprays. Tends to last quite long as well without drying up, not so good when it rains though.

As for the tension I leave about half an inch of slack at the slackest point. Works nicely for me as I have the rear shock set very hard - YMMV.

Replacement chains I have seen are the split link type, if the current one if a fixed loop cut a link, attach the end of the new chain, pull it through and discard the old one.

[Mole]

Cheers Korn,

I will nip out today and get some scottoil, and give it a try.

Mole
____________________
V4's R Us!!!
Mole, the oldest 18year old on the block !

[Kickstart]

Hi

Chain tension should be about right (anything from 25mm to 35mm is normal) at the tightest point. Tighten it too much and it will wreck the gearbox, and screw up the rear suspension. As the rear suspension compresses the chain will be tightened further (up to a point).

45mm is probably not too excessive, given the cost of a new chain.

Honda probably are assuming an endless chain. Not many people bother with them, but just use a split or rivit link chain instead

All the best

Keith