chain and sprockets - how easy?

[rubyhorse2]

well i've got all parts for my pre-euro trip, which consists of

2 new tyres
chain and sprockets
spark plugs
oil and filter
brake pads

i've just rang rocket centre and its £240 to fit it all.

Now i'm more than happy doing oil and filter, brake pads and the spark plugs.

tyres i can get done for £10 each

only issue i have is the chain and sprockets. never done this on a motorbike before (plenty times on MTB), is it something i can have a go at and be confident its safely installed? happy to buy the tool for the chain and can take my time, just worried about making sure chain is installed properly but i guess its similar to a MTB chain.

Come on, fill me with confidence and say its an easy job

[pompousporcup...]

what bike?

something with a fair bit of power and rivets should be done. If its a little bike the split link/clip links are very easy to do.

[rubyhorse2]

superduke 990r

[Minty]

Is the £240 to supply and fit?

Edit - just seen you have parts. I'd do it myself.
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My fingers smell of your mum.

[rubyhorse2]

yeh quite pricey hey, all labour.

i could try my local motorbike garage, who will no doubt be a lot cheaper, but told him i was changing my rear lights last time i had MOT and i've not done so bit embarrassed to go in haha.

[pompousporcup...]

oh.. nice

you'l be wanting to rivet the links. if you're going travelling, get a pro to do it. they'l be liable for anything that happens i think.

if it was a split link type thing i'd say do it yourself but rivets can fail very easily if not done right

[rubyhorse2]

damn didnt want to hear that

[Minty]

I have done it once, on my Fireblade and it is still there and I have not died that many times.
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My fingers smell of your mum.

[pompousporcup...]

[killa]

I've done it once myself on my old Ninja. Easy if you've seen someone do it physically. So perhaps a youtube vid would help.
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Cleverly disguised as a responsible adult.
Bike:- Yamaha TRX850 | Killas Biking History | Killas Gaming History | Killas autmotive history

[davebike]

Make sure you get the riveting right a sapped chain would ruin you euro trip !
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Dave
NC750Xdct + others at work !
[email protected]

[weasley]

There is a series of pictures in Stinkwheel's KLE500 resurrection thread that show a chain replacement procedure. Might be helpful?
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Yamaha XJ600 | Yamaha YZF600R Thundercat | KTM 990 SMT | BMW F900XR TE

[rubyhorse2]

ok i',m kind of happy to have a go at this, i presume you can either visually see or notice in riding if its not done correctly straight away, or is this something that would just go kaboom at some point in the future?

[davebike]

No most look fine I never river a chain unless I had a proper rivet tool and I fussy which chains I will fit I refuse to fit cheap chains to powerful bikes
But I am a pro so not getting it right could be costly
____________________
Dave
NC750Xdct + others at work !
[email protected]

[DRZ4Hunned]

I'd do all that myself and I'm a novice, chain and sprockets can seem daunting at first, but with the right tools (impact gun, chain splitting/ riveting tool) It's not that hard. There's plenty of video's on Youtube showing the steps and you can measure the riveted link to ensure it's worked.
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DRZ400-SM
FZS600

[Minty]

Splitter:
https://assets.jewson.co.uk/category-images/9624/Main/9624.jpg

Impact gun requirement negated with a bit of wood through back wheel (to butt against swingarm - chain still on at this point) and crack the nut off the front sprocket whilst everything is 'locked up'.
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My fingers smell of your mum.

[rubyhorse2]

ok looks pretty simple so i'm gonna have a go.

Last few questions

buying a chain rivet tool now, any specific one recommended?
will i need any other specific tools?

cheers all

[Islander]

It's not hard to do if you take your time. When I did the chain on my Hornet, I loosened the front sprocket nut before I did anything else by using a breaker bar and holding the brake on while I cracked it. I used the brake to hold the wheel while I cracked the rear sprocket nuts as well.

[Minty]

Not this one:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sealey-VS779-Motorcycle-Breaker-Riveter/dp/B000WZAAUS/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1462452028&sr=8-3&keywords=chain+riveter
Broke but managed to be bodged to still work.

No other specialist tools - assuming you have the right size sockets. Oh and check which direction the front sprocket nut spins to come off. You do not want to sweat your nuts off, risking a hernia by actually tightening it. I would never have done that.
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My fingers smell of your mum.

[Islander]

I have the Draper tool which works well.

Either use a grinder to cut the old chain in two or grind the heads off of the soft rivets before you attempt to press them out.

[rubyhorse2]

cheers all

big variation in price on the chain tools, taken note of your experiences with some, post some other recommendations. looking at the Draper one for now.

thanks

[smallfrowne]

I'm very likely going to be using this AFAM chain tool tonight
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Ducati-ST4S-996-01-05-AFAM-Easy-Riv-Chain-Tool-/282011678856?hash=item41a934b888:g:GDQAAOSwYIhWl~eT

Will report back if it was any good.
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'90 VFR750; '89 NC30; '95 DR650; '89 CD250U; ~'82 CG125; ~C90

[pompousporcup...]

that sealey one will work fine. i got the £10.95 rip off one from ebay and its served me well. some report they break if you're heavy handed.

[rubyhorse2]

hmmm see i've used both cheap and expensive ones when doing my MTB chains and all have worked fine, though on one occasion a cheap one did bend the pin, but this was me being in a rush, so is cheap ok?

[Rogerborg]