Rubber strand

[ThunderGuts]

Just cleaning my chain and noticed a little bit Of rubber poking out. Obviously my concern is it’s part of the O ring (pretty sure it is as it’s firmly attached, which also suggests it’s a sliver of it not the whole thing). From what I can see the O ring looks intact otherwise though and the chain/sprockets only has 7k miles on it.

What do we think? New chain time or can I get away with monitoring until/if the link gets stiff then replace? I did notice it in one other place too but pulled that little sliver off (again it was attached but it snapped out quite easily and didn’t take the O ring with it).

Cheers
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TG.

[chickenstrip]

Could be a bit of O ring. Had the same on mine. I wouldn't say it's time to bin the chain if it is otherwise ok though. Remember, not all chains have o rings anyway. With mine, I just kept an eye on it, kept it well cleaned and lubed, regularly checked for stiff links. Had no problems yet (although not riding now, so I don't know how it'd go if I kept putting on the miles - not concerned though).
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Chickenystripgeezer's Biking Life (Latest update 19/10/18) Belgium, France, Italy, Austria tour 2016 Picos de Europa, Pyrenees and French Alps tour 2017 Scotland Trip 1, now with BONUS FEATURE edit, 5/10/19, on page 2 Scotland Trip 2 Luxembourg, Black Forest, Switzerland, Vosges Trip 2017
THERE'S MILLIONS OF CHICKENSTRIPS OUT THERE!

[Nobby the Bastard]

It's an o-ring.

I wouldn't write of the chain immediately but it will wear at that point.
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trevor saxe-coburg-gotha:"Remember this simple rule - scooters are for men who like to feel the breeze on their huge, flapping cunt lips."
Triumph Sprint ST 1050

[Confusion]

[kramdra]

It is an X ring chain, and that strip is the outer edge of the X. There is enough seal left that it should not wear much quicker if it is lubricated often.

I imagine bike has been unused for a few weeks and then been ridden with a dry chain, cutting up the seals on the rust. Quite a bit of rust there for 7k. Sealed chain does not mean you can ignore lubrication.

[MCN]

[Polarbear]

I would happily carry on using that. It's not like it's going to cause a catastrophic failure, at the most just accelerated wear.

Just keep it well lubricated, which you should be doing anyway, and carry on riding till it's worn out.
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Triumph Trophy Launch Edition

[ThunderGuts]

Cheers all. It is a Japanese DID chain. During my ownership (last 1k miles or so) it's been kept meticulously lubed and when I first went to look at it the chain was well adjusted, lubed and cleaned too.

I will measure the links to see what the stretch is like, but there is absolutely no movement when trying to lift the chain off the back of the rear sprocket and did do a measurement on the chain a few months back and it was showing no stretch at all compared with the stock figures. The rear sprocket itself looks unworn too (teeth are perfectly symmetrical with nice flat surfaces and a sharply defined square top).

I will have to whip the cover off and look at the front sprocket, but if it's in similar condition (and the chain is still not showing any stretch) I might be tempted to just change the chain and leave the sprockets (I know it goes against conventional wisdom, but if they're not worn at all and the chain isn't stretched either, may as well save the agro).

Edit: incidentally this is (presumably) the first chain the bike has had; it was new in Jan 2019, so the 7k mile figure I quoted is the total mileage on the bike too.
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TG.

[Ayrton]

It's on the rivet link, so surely you could just buy a new link instead of a whole chain?

[ThunderGuts]

[chickenstrip]

[ThunderGuts]

[chickenstrip]

Because of how much attention my chain gets, I'm likely to spot signs of wear pretty quickly, and so catch it before the sprockets really start to go. If the chain started to get noisy, or there was more vibration than usual not attributable to anything else, I'd think about replacing it. But if it is just a thin bit on the outside of the x ring, there's no saying it will get worse or wear quicker anyway. It might. It might not. In any case, I'd be confident I could catch it before any expense was caused. I'm allergic to expense
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Chickenystripgeezer's Biking Life (Latest update 19/10/18) Belgium, France, Italy, Austria tour 2016 Picos de Europa, Pyrenees and French Alps tour 2017 Scotland Trip 1, now with BONUS FEATURE edit, 5/10/19, on page 2 Scotland Trip 2 Luxembourg, Black Forest, Switzerland, Vosges Trip 2017
THERE'S MILLIONS OF CHICKENSTRIPS OUT THERE!

[ThunderGuts]

[MCN]

O-ring chains do not stretch like non-o-ring chains.
The sealed Pin and Bush assembly prevents pin and bush wear thats a problem in non-o-ring chains.
The sprocket teeth wear and side-plates may get a bit rusty.
'Pitch Extension' is where the wear between pins and bushes are accumulated to provide a measurable dimension. Normally over 5 pins. (Distance between the centres of pins in one link times 5.)
A new chain should be almost zero.
A worn chain will be more.
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Disclaimer: The comments above may be predicted text and not necessarily the opinion of MCN.

[ThunderGuts]

[chickenstrip]

[Tdibs]

Ive had this happen on a did xring chain also. Just kept on top of usual oiling and it lasted its usual life.
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Previous : 09 Vanvan 125| 02' Sv650s || Current: 1999 Xj600n | 1992 DR650 RSE | 2005 Fazer 1000

[ThunderGuts]

Close inspection revealed one other link with the same issue (same side too interestingly). I have ordered a replacement chain but will just monitor closely for now but have a backup ready just in case. Current chain is saturated with lube now, particularly the two defective links.
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TG.

[FretGrinder]

[MCN]

[chickenstrip]

[MCN]