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drive chain tension?..

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colb
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Joined: 20 Sep 2005
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PostPosted: 22:49 - 26 Sep 2005    Post subject: drive chain tension?.. Reply with quote
replaced my drive belt and pullies recently to chain and sprocket as belt was a couple of hundred quid, never had a bike with chain and sprocket, was wondering if anyone could advise how much play I should have on the chain and what the best way to measure it is..
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Slinn84
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Joined: 20 Apr 2004
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PostPosted: 22:56 - 26 Sep 2005    Post subject: Reply with quote
Measure the slack in the middle of the front and rear sprocket, have bike on side stand and push up with a key, there should be roughly 1 1/4 inch slack.
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Walloper
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Joined: 24 Feb 2005
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PostPosted: 00:06 - 27 Sep 2005    Post subject: Reply with quote
I thought belts were almost maintenance free.
Why the radical change.
Check OEM Spec as not all the same and it is critical.
You have a Buel?
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Jrod
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Joined: 02 Aug 2004
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PostPosted: 10:43 - 27 Sep 2005    Post subject: Reply with quote
Make sure you adjust it at the tightest spot of the chain aswell.
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iCraig
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Joined: 04 Jun 2004
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PostPosted: 10:50 - 27 Sep 2005    Post subject: Reply with quote
Walloper wrote:
I thought belts were almost maintenance free.
Why the radical change.
Check OEM Spec as not all the same and it is critical.
You have a Buel?


They snap, don't last long and are sometimes expensive.

Also more bikes than Buells came with Belts, Harley's for one and the fragile Kawasaki Z250 and GPZ305's.

Most of the latter were converted to chain and sprockets.
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byke95
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Joined: 25 Mar 2004
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PostPosted: 10:56 - 27 Sep 2005    Post subject: Reply with quote
My daily tension check: I give the chain a little kick, if it doesn't fall off I'm good to go!

<advice for the mechanically inept>
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colb
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Joined: 20 Sep 2005
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PostPosted: 22:36 - 27 Sep 2005    Post subject: Reply with quote
Quote:
They snap, don't last long and are sometimes expensive.

Also more bikes than Buells came with Belts, Harley's for one and the fragile Kawasaki Z250 and GPZ305's.

Most of the latter were converted to chain and sprockets.


Yep I own a kawasaki en500,the belt snapped with the smallest of warnings,(approx 5 mins worried riding), a sudden clunk, then, clunk, then snap, leaving me stranded and well pis*ed off.

at over 200 quid to replace the belt I thought...

f*ck that!

I contacted the previous 2 owners and they both replaced the belt due to the same problem and the clock only has 26,000 on it!
also the same engine as a gpz 500

decided time for a change...
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Walloper
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Joined: 24 Feb 2005
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PostPosted: 22:41 - 27 Sep 2005    Post subject: Reply with quote
So why do the Septics use belts on their Hs and Bs?
Has no one looked at this before?
Is this a design fault or lack of proper maintenance? Confused
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tatters
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Joined: 04 Jan 2004
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PostPosted: 22:45 - 27 Sep 2005    Post subject: Reply with quote
Walloper wrote:
So why do the Septics use belts on their Hs and Bs?
Has no one looked at this before?
Is this a design fault or lack of proper maintenance? Confused



might be...


Harleys sticking with pre 1940,s technology again, most early motorbikes were belt driven.
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colb
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Joined: 20 Sep 2005
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PostPosted: 23:08 - 27 Sep 2005    Post subject: Reply with quote
Quote:
Is this a design fault or lack of proper maintenance?


The belt is supposed to be maintenance free apart from tension checks, which I carried out weekly, would like to think it is design with the fact 3 belts done in as many years.
I thought about cost and liklyness of the belt going again so decided on the chain and sprocket.
you can see wear on the chain and sprocket
Problem is you cant see any wear on the teeth as they face upwards.
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Walloper
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Joined: 24 Feb 2005
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PostPosted: 23:25 - 27 Sep 2005    Post subject: Reply with quote
Sorry, I didn't mean 'you' don't look after your bike.

If I had to buy a drive belt/chain every year I'd not have the bike for long. I hate futile maintenance.

Is that the official 'word' from the dealers?
Do you drive 'around the world' every year?
Things like miss-alignment worn pulleys would cause uneven tension on a belt drive which would make it overheat and fail pre-maturely.
Interesting to know what's what.

Among the 'belt drives' properies are smother power take-up and quite running.
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iCraig
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Joined: 04 Jun 2004
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PostPosted: 23:49 - 27 Sep 2005    Post subject: Reply with quote
colb wrote:

Yep I own a kawasaki en500,the belt snapped with the smallest of warnings,(approx 5 mins worried riding), a sudden clunk, then, clunk, then snap, leaving me stranded and well pis*ed off.

at over 200 quid to replace the belt I thought...

f*ck that!

I contacted the previous 2 owners and they both replaced the belt due to the same problem and the clock only has 26,000 on it!
also the same engine as a gpz 500

decided time for a change...


If its the EX500 engine used in most of the 500cc Kawasaki's then it should be very easy to convert to chain and sprockets, probably using GPZ500S Parts and such like. Smile
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colb
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Joined: 20 Sep 2005
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PostPosted: 10:18 - 28 Sep 2005    Post subject: Reply with quote
Quote:
If its the EX500 engine used in most of the 500cc Kawasaki's then it should be very easy to convert to chain and sprockets, probably using GPZ500S Parts and such like.


It has been converted, was easy also, just got a rear wheel hub off a gpz then got heavy duty cain and sprockets and had them fitted.

I have lost some top end speed, but gained some take off speed.

The belt was quiet and the drive smoother, but it all comes down to money in the end, I am not very knowledgable when it comes to bikes, am picking it up as I go.

When I phoned the dealer about a replacement belt, they suggested the conversion and how to do it, as well as sprocket sizes, so took it as the best way forward (and cheapest) the latter being my main influence.
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kb-zxr
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Joined: 01 Jun 2005
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PostPosted: 14:24 - 28 Sep 2005    Post subject: Reply with quote
Do you reckon chains and sprokets are better for everyday riding? Just a guess as I imagine Harleys only come out occasionally when the weathers nice.

Kurt
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Walloper
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Joined: 24 Feb 2005
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PostPosted: 14:28 - 28 Sep 2005    Post subject: Reply with quote
kb-zxr wrote:
Do you reckon chains and sprokets are better for everyday riding? Just a guess as I imagine Harleys only come out occasionally when the weathers nice.

Kurt


I'm sure the septics in California can play all-year-round. But speeds might be lower or something.
I would need much more info on this phenominominim before jumping to the conclusion that belts are shite.
Any Harley dudes might have more to say.
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colb
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Joined: 20 Sep 2005
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PostPosted: 20:52 - 28 Sep 2005    Post subject: Reply with quote
Quote:
Do you reckon chains and sprokets are better for everyday riding? Just a guess as I imagine Harleys only come out occasionally when the weathers nice.


Have to say, in the wet whilst I had the belt, the bike did make noise, performance wise I prefered the smoothness of the belt on acceleration and de-acceleration.

I know where I am with a chain and sprocket, being able to see wear etc so on that side I prefer the chain, I just couldnt predict when the belt was worn to the state of replacement.

It all comes down to price and peace of mind for me to be honest, I know what I have with a chain, but the belt feels better there is no doubt in my mind about that (and my back wheel stayed clean!).

The harley boys can afford their machine in the first place, so Im sure a 200 quid belt is affordable to them,... me... Im on a en500 custom cruiser cause I cant afford a harley, so the cost of the belt alone is a struggle, if money wre no object, I would love a belt, save all this oiling of the chain etc, but just now the chain is the sensible option for me both cost and reliability.

I see bikes with drive shafts and they look pretty good, little maintenance like a belt and clean, but what are they like for reliability and cost to repair?
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