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Post by kettle738 on Sept 24, 2011 4:58:00 GMT -5
Hi all, I had my RE5M MOT'd (annual test) yesterday and as usual she flew through; but the tester commented on the amount of noise generated by the chain when the rear wheel is spinning.
He was right, you can hear every click as the chain passes over the gearbox sprocket, much noisier than any other bike I have. He put a laser alingment device on the rear sprocket and the chain was spot on straight. The sprockets are low miles and should be fine, but I'm tempted to change the chain anyway.
My bike is running standard 14-43 sprockets with a non O ring 630 chain. Has anyone else noticed this noise? is it symptomatic of anything, and can an O ring chain be used without clearance issues?
Also, given that vastly more powerful bikes now use 530 chains, has anyone converted to 530 and if so, which sprockets were used?
Any chain reccommendations would be appreciated.
Mick...........kettle738
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FC Zach
3rd Gear
Eagleville, TN
Posts: 335
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Post by FC Zach on Sept 24, 2011 5:29:36 GMT -5
Is the chain lubricated well?
Edit: and even if it is, there could be a possibility that it's stretched.
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Post by kettle738 on Sept 24, 2011 6:24:27 GMT -5
Yes it's well lubed, but you are right it could easily be stretched, it's going to get replaced in any event.......that could well be one reason it makes such a lot of noise though...thank you.
I would be really interested to hear if anyone has run a 530 conversion ....or a recommendation for a good 630 chain, non O ring varieties seem a bit thin on the ground.
Mick.........kettle738
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Post by ziggystardust on Sept 24, 2011 6:41:49 GMT -5
Hi Mick, how you doing? My experience with RE5 drive chains is that they dry up quite quickly when used on the road, I use 630 'O' ring chain and find that the best lubricant is as recommended engine oil, so I use Castrol XL 20/50 as used in the engine. Benefits are smoother running obviously but I also find that neutral gear is easier to find? Negatives are the first run after lubrication will slightly splatter the rear wheel rim with oil. I clean it off with WD40. I also experienced a clunking from the chain on both my RE5s when I pushed the bikes along and thought there was a tight spot on the chain, I traced it to the front drive sprocket loose on the splined shaft on both bikes. I had used a torque wrench on the nut but made the mistake of tightening the nut to the same setting as the nut within the clutch that is the same size and on the same shaft. Can't remember what the setting was just now but it was much higher and that cured the clunking from the chain. Gone on here a bit but new owner's may find the above information useful. By the way Mick I'll be at Stafford in a few weeks showing my M model on the Suzuki Owner's Club stand. Z
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Post by riversidogs on Sept 24, 2011 8:47:11 GMT -5
The first chain I had on my bike did not last past 2500 miles. If you aligned the chain on the top of the rear sprocket it was almost 1/2 tooth off at the bottom. I fond a bike shop that had a chain with the side plates double thickness. The bike now has 5000 miles on it and the chain matches all the way around the rear sprocket.
It seemed that every time I would hit the gas hard I would have to re-adjust the original chain. The new one has not needed any adjustment.
I wish I could remember who made the chain but that was about 34 years ago. I think they were used on the large Harley cycles.
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Post by kettle738 on Sept 25, 2011 2:08:17 GMT -5
Thank you for both those replies; the information on O ring chains is useful, on the GT750 for instance you can't just fit an O ring chain, it chews a groove in the outputshaft seal retaining plate......so you have to use a spacer.
Knowing the RE5 will just accept an O ring chain makes finding one vastly easier.
Hopefully see you at Stafford Lee..............Mick...........kettle738
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Post by Al Corelli on Sept 25, 2011 8:59:43 GMT -5
I was under the assumption that the 750 and the RE used the same basic transmission castings.
Would this, if true, mean that perhaps "tolerance stack" would be the cause of the 630 not fitting some bikes?
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Post by riversidogs on Sept 26, 2011 10:31:02 GMT -5
One of the problems I found when researching chains was that the o-ringed chains carry only about 3/4 the load of a normal chain. They apparently have to sacrifice something to put the o-rings in and maintain the same dimensions. Things may have changed in the last 35 years. If this is true please let me know.
Thanks
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Post by kettle738 on Sept 28, 2011 14:15:18 GMT -5
I wasn't aware of reduced loads for O ring chains, I always followed the percieved wisdom that they are the last word in chains, and that they are wider to allow for the O rings.....although I don't use them because of the clearance issue previously mentioned.
630 chains will probably over time become a thing of the past, like certain tyre sizes as so few bikes use them, so a decent 530 conversion would be quite an attractive option.
Mick.........kettle738
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Post by Jess on Sept 28, 2011 17:23:20 GMT -5
You are correct about the 630 chain. They are becoming a thing of the past. Once the supply that I have is gone, I do not think I will be making more...
Sam had a bunch manufactured and sold many right before he retired.
A 530 chain conversion is not hard, I have done it before. It just takes some patience and trial and error. I don't have a component list as I did not think it was a big deal to replicate.
With a little time and research, it should be no problem to do so.
Best,
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Post by mike500 on Sept 28, 2011 17:56:30 GMT -5
D.I.D RE5 Rotary 75-77 front sprocket 518-15** rear sprocket 818-42 drive chain 630V-96 O.E chain and sprocket kit 3503605 these are the D.I.D sprocket chain and kit numbers regards mike
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Post by Jess on Sept 28, 2011 19:42:28 GMT -5
Mike... Damn you're fast.... ;D Don't ever show your bike to Wayne Thanks for the info... Best,
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Post by wayne on Sept 29, 2011 2:27:40 GMT -5
With 14-43 sprockets and a non O ring chain.....how could you get more original that that ! Jess, he's a man after my own heart.............
Australian Motorcycle Accessories Supermarket at Auburn still has 630 chains but insist....they're in the storeroom and most salesmen don't know that they are still there.
Cheers Wayne
PS Will be looking at JT sprockets for my own 530 conversion soon.
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Post by ziggystardust on Sept 29, 2011 5:42:05 GMT -5
M & P (U.K.) supplied 630 chain and sprockets off the shelf for my RE5s. Quality make as well, DID I think?
Z
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Post by mike500 on Sept 29, 2011 16:17:31 GMT -5
only to glad to help.thats why this forum is the best everybody can and will help in anyway they can regards
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