How To Change Chain & Sprockets

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Jamz
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How To Change Chain & Sprockets

Post by Jamz »

I have a chain & sprocket set on it's way to me, and i'm feeling brave enough to try fitting it myself!!! :D

I've got a rear paddock stand, and had the rear wheel off a few times for various things, and can see the new chain and the rear sprocket should be straightforward.

But it's the front sprocket that i'm a bit worried about. :|

In the manual it says you need a special tool to get the sprocket off. How essential is this - or what else can i do/use to make getting it off easy???

So, step by step, it's : side lower fairing off, gear lever assembly off (?), covery-bit unscrewed and off.....

Then what do i do in respect of getting the front sprocket off??? :?
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Post by masterofinsanity »

there's 2 bolts holding a thingy to the front sprocket, undo and remove the 2 bolts, slightly turn the thingy and remove it from the sprocket then pull the sprocket off, it may help to slacken the chain and put the bike in gear before you start.

thingy is 13270 in the pic :D

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Post by Jamz »

Why slacken the chain and put it in gear???

Is it just to stop the sprocket turning while you get the Thingy off???

LOL this is more like my technical language!!! :D
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Post by masterofinsanity »

put it in gear to stop the sprocket turning whilst you undo the thingy nuts and slacken the chain so you can pull the sprocket off the spindle.
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Post by RedexRobB »

The 'thingy' is a sproket flange :lol:

Its all pretty much as Baz described it, they really are a peice of piss to do, probably one of the easiest jobs to do on a bike.

So i take it youve go the chain riveter to join the chain?
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Post by Jamz »

Yeah, i got a Motrax chain splitter/riveter kit when i did my VFR750 chain - but won't need it this time....

I'm still on a vagrant monkeys budget, so was looking for the cheapest chain and sprockets that wouldn't kill me... :roll:

Anyway, i was looking at this link, but don't know if the stuff is any good - certainly the cheapest i've seen though! : http://shop.wemoto.com/index.dyn

But then i was having a mooch on the http://www.bartonmotors.co.uk site and noticed "chain and sprokets" in the used section.....

So for £25 + VAT my part-worn chain/sprockets should be arriving tomorrow!!! :D Didn't have any with Renthal sprockets or anything trick though, so standard 500kg ones will have to do for now.... :(

Oh, and i'll post a pic of my old rear sprocket once i take it off - if there's anything left... :|
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Post by SimonH »

for future reference I highly recommend these chaps for any chain and sprockets....I ordered a tsubaki racing chain AND non-standard renthal sprockets (oooo I love messing with my gearing!!) and got them next day for just over £100...Now thats just damn good! :D

http://www.bandcexpress.com/
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Post by RedexRobB »

Bit like the front sprocket off of my XJR :lol:

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No kidding this is exactly how it looked when i finally managed to get the giraffe off. I think it may be the original sproket,. which has covered roundabout 18000 miles. Obviously if you gave it a handfull the bugger slipped a bit! :lol:
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Post by Jamz »

ARGHHHHHHH!!!!!!! :evil:

There's never a 'simple' -ing job!!!!!! :evil:

All was going well - it DOES really seem to be an easy job to do yourself....

And then.......

I discovered that the chain Barton Motor sent me.....

Is a -ing continuous one!!!!! :cry: :cry:

The only way to get a continuous chain on, is to remove the suspension linkage, swingarm.... etc - you get the picture - BIG job. And a rear stand won't do it either.....

I have a chain splitter/rivettor, and i could file the pins from the new chain and pop them out - but then what??? :? I can't use them again!!!

Would bike places even sell just a couple of pins and a plate thingy??? :cry:

So next i shall go to Symtek Racing or wherever else they have non-moody staff (i.e. not Knotts :|), and try and beg/borrow/steal/buy some pins, or see if they can do anything.....

:evil: :evil: :evil:
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Post by RedexRobB »

Jamz as long as youve got the chain size and number they should be able to get you a link. Dont panic mate its no big deal :lol:

Soon as you've go the link it'll all be fiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiine :D
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Post by Jamz »

Yeah, apparently i need a "soft link", which every bike shop seems to stock.....

Except for EK chains - which NO FKR STOCKS!!!!! :evil: :evil: :evil:

lol

So after riding to 3 different bike shops i've given up for the day, and shall phone around some after the weekend.... :roll:

I KNEW something would go horribly wrong with this 'simple' job!!!! :cry:
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Post by RedexRobB »

It does seem a little odd that they sent it to you already linked up, but then it was second hand wasnt it, so took it off as it was and sent it to yas :roll:
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Post by Jamz »

Well, in the manual it does describe fitting a continuous chain, rather than a split-linked or soft-linked one - but KIN ELL what a job just to get a chain on!!!! :shock:

Maybe they just forgot to put a soft-link in the package with the chain/sprockets??? :?

I'll phone Barton Motors first to see, then i've gotta try and source one from somewhere that does EK chains if they didn't forget to put it in.

The DID ones don't fit, btw.

:roll:
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Post by RedexRobB »

i see

like ya say it is alot of effort to go to just to change a the chain, i did my XJR which came with a split link and changed it for a soft link, thats what prompted me to get the chain riveter. That way i can do any chain then.

So the chain is continous then? no soft link or anything???
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Post by Jamz »

If it was originally a soft-link chain, it's been joined so well that even after scrutinising every single link many times, on both sides of the chain, it can't be found!

I can see how if a chain is continuous it'll be safer and stronger, but does anyone actually use them??? I suppose it's something you'd only have to change every 15,000 miles or more, but it's still basically dismantling half the bike for something you can do in 30 mins with any other chain! :?

And why does nowhere seem to use EK chains??? What's the difference between the two??? :?
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