Motorcycle non o-ring chains

[02SE]

Originally Posted By: Claud
Belts make sense, top fuel dragster blower belts deal with 5-6oo hp loads I believe.

Claud.


Approximately double the higher figure on a competitive TF/D running in the NHRA, depending on a slew of factors.

A belt is great, if you can fit a belt wide enough to handle the torque being sent to the rear wheel, without running into packaging problems.

 

[02SE]

As for o/x-ring chains versus non o-ring chains. I run X-ring chains on both of my streetbikes: A moderately modified BMW S1000RR, and a heavily modified Hayabusa. I'm also running an X-ring chain on my unfriendly,

modified, KTM 550 MXC 2-stroke dirtbike.

If I were in a racing situation, and the slight weight advantage, and slightly less drag could add up to a couple hundredths of a second from using a non O-ring chain, I'd deal with the extra maintenance necessary for the non-o-ring chain.

A properly cleaned, lubed, and adjusted o/x-ring chain has minimal drag, and only a minor weight penalty.

For just riding for fun, I'll take the o/x-ring chain every time, over the bigger hassle, and shorter lifespan of a non-o-ring chain.

 

[rrounds]

All through the 70's when I raced dirt bikes we usd a concoction of paraffin wax, chassis lube and powdered graphite. Heat the mix up and soak the chain, let it cool a little then take it out and wipe it off. Works great, doesn't sling off and the thick wax keeps out dirt and warter. The lube and powdered graphite(some of the slickest stuff I've ever felt) would keep the chain running for a long time. Little bit of work but it saved me a lot of money on chains.

ROD

 

[Claud]

Originally Posted By: 02SE
Originally Posted By: Claud
Belts make sense, top fuel dragster blower belts deal with 5-6oo hp loads I believe.

Claud.


Approximately double the higher figure on a competitive TF/D running in the NHRA, depending on a slew of factors.

A belt is great, if you can fit a belt wide enough to handle the torque being sent to the rear wheel, without running into packaging problems.


Whoops!, I'm out of date. I stopped watching Top Fuel since they stopped racing 1/4 miles.

Claud

 

[SuperSalad]

For those people that prefer to rely solely on the grease sealed inside the chain I just have three quick things to point out:

- Whether the chain is an o/x-ring or not, the chain itself still needs protecting from the elements. So you still want something on there to at least protect from corrosion.

- Another thing about o-ring chains is that the sealed lubricant only lubes between the pins and rollers. The plates also rub on one another and the outside of the rollers slide on the sprocket. So the sealed grease inside the chain is only serving one area of the chain but there are other areas that can benefit from lubrication too.

- Good lubes that are specified as o-ring safe should also help to preserve the o-rings and help minimize the frictional losses the rubbing of the o-ring presents. Granted some companies may just throw "o-ring safe" on the label without proper testing but reputable companies that say their products are o-ring safe should be beneficial in this area.

With regards to a non-o-ring chain, a good lube that will maintain a strong film and not be thrown by the centripetal forces of the chain will serve it well. Solid lubes like wax are good, but it also needs to have some fluidity to maintain a film otherwise it will just be rubbed off the surface in a short time and not have the flowing capability to back-flow and fill in the gaps of the lube film.

 

[Ducked]

IIRC the engineering consensus is that oil does the best lubricating job on a chain, despite its grit attraction. Its also what Honda recommend.

 

[Silk]

For trials my chains were single use between lubes - ride in water and mud, remove, clean, soak in diff oil, hang to dry then fit. They last for years like that...currently well over a decade. I don't use an o ring chain on small bikes, they are just too heavy and stiff, I can hardly spin the wheel to lube.

Oops, 13,000km and 16.5 hp....and 40 years.

Going home in disgrace.

 

[Ducked]

Too much truck

 

[Superflan]

40 years chain! Well done, I enjoyed seeing this.

CB 125T?

 

[Silk]

1974 Moto Guzzi Stornello 160, I've had it from new, bought in 1978. I had last used it in 1988, been sitting in the shed since. I hadn't expected problems with the chain in 13,000km, but maybe the 40 year part had something to do with it. It spent 10 years close to the sea.

 

[Cujet]

I agree that O-Ring chains "dampen" the feel of a motorcycle a bit. I've been riding for 45 years and I agree with the OP, a conventional chain feels better. In particular, on small bikes.

In the end, though, I hate conventional chains due to rapid wear.

 

[brave sir robin]

this thread I swear....