Chain Stretching

Lil' Help! When I take my 76 kz900 on long trips I seem to have to tension the chain more and more frequently as the miles add up. If I don't keep it taught it eats away at the rear sprocket. A couple years ago I replaced the chain (and the sprocket)because it outstretched the tensioning capacity. Any tips out there on how to get more miles out of my chain, or is it just a heavy chain that is going to stretch. I know pulling a link is an option, but it is a pain, especially on the road. I probably have about half the length of the tensioning bolt left and am looking at a 1000 mile round trip this summer. would hate to run out of room for the return trip

Pulling a link is not an option. If your chain is stretched that far than it is chewing the He** out of your rear sprocket. At this point the pitch is so far off, that you are approaching a danger zone. If you lubricate the chain like you should, every 200 Mi. or so it should give you about 25000Mi. The trick is to lube the chain as frequently as possible. I do it about every 100-150 Mi. Lubricating the chain is much more important than tightening it. Forget all these new clear lubes that are supposed to keep your back wheel clean and use something with Molly in it I swear by KG Chain Kote but I am sure that other makers use Molly in their lubes also. Also make sure that you do not have a stiff link in the chain. This is also a sure fire way to ruin a sprocket. If you have a stiff link, Just loosen the chain spray the stiff link with WD40 or equivalent and loosen it up by hand. Once you have loosened it up just soak it again in a good heavy chain lube. Stiff links are the #1 reason of rear sprocket ware. You may not even have a stretched chain.

Plus buy a modern O-ring or X-ring chain, the tensile strength of these chains is far far more than the old types.

Sounds like PJ1 chain oil is being used. Don't use it. Be sure and lube it like mentioned, but not with PJ1. Some guys have the idea oring chains do not need lube=WRONG. Look at any motorcycle parked anywhere and look at the chain. It is bone dry. Very rare to see a lubed chain, and they wonder why the chain is worn out with 5000 miles on it.

Oh yes, lube it no matter what you have. I have an RK X-ring chain on my 650, and I lube it with gear oil. I haven't had to tension it after about 2000km since it was installed. Course I dont have much power, but with my 810 mods this summer I'll see really how this chain performs.

thegoodness wrote:

Lil' Help! When I take my 76 kz900 on long trips I seem to have to tension the chain more and more frequently as the miles add up. If I don't keep it taught it eats away at the rear sprocket. A couple years ago I replaced the chain (and the sprocket)because it outstretched the tensioning capacity. Any tips out there on how to get more miles out of my chain, or is it just a heavy chain that is going to stretch. I know pulling a link is an option, but it is a pain, especially on the road. I probably have about half the length of the tensioning bolt left and am looking at a 1000 mile round trip this summer. would hate to run out of room for the return trip

The chain isn't really stretching in the conventional sense, it is "gaining length" because wear at the rollers and pins makes the links move farther apart. Needless to say, the cause of the problem is the wear occurring on those points. The cure is frequent maintenance/lube and a high quality chain.

ditto