Stretched Chain Question

I think my bike is ready for a new chain. I was just wondering how far some of you guys will push a stretched chain? Me and my friends were going to go on a 700 mile round trip (Salt Lake, UT to Durango, CO) this weekend leaving friday morning. I just dont know if I should keep pushing my chain or not. My options are go on the ride with my bad chain or not go and get a new chain.

When you replace the chain, do the sprockets too. Old parts will quickly wear out the new ones.

coydogg wrote:

I think my bike is ready for a new chain. I was just wondering how far some of you guys will push a stretched chain? Me and my friends were going to go on a 700 mile round trip (Salt Lake, UT to Durango, CO) this weekend leaving friday morning. I just dont know if I should keep pushing my chain or not. My options are go on the ride with my bad chain or not go and get a new chain.

The problem with worn chains is they get loose spots which means they might hop off at a bad time. Hard to say how bad yours is.

it is pretty consistant in its looseness. I have rolled it all the way around and felt the tension and one spot gets a little tighter but not much.

Is a chain for a 78 kz 1000 something that I will just be able to get at a local shop? Cause if thats the case I might be able to take my bike in and get a new chain and still be able to go on my ride. I just dont have a chain breaker or anything to do it myself.

Yes, you´ll find good chains in most of bike shops. Get both new sprockets and a chain at the same time otherwise you´ll wear out the new chain very fast. They are a combo.

When is the last time it was adjusted and was that performed properly (about 1" play at tightest spot)?

coydogg wrote:

it is pretty consistant in its looseness. I have rolled it all the way around and felt the tension and one spot gets a little tighter but not much.

Is a chain for a 78 kz 1000 something that I will just be able to get at a local shop? Cause if thats the case I might be able to take my bike in and get a new chain and still be able to go on my ride. I just dont have a chain breaker or anything to do it myself.

Z1 enterprises can sell you a very good chain and sprockets for a lot less than local shops will. Believe me, I looked around (even on the net) before I bought mine.

coydogg wrote:

it is pretty consistant in its looseness. I have rolled it all the way around and felt the tension and one spot gets a little tighter but not much.

The only way to know if it has reached it's death is to measure stretch by hanging a weight on it and measuring between a fixed number of links. I think they allow maybe 2% stretch? More than that and the rollers are not engaging the gears properly and grind the teeth off the gears.

stupid question. If it won't make the trip, get a new one. Probaly need new sprockets, also.

a quick and dirty chain check. adjust the chain to the correct slack. then at the back sprocket pull the chain away from the sprocket in a straight line from the output sprocket. if you can lift the chain more than half the tooth depth your chain needs replaced.

saltydog wrote:

stupid question. If it won't make the trip, get a new one. Probaly need new sprockets, also.

Stupid answer

NOT probably! It´s a MUST to change chain and sprockets at the same time. Sprockets wear out and they don´t fit new chain exactly and the new chain will wear out in no time.

It's false that sprockets and chains wear out at the same intervals. Chains are stupid things and can wear out quickly I have a KZ1000 and it will go through a non roller chain in a few weeks meaning it will stretch over 2 inches due to the low end torch> you should change both sprockets at the same time