New Chain & Sprocket - Ducati.ms

Martin Lindhe · Dec 5th, 2011, 12:00 am

It seems my chain on my MTS1200S is about to kick the bucket (12,000 miles, it keeps needing to be tightened pretty much every week now) – and I'm getting some confusion from my Ducati dealer as to what my options are.

The rear sprocket & chain is the original setup, but I have a few months old 14t front sprocket installed that I'd like to keep.

What would you guys recommend?

martys · Dec 5th, 2011, 12:25 am

talk to GeeBee, he'll set you up.

DucButter · Dec 5th, 2011, 7:25 am

Buy a new chain. If the rear sprocket is worn, replace that too.

Motorider · Dec 5th, 2011, 8:13 am

I went through a minute of having to adjust my chain several times and now its settled down and tapered off. I am close to 13k at the moment but of course I do not have a 14 tooth on the front which will accelerate chain wear over the stock setup. Might try giving it a minute and see if the stretch will settle down.

This has been the worse chain for stretch in my moto career but this bike does have the largest amount of torque I ever had.

Turbo · Dec 5th, 2011, 3:09 pm

12,000 miles is WAY too early to be thinking about replacing a 530 chain! Keep on adjusting it if it stretches. Don't replace it until it really IS worn out. Look at the teeth on the rear sprocket. If they don't look 'hooked' yet, the sprocket is fine. Next, with the chain adjusted properly, grab the chain at the back of the rear sprocket, at the 3 o'clock position, and try to pull it away from the sprocket. If it doesn't move, the chain and sprocket are fine. If it moves, look to see if you can see daylight between the chain and the sprocket. If you can't, again, the chain and sprocket are fine.

I have 18,000 miles on my 530 setup. 3,000 of those miles have been with a 14 tooth front sprocket. There's virtually no sign of any wear! It's going to last a lot longer yet.

Martin Lindhe · Dec 5th, 2011, 4:10 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Turbo

12,000 miles is WAY too early to be thinking about replacing a 530 chain!

OK I forgot to mention an important detail here - I have *no clue* how to adjust chains or even tell when it's time to change. I'm only going off of what my Ducati dealer tells me. They are saying my chain is starting to be in pretty bad shape, and it gets super loose and noisy after just a week after I take it in for tightening.

Could it be that I'm "abusing" the chain to a point where it ages prematurely? (I do ride it *HARD* for about 2 hours every day - in all weather conditions)

...or might my Ducati dealer simply wanting to sell me some more stuff before it's really needed?

Martin Lindhe · Dec 5th, 2011, 4:41 pm

Pictures of the chain & rear sprocket attached... (yeeees, dirty I know)

bcmonster · Dec 5th, 2011, 4:56 pm

Looks like bike maintenance is not really your thing! LOL. Proper cleaning/oiling does amazing things to chain life. Do you do any cleaning/lubing or is the dealer taking care of that for you as well? Tightening is pretty easy and despite what the manual says is not really a reason for a trip to the dealer. When you replace it may be a good idea to add a chain oiler. (Scott's etc)

DanF · Dec 5th, 2011, 4:59 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Turbo

12,000 miles is WAY too early to be thinking about replacing a 530 chain! Keep on adjusting it if it stretches. Don't replace it until it really IS worn out. Look at the teeth on the rear sprocket. If they don't look 'hooked' yet, the sprocket is fine. Next, with the chain adjusted properly, grab the chain at the back of the rear sprocket, at the 3 o'clock position, and try to pull it away from the sprocket. If it doesn't move, the chain and sprocket are fine. If it moves, look to see if you can see daylight between the chain and the sprocket. If you can't, again, the chain and sprocket are fine.

I have 18,000 miles on my 530 setup. 3,000 of those miles have been with a 14 tooth front sprocket. There's virtually no sign of any wear! It's going to last a lot longer yet.

I'd do this right off the top.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Martin Lindhe

Pictures of the chain & rear sprocket attached... (yeeees, dirty I know)

Martin

Do you ever degrease and brush and then wax your (hot) chain?

Are you aware of how and why and needing to do that?

Dan

motodave · Dec 5th, 2011, 5:33 pm

A good clean chain will last a lot longer then 12k miles, Martin your chain and sprockets never get cleaned and I have seen chains last as few as 8k miles when kept in the condition your chain is in... I have 15k on my MTS and my chain looks perfect but i am anal about cleaning it every week, I fully expect 20k out of it at least.

something to consider about chain life is when they are new they need a little adjustment at first and then for the most of it's life it needs very little adjustment(but cleaning and lubing is paramount) and then all of a sudden the last few miles of its life it needs to be adjusted all the time... that is when you know its time to replace.