530 O-Ring chains

[russo011]

Just fitted a DID 530 X-Ring chain and noticed the clearance between the inner rivet head and crankcase is as good as zero plus some thou. It seems there has been some collision between chain and crankcase at sometime during the bikes life. Has anybody previously had similar issues? Has anybody felt the need to grind a slot into the crankcase at the point where the chain passes? Can't believe I just wrote that, however, clearance is minimal to say the least

 

[Paul Marx]

It happens with 530 O ring chains. It stops once the chain has ground away enough metal on the crankcase.
Paul

 

[russo011]

It happens with 530 O ring chains. It stops once the chain has ground away enough metal on the crankcase.
Paul

Cool, cheers Mr Marx, kind of guessed this was the way to go, I think I'm just too mechanically sympathetic

 

[sfc vintage]

Hi Rus’s.
I use: DID 520, working super.
Br
Peder

 

[russo011]

Hi Rus’s.
I use: DID 520, working super.
Br
Peder

Already bought the 530 drive so too late

 

[The Sock]

I've had DID 530 O ring chains on for the past forty years without problems.
I did flirt with a 630, prior to that, seemed like a good idea at the time, it ground a couple of grooves in the bottom of the case.

 

[russo011]

I've had DID 530 O ring chains on for the past forty years without problems.
I did flirt with a 630, prior to that, seemed like a good idea at the time, it ground a couple of grooves in the bottom of the case.

View attachment 82250

Bottom of the case doesn't seem to be an issue, just the thickest web on the edge closest to the swingarm pivot.

 

[The Sock]

You could relieve it, perhaps a light touch with a grinder would enhance the clearance and remove concerns.

 

[mauricejota7604]

On the earlier 3Cs there is even less room I do not use 530 O ring chains on those engines!
A heavy duty non O ring 530 chain only just fits.
I wouldn’t be grinding away crankcase material.
I bet if you had a look around at most mid 70s triples you will find alloy that has been ground away by an over width chain.

 

[Paul Marx]

On the earlier 3Cs there is even less room I do not use 530 O ring chains on those engines!
A heavy duty non O ring 530 chain only just fits.
I wouldn’t be grinding away crankcase material.
I bet if you had a look around at most mid 70s triples you will find alloy that has been ground away by an over width chain.

It's only about 2 or 3 mm high by 1 deep on a rib at the end of the case. The muck picked up by the chain is probably more abrasive.

Paul

 

[piranha-bro2]

While on the subject of widths, I bought a new old stock selector cover (external triangular one with three bolts) and when I fitted it with the stock splined fork/selector shaft assembly that the gear lever goes onto I found a gap of at least 10-12mm between cover and inner gear lever face. Comparing to my older one I see that the protruding part of cover (boss?) that the O-ring sits inside before washer and gear lever are fitted is that same amount shorter than my old one or every other cover I've ever seen.

Anyone know what model that might be for? An earlier one? AE for ex? It came from the US about 6 years ago.

 

[Dellortoman]

I dunno about the twins, but maybe it's the same cover as used on the triples.

On the triples, the bikes that came with the left side gearshift crossover had a stumpy little shaft that connects to a lever arm for the linkage. So I'm reasonably sure the cover had a stumpy little bearing spigot as well. I presume to keep that part of the gear linkage tucked in out of the way of the rider's right boot.

Coming from the USA, I'd expect it to be for bike with the crossover linkage, where left side gearshift was mandated.

 

[Paul Marx]

Are the parts lists with the numbers not in the library?
The only way of checking if similar looking parts are indeed similar.
Paul

 

[CLEMTOG]

so the answer is.........
run with a humungous 630 chain and sprockets for a few thousand miles and then fit 520 (not 530), chains and sprockets.
perhaps we could crowd fund stock of a 630 set to loan to owners.

my prefered chains are non O ring 530.
CLEM

 

[Laverdian]

While on the subject of widths, I bought a new old stock selector cover (external triangular one with three bolts) and when I fitted it with the stock splined fork/selector shaft assembly that the gear lever goes onto I found a gap of at least 10-12mm between cover and inner gear lever face. Comparing to my older one I see that the protruding part of cover (boss?) that the O-ring sits inside before washer and gear lever are fitted is that same amount shorter than my old one or every other cover I've ever seen.

Anyone know what model that might be for? An earlier one? AE for ex? It came from the US about 6 years ago.

From your description it sounds like you’ve got a triangle cover that’s used with the crossover gear shift. Common in the USA.
Does it look like this one?

 

[piranha-bro2]

From your description it sounds like you’ve got a triangle cover that’s used with the crossover gear shift. Common in the USA.
Does it look like this one?

Yep, that's the one - a few correct answers - koala stamps for all of you!!

 

[helicopterjim]

On the triples, the bikes that came with the left side gearshift crossover had a stumpy little shaft that connects to a lever arm for the linkage. So I'm reasonably sure the cover had a stumpy little bearing spigot as well. I presume to keep that part of the gear linkage tucked in out of the way of the rider's right boot.

Coming from the USA, I'd expect it to be for bike with the crossover linkage, where left side gearshift was mandated.

I just had a look at my bikes with the crossover linkage. The Formula Mirage has the long stub as does the 1975 ....... it is a 3C with the early type crossover that goes under the engine instead of back of the engine like the later models. The Formula Mirage was originally a regular Mirage (raced by Roger W) and then Formulated by Slaters 2 years later (reason why it is a 79 registered as an 81). Perhaps the fellow who imported it to Canada had the linkage conversion done before he shipped it over so I would expect the long stub then.

Just for fun, I looked at my SFC magnesium cover. It is a short stub. I also looked in a box of spares and found a cover with a short stub ..... but it has been hacksawed so was originally a long stub. It does have the shorter shifter stub.

Jim

Formula Mirage

3C

SFC

 

[piranha-bro2]

Thanks Jim. Confirms what I thought, that early crossover systems on bikes i've worked on had the long spline. SF3 pretty sure had a long spline.

 

[motoddrob]

The SFC cover I brought for the Motodd had the short stub so I turned up a piece of ally rod to fit into the end of the stub and turned a recess for the o-ring on the other end and epoxied it in. 20 years no problem. The SFC has a shorter selector shaft as you can see on my SFC pic.
I'd just turn up an extension as I did.

 

[Vince]

My 3c had a left side cange standard that I converted back to a right change, my one needs a thick washer, maybe a good 3mm to hold its O ring into the case.