Cam chain wear.

G

ghwallice

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Location
Ipswich
Is there a technical method of determining chain wear? I've always held them on their side, tight, and measured distance between ends and sag.

Problem is, using this method, I have new Zane cam chains that show as more worn than a couple I have that have done 15000klm.

Thanks, Greg
 
Greg,

As a chain wears mainly on the tensioned side of the pins, you need to "stretch" the chain, it should be clean and dry. IIrc, you measure the length of a number of pitches, say 10, and compare with the theoretical length of 10 pitches of the chain Again, iIrc, max. 2% deviation is acceptable. Example #530/5/8" x 3/8"; 5/8" pitch x 10 =6 1/4" (50/8"). Maximum acceptable length, if my 2% assumption is correct, would work out to 6 3/8" (51/8").

In any case, something like that...

piet
 
ghwallice said:
Is there a technical method of determining chain wear? I've always held them on their side, tight, and measured distance between ends and sag.

Problem is, using this method, I have new Zane cam chains that show as more worn than a couple I have that have done 15000klm.

Thanks, Greg
Click to expand...
seeing as how no one has new Zane or 500 cam chains anyway, does it really matter
 
I'd be going by the cam chain adjuster position. We measure bicycle chain wear with a gauge over a certain number of links (as per Piet's post) but that's because overly worn chains damage the sprockets and affect shifting. With cam chains I guess the risk is breakage?
 
This is what I wrote earlier but didn't send:

750/1000- chains are cheap and easy to get, if in doubt replace.
500/Zane - you can't buy chains anyway, so just ride it and hope!
Not very technical, but quite factual. :D
 
"seeing as how no one has new Zane or 500 cam chains anyway, does it really matter"
wise words from Red
why worry,
ride it or recluse it
CLEM
 
Dellortoman said:
There was quite an in-depth discussion about Zane cam chains a while back. Alternatives were discussed but I don't remember whether anyone came up with a workable solution.
Click to expand...
The thread was 'future for Zane bikes? ' with lots of useful input!/expertise, along with some strong emotion.
https://laverdaforum.com/xf/threads/101212/

Although it ended with irrelevant posts from Ron and others, it seemed as though some thread contributors were working at identifying a solution e.g. post numbers 152 (TomL) and 176 (wil)
 
Finally we did some research, especially TomL and Seagreen, and found a supplier in China that produces exactly the same chain, with the same dimensions as the Laverda 500. The minimum order was 100 or 200 metres I think I remember.
The idea was to order a sample and carry out a series of checks before ordering to see if the chain was strong enough. Although the catalogue referred to it being a timing chain.
I seem to remember that we got stuck on that step. Also, as during the investigation, we found a couple of chains from a Guzzi dealer, so things cooled down.
If someone wants to take a chance and order the 100 or 200 metres of chain, I think I could still find the catalogue of the Chinese distributor who had the chain.
Miguel
 
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