Chain life

I have to tighten my chain every day I ride. My current set up is Mika sprockets with firepower HD chain. They have 11 hours on them and the chain has a lot of side to side play. This happened on my last set as well. Sprockets look good, rear may be just starting to show slight hooking. Is this a bad combo or am I doing something wrong. 

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jridout12
Posts
405
Joined
4/23/2018
Location
USA
4/11/2023 5:30pm
I have to tighten my chain every day I ride. My current set up is Mika sprockets with firepower HD chain. They have 11 hours on...

I have to tighten my chain every day I ride. My current set up is Mika sprockets with firepower HD chain. They have 11 hours on them and the chain has a lot of side to side play. This happened on my last set as well. Sprockets look good, rear may be just starting to show slight hooking. Is this a bad combo or am I doing something wrong. 

I just purchased a firepower chain to replace a DID chain that I was having the same issue with. Seems to me chain quality has gone downhill the past few years 

Alex814
Posts
1235
Joined
12/18/2014
Location
USA
4/11/2023 7:54pm

I also have a firepower HD chain on a 250 that needs adjusting every ride, it seems excessive. The stock DID chain on my 125 does not stretch as much. 

4/12/2023 7:24am
Alex814 wrote:
I also have a firepower HD chain on a 250 that needs adjusting every ride, it seems excessive. The stock DID chain on my 125 does...

I also have a firepower HD chain on a 250 that needs adjusting every ride, it seems excessive. The stock DID chain on my 125 does not stretch as much. 

Alright well maybe that’s it. I started with the chain on the second line on my swing arm, I’m now to the 5th line at 11 hours and insane side to side play and also at the rear sprocket I can pull it to see almost an entire tooth 

Sandusky26
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3460
Joined
7/28/2021
Location
Eastern, NC, USA
4/12/2023 8:12am

Pull your bottom shock bolt and see if you're chain is too tight. Raise the wheel until the chain is at it's tightest point, the chain should have a little slack.

 

2

The Shop

4/12/2023 8:39am
Sandusky26 wrote:
Pull your bottom shock bolt and see if you're chain is too tight. Raise the wheel until the chain is at it's tightest point, the chain...

Pull your bottom shock bolt and see if you're chain is too tight. Raise the wheel until the chain is at it's tightest point, the chain should have a little slack.

 

I’ll try that, I’m just going off what the manual says, I just go in the middle.

4/12/2023 8:47am

You’re on a 450 right? If I were you I’d go to a bit higher of a name brand like a DID ERT3. Cheaper chains just don’t last on a 450 from my experience. 

4
4/12/2023 9:57am
Rickyisms wrote:
You’re on a 450 right? If I were you I’d go to a bit higher of a name brand like a DID ERT3. Cheaper chains just...

You’re on a 450 right? If I were you I’d go to a bit higher of a name brand like a DID ERT3. Cheaper chains just don’t last on a 450 from my experience. 

Yeah, I fed into the firepower chain advertisements on pulp, made by another Japanese brand apparently. Is DID ERT3 the best you can get. Is an O-ring chain worth the extra weight and price 

1
4/12/2023 10:01am

I wouldn’t hesitate to run an Oring on a 450. Would last a long time with steel sprockets. 

2
RGaede
Posts
209
Joined
1/10/2014
Location
Albuquerque, NM, USA
4/12/2023 11:08am

+1 for oring with steel on a 450.  On mine i run the RK mx-u with a primary drive steel sprocket.   Before that i was running a twinring, and the set screw backed out...( after about 60 hours).  

I used to get ~20 hours out of aluminum sprockets with a premium ( used the rk mxz-4 myself).  Get more than double with the current combo, and it was cheaper overall.   

1
Gravel
Posts
1863
Joined
2/22/2014
Location
Ridgecrest, CA, USA
4/12/2023 12:47pm

Ironman sprocket and Regina chain, replace the CS sprocket every 30 hours or so. I got over 150 hours on a 450 with that setup. Keep changing the CS, once it wears it’ll eat up the chain and rear sprocket. 

2
4/12/2023 2:10pm

How about dirt tricks sprockets anyone running those? 

1
Gravel
Posts
1863
Joined
2/22/2014
Location
Ridgecrest, CA, USA
4/12/2023 5:44pm

How about dirt tricks sprockets anyone running those? 

I think DirtTricks = Ironman. Great product, just be sure about the gearing you want because the sprocket will last forever. And they’re not cheap. 

1
Cobbler
Posts
432
Joined
3/13/2023
Location
cairo, IL, USA
4/13/2023 7:55am
I have to tighten my chain every day I ride. My current set up is Mika sprockets with firepower HD chain. They have 11 hours on...

I have to tighten my chain every day I ride. My current set up is Mika sprockets with firepower HD chain. They have 11 hours on them and the chain has a lot of side to side play. This happened on my last set as well. Sprockets look good, rear may be just starting to show slight hooking. Is this a bad combo or am I doing something wrong. 

And they say suzukis dont bark... 

Cobbler
Posts
432
Joined
3/13/2023
Location
cairo, IL, USA
4/13/2023 7:58am

Has anyone had good luck with more cost effective chains like the DID 520 DZ2 or one of the tusk ones? It's for a 250 2 stroke. I always wonder about chain cost vs. longevity and if the cheaper chains are even worth trying and if the high end ones even last as long. I usually end up with a did ERT, a "standard" in my opinion.

image-20230413095844-1

Moto520
Posts
3643
Joined
2/4/2013
Location
Schaumburg, IL, USA
4/13/2023 8:55am

I think there's a lot of variable when tightening a chain.  The marks on the blocks can be misleading as to chain alignment.   I think your chain could be too tight possibly.  What bike do you ride and how are you measuring the slack?

4/13/2023 10:53am
Cobbler wrote:
Has anyone had good luck with more cost effective chains like the DID 520 DZ2 or one of the tusk ones? It's for a 250 2...

Has anyone had good luck with more cost effective chains like the DID 520 DZ2 or one of the tusk ones? It's for a 250 2 stroke. I always wonder about chain cost vs. longevity and if the cheaper chains are even worth trying and if the high end ones even last as long. I usually end up with a did ERT, a "standard" in my opinion.

image-20230413095844-1

I like them for the money. I’m running a KTM powerparts steel rear, Pro-X countershaft sprocket, with the DZ2. Coming up on 40 hours and everything is about ready to be replaced. I’m a freak about cleaning and using what I think works best and I get great life out of them. 

Cobbler
Posts
432
Joined
3/13/2023
Location
cairo, IL, USA
4/13/2023 11:17am
Cobbler wrote:
Has anyone had good luck with more cost effective chains like the DID 520 DZ2 or one of the tusk ones? It's for a 250 2...

Has anyone had good luck with more cost effective chains like the DID 520 DZ2 or one of the tusk ones? It's for a 250 2 stroke. I always wonder about chain cost vs. longevity and if the cheaper chains are even worth trying and if the high end ones even last as long. I usually end up with a did ERT, a "standard" in my opinion.

image-20230413095844-1

Rickyisms wrote:
I like them for the money. I’m running a KTM powerparts steel rear, Pro-X countershaft sprocket, with the DZ2. Coming up on 40 hours and everything...

I like them for the money. I’m running a KTM powerparts steel rear, Pro-X countershaft sprocket, with the DZ2. Coming up on 40 hours and everything is about ready to be replaced. I’m a freak about cleaning and using what I think works best and I get great life out of them. 

I’ll probably try one. Imagine a 250 2s worn stretch it out terribly. I just can’t see a $250 chain and sprocket job…

4/13/2023 5:34pm
Cobbler wrote:
Has anyone had good luck with more cost effective chains like the DID 520 DZ2 or one of the tusk ones? It's for a 250 2...

Has anyone had good luck with more cost effective chains like the DID 520 DZ2 or one of the tusk ones? It's for a 250 2 stroke. I always wonder about chain cost vs. longevity and if the cheaper chains are even worth trying and if the high end ones even last as long. I usually end up with a did ERT, a "standard" in my opinion.

image-20230413095844-1

That’s basically what this post is about, I want whatever is the highest quality Chain from now on. Lots of things you can cut cost on, chain isn’t one of them, obviously 

Cobbler
Posts
432
Joined
3/13/2023
Location
cairo, IL, USA
4/13/2023 6:30pm
Cobbler wrote:
Has anyone had good luck with more cost effective chains like the DID 520 DZ2 or one of the tusk ones? It's for a 250 2...

Has anyone had good luck with more cost effective chains like the DID 520 DZ2 or one of the tusk ones? It's for a 250 2 stroke. I always wonder about chain cost vs. longevity and if the cheaper chains are even worth trying and if the high end ones even last as long. I usually end up with a did ERT, a "standard" in my opinion.

image-20230413095844-1

That’s basically what this post is about, I want whatever is the highest quality Chain from now on. Lots of things you can cut cost on...

That’s basically what this post is about, I want whatever is the highest quality Chain from now on. Lots of things you can cut cost on, chain isn’t one of them, obviously 

Yeah I’ve had a moment of clarity. Imagine laying in the hospital because you wanted to save $14 on a chain. 
Be buying a nice chain soon lol. 

1

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