Wilsons Sandbox

On Fri, Oct 10, 2008 at 6:28 AM, wrote:

> 2.) Why would front Sprocket wear so much faster?

My guess would be chain is a tad too tight... that tends to eat up the front pretty quickly.

> 3.) If front is tits up, should I just go ahead and replace chain and rear?

General rule of thumb is that if either sprocket is worn, you need to replace the whole ball of wax. The wear on one sprocket causes the chain to wear, which then wears the other sprocket. If you only replace one component, the wear from the others just "transfers" back to the new one.

> 4.) Previous models when Sprockets were worn, Brakes were due also. Should I plan on doing these at the same time?

Just check them... it's easy enough. Look down at the brake pad, sighting along the rotor (contortions might be necessary here). There is a "channel" cut through the center of the pads. If that's still there, you have some life left. If it's worn down enough that the channel is gone (or nearly so), replace it. Since you're going to have the rear off for the sprocket and chain anyway, if there's any doubt, you might as well save yourself more work later and replace them. Be sure to check both pads on all calipers... it's not uncommon for one side to wear quicker than the other. --Jonathan "smthng" Kalmes Springfield, VA 2005 Yamaha FJR1300ABS - "Blue Bayou" 2006 Jeep Unlimited Rubicon - "Teflon" 2008 Kawasaki KLR 650 - It's here, but it hasn't earned a name yet. http://smthng.info "Shake well... some settling is natural."

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "smthng else" wrote:

> > On Fri, Oct 10, 2008 at 6:28 AM, wrote: > > 2.) Why would front Sprocket wear so much faster? > > My guess would be chain is a tad too tight... that tends to eat up the > front pretty quickly. > > > 3.) If front is tits up, should I just go ahead and replace chain and rear? > > General rule of thumb is that if either sprocket is worn, you need to > replace the whole ball of wax. The wear on one sprocket causes the > chain to wear, which then wears the other sprocket. If you only > replace one component, the wear from the others just "transfers" back > to the new one. >

There is another school of thought that holds changing the chainwheel at the first sign of wear can prolong the life of the chain and rear sprocket. The front sprocket is little, and sees about three times as much chain as the rear sprocket. At the same time, there are fewer teeth to share the load; it typically shows wear well before the rear. Why not try just replacing the chainwheel, and see how long the whole plot lasts. If the chain is already damaged, you will know it soon enough anyway, so it costs you nothing to try.

Jud's comments on this topic make sense to me. I have been one who noticed a bit of wear on my front drive sprocket, and per Jud's comments it does indeed wear the most. I suppopse that it intuitive. At the same time it is also the cheapest component of the three to replace. Appr $20. There are some who have flipped the front sprocket, I think could be tried, but if I remember I felt it looked rather asymmetrical, thus I opted to replace it. I also have since flipped my rear as well for the same reason. It was really quite easy to do. I had envisioned the nuts on the rear sprocket being locked on or threads too boogered up to allow easy removal, but nop, a few shots of WD40 and a rathet and I was flipping it in five munutes. Car needs to be take to ensure the surfaces dont have chunks of crud, so I took a few minutes to clean. But then WahhhLah. So, although some might argue it won't make a hill of beans worth of difference. I have flipped sprockets. I have since pondered the virture of flipping the chain. I think that's a bit "out there" perhaps on the compulsive side, and perhaps a bit of a brain teaser. Is there a surface which wears more in one direction - ie the pull directions a pulled with more force per unit surface than the other (small sprocket pulling vs large rear sprocket being pulled. Do the chain surfaces spin so as to make the wear uniform? things to ponder as I fall asleep here at my keyboard. I have fresh sprocket surfaces and you don't ha ha. Todd in MN snowing yet? perhaps I am loosin it, just glad I don't work on wall street . . . . its ok I didn't need the money now anyway.

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "Jud Jones" wrote: > > --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "smthng else" wrote: > > > > On Fri, Oct 10, 2008 at 6:28 AM, wrote: > > > 2.) Why would front Sprocket wear so much faster? > > > > My guess would be chain is a tad too tight... that tends to eat up the > > front pretty quickly. > > > > > 3.) If front is tits up, should I just go ahead and replace chain and rear? > > > > General rule of thumb is that if either sprocket is worn, you need to > > replace the whole ball of wax. The wear on one sprocket causes the > > chain to wear, which then wears the other sprocket. If you only > > replace one component, the wear from the others just "transfers" back > > to the new one. > > > > There is another school of thought that holds changing the chainwheel at the first sign of > wear can prolong the life of the chain and rear sprocket. The front sprocket is little, and > sees about three times as much chain as the rear sprocket. At the same time, there are > fewer teeth to share the load; it typically shows wear well before the rear. Why not try just > replacing the chainwheel, and see how long the whole plot lasts. If the chain is already > damaged, you will know it soon enough anyway, so it costs you nothing to try. >

I think that it was Al Capone that said "You get more with a smile and a gun than you get with just a smile". DC David Bell wrote:

> > I bought an AK47 up at a gun shop outside of Greenville, Texas. I tied > it to my back seat with the bayonet extended and not in any kind of > case, just for grins, and drove home through a couple of rough little > towns between work and home. N > > . > >