nklr-drivel

[E.L. Green]

15,000 miles ago, I put one of those 'temporarily' on my chain while I waited for the proper chain tool to install a rivet-type master link. I finally did gulp and fork out the bucks for the DiD chain tool as well as a couple of spare rivet-type master links, but never got around to installing the new master link to replace the "temporary" one. Yesterday I did my checkout of my bike in the hotel parking lot prior to the 400 mile ride home and... the clip was gone. Lesson: It's a lot easier to change a link in the privacy of your own garage with your whole toolkit available than it is to change it in a hotel parking lot using a hard bag under the skidplate as your "lift" and a pair of borrowed channel-loks to substitute for the correct wrenches (I was missing a 13mm for my chain adjusters, since I had to loosen the back wheel to get enough slack to deal with the chain, and I was missing whatever big-a** wrench is needed to hold the DiD tool while you crank on it). Oh, and the DiD chain tool is sweet, if expensive. Just so ya know. It did a yeoman job of exactly pressing on the side plate and mushrooming the rivet heads in exactly the DiD- specified dimensions. The directions are in Japanese, but it wasn't difficult to figure out how it all worked based only on the illustrations and a general knowledge of how it all fit together. BTW, my chain is still in great shape, and has never had a lick of "chain lube" on it. It was WD-40 all the way until I put the Scott-oiler on it, and Scott-oil then ATF since then. It looks like I'll get another 15,000 miles out of it if the sprockets hold up... - Eric G

[Zachariah Mully]

On Mon, 2007-11-26 at 19:01 +0000, E.L. Green wrote:

> 15,000 miles ago, I put one of those 'temporarily' on my chain while I > waited for the > proper chain tool to install a rivet-type master link. I finally did > gulp and fork out the > bucks for the DiD chain tool as well as a couple of spare rivet-type > master links, but never > got around to installing the new master link to replace the > "temporary" one.

But did you install the clip correctly? Did you back the outer plate off the chain after putting the clip on, so as to pinch the clip between the grooves on the pins and the plate? If not, it's a surprise that it lasted as long as it did. I don't think they're prone to come off if installed correctly... Plus it's a whole lot easier to carry a spare and tools in case you ever do need to replace, or splice a chain, than a full on link riveter. Z

[E.L. Green]

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, Zachariah Mully wrote:

> > On Mon, 2007-11-26 at 19:01 +0000, E.L. Green wrote: > > 15,000 miles ago, I put one of those 'temporarily' on my chain while I > > waited for the > > proper chain tool to install a rivet-type master link. I finally did > > gulp and fork out the > > bucks for the DiD chain tool as well as a couple of spare rivet-type > > master links, but never > > got around to installing the new master link to replace the > > "temporary" one. > > But did you install the clip correctly? Did you back the outer plate off > the chain after putting the clip on, so as to pinch the clip between the > grooves on the pins and the plate? If not, it's a surprise that it

This is a DiD x-ring chain. The x-rings are so thick that I had to hold the outer plate in compression with a pair of vice-grips to get the clip on. Otherwise the x-rings would push it off. Looking at the x-rings, it appears that they wore down over time and became less thick, thus allowing the outer plate to move away from the clip, at which point the clip went AWOL when, err, "clipped", by a flying rock or branch or other off-road obstacle.

> lasted as long as it did. I don't think they're prone to come off if > installed correctly... Plus it's a whole lot easier to carry a spare and > tools in case you ever do need to replace, or splice a chain, than a > full on link riveter.

The DiD chain breaker/link riveter tool is heavy but compact, about the same size as the MotionPro chain breaker tool (but far more durable). I frankly found it easier to use this tool than to install the clip-type link in the first place, because there is no guesswork involved, just position the nubs on the backside of the link into the depressions therein, position the slide to put the press plate over the side plate you're pressing on such that the nubs on this side will go into the valley in the press, then start cranking. Once the tool grounds out, remove tool, remove the press plate, shift the slide such that the rivet expander snozzle is over one of the rivets to expand, and crank again until the outer circumference of the riveter hits the side plate. Repeat for the other rivet. The tool itself handles making sure that everything is done to the proper depth. You can do things wrong, but you have to try. As long as you stop cranking when things ground out, you're fine. Of course, this is a DiD tool for dealing with DiD 500/525 chains and probably would not work as well for other types of chains, but since all I put on my bikes is the DiD x-ring chains... (shrug).

[Chris Norloff]

Such a pain. Glad you got it fixed okay. I've used the clip-type links for many years and many miles. After losing one clip a long time ago I either safety-wire the clip on or clean it and put a smear of silicon sealant on it. Works great. Chris ---------- Original Message ---------------------------------- From: "E.L. Green" Date: Mon, 26 Nov 2007 19:01:54 -0000

>15,000 miles ago, I put one of those 'temporarily' on my chain while I waited for the >proper chain tool to install a rivet-type master link. I finally did gulp and fork out the >bucks for the DiD chain tool as well as a couple of spare rivet-type master links, but never >got around to installing the new master link to replace the "temporary" one. > >Yesterday I did my checkout of my bike in the hotel parking lot prior to the 400 mile ride >home and... the clip was gone. > >Lesson: It's a lot easier to change a link in the privacy of your own garage with your whole >toolkit available than it is to change it in a hotel parking lot using a hard bag under the >skidplate as your "lift" and a pair of borrowed channel-loks to substitute for the correct >wrenches (I was missing a 13mm for my chain adjusters, since I had to loosen the back >wheel to get enough slack to deal with the chain, and I was missing whatever big-a** >wrench is needed to hold the DiD tool while you crank on it). > >Oh, and the DiD chain tool is sweet, if expensive. Just so ya know. It did a yeoman job of >exactly pressing on the side plate and mushrooming the rivet heads in exactly the DiD- >specified dimensions. The directions are in Japanese, but it wasn't difficult to figure out >how it all worked based only on the illustrations and a general knowledge of how it all fit >together. > >BTW, my chain is still in great shape, and has never had a lick of "chain lube" on it. It was >WD-40 all the way until I put the Scott-oiler on it, and Scott-oil then ATF since then. It >looks like I'll get another 15,000 miles out of it if the sprockets hold up... > >- Eric G > > > >List sponsored by Dual Sport News at: www.dualsportnews.com >List FAQ courtesy of Chris Krok at: www.bigcee.com/klr650faq.html >Member Map at: http://www.frappr.com/dsnklr650 >Yahoo! Groups Links > > > >

[John Kokola]

The DID tool is a bit pricey but it is a "lifer" tool. I've probably used it on a dozen chains, four or five of them actually being on my own bikes. Worth every penny, even for a KLR owner. But then again, I think that this is a great "lifer" tool, too, and no respectable KLR owner would be caught dead ordering from Griot's Garage: http://tinyurl.com/3xtsct --John Kokola -----Original Message-----

>From: "E.L. Green" > >Oh, and the DiD chain tool is sweet, if expensive. Just so ya know.

[benhua4]

Hi Chris, Several times, on motorcycle forums, people have recommended using safety wire to fix the Master Link clip in place. Exactly how do you do it? Method #1, like this: http://www.pbase.com/benhua/image/89573436 Method #2, like this: http://www.pbase.com/benhua/image/89573434 Or neither of the above? I'd like to use the clip on master link but I don't want it coming of at 70mph, know what I mean? Best regards, Bob L --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "Chris Norloff" wrote:

> > Such a pain. Glad you got it fixed okay. I've used the clip-type

links for many years and many miles. After losing one clip a long time ago I either safety-wire the clip on or clean it and put a smear of silicon sealant on it. Works great.

> > Chris

[Jeff Saline]

On Tue, 27 Nov 2007 21:15:22 -0000 "benhua4" writes:

> Hi Chris, > Several times, on motorcycle forums, people have recommended using > safety wire to fix the Master Link clip in place. Exactly how do you > > do it? > > Method #1, like this: > http://www.pbase.com/benhua/image/89573436 > > Method #2, like this: > http://www.pbase.com/benhua/image/89573434 > > Or neither of the above? > > I'd like to use the clip on master link but I don't want it coming > of > at 70mph, know what I mean? > > Best regards, > Bob L

<><><><><><><><><> <><><><><><><><><> Bob, Funny you should bring this up today. This morning I was wondering how it's done too. I'm gonna be real interested in the reply. Best, Jeff Saline ABC # 4412 South Dakota Airmarshal Airheads Beemer Club www.airheads.org The Beautiful Black Hills of South Dakota 75 R90/6, 03 KLR650, 79 R100RT

[KLRDON]

AHA! I like it. Safety wire and silicone should be the belt & suspenders we need. Thx, Don M

>> Several times, on motorcycle forums, people have recommended using >> safety wire to fix the Master Link clip in place. Exactly how do you >> >> do it? >> >> Method #1, like this: >> http://www.pbase.com/benhua/image/89573436 >> >> Method #2, like this: >> http://www.pbase.com/benhua/image/89573434

[fasteddiecopeman]

I use method 1. Ed

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "benhua4" wrote: > > Hi Chris, > Several times, on motorcycle forums, people have recommended using > safety wire to fix the Master Link clip in place. Exactly how do you > do it? > > Method #1, like this: > http://www.pbase.com/benhua/image/89573436 > > Method #2, like this: > http://www.pbase.com/benhua/image/89573434 > > Or neither of the above? > > I'd like to use the clip on master link but I don't want it coming of > at 70mph, know what I mean? > > Best regards, > Bob L > > > --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "Chris Norloff" > wrote: > > > > Such a pain. Glad you got it fixed okay. I've used the clip-type > links for many years and many miles. After losing one clip a long > time ago I either safety-wire the clip on or clean it and put a smear > of silicon sealant on it. Works great. > > > > Chris >

[jokerloco9@aol.com]

I'm kind of lost on this - why would anyone want a clip on master link, with all of the associated problems of it coming apart. Rivet the damn thing on and forget it! Jeff A20 **************************************Check out AOL's list of 2007's hottest products. (http://money.aol.com/special/hot-products-2007?NCID=aoltop00030000000001) [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]