Knowing how to replace a dirt bike chain is half the battle. The other side of the coin is knowing when it’s time to replace a dirt bike chain. We chat through the ways to know when it’s time to replace your dirt bike chain. We then put on a new RK 520 O-Ring to finish off the enduro season!
I recently noticed I was adjusting the chain tension after every ride. That was the first indicator that I needed to look closer at the current state of the Sherco’s chain. Here are a few other indicators for a worn out dirt bike chain.
- More than half-tooth showing when pulled away from sprocket
- Spun rivets/pins in chain links
- Excessively worn/flat chain plates
- Missing or damaged o-rings (if you have an o-ring chain)
- Links that simply won’t rotate or seem to be “kinked”
It makes sense the Sherco’s chain needed to be replaced after only ~40 hours and ~700 miles. I’ve raced in a lot of tough conditions this year, including the Black Buffalo National Enduro MUDFEST! Sand and mud are the two conditions that wear on all parts more than any other. The debris works its way into the chain and wears away the rivet/plate connection to start stretching the chain sooner than normal.
Racing hours on the bike are more demanding than regular riding hours. You’re typically pushing the machine harder and longer than you would during a day of trail riding. Take this into consideration as well when looking at your drivetrain, or any parts for that matter.
After looking at the chain more, I noticed side to side play between links and quite a few spun rivets. I then gave the front sprocket a gander and noticed the teeth were starting to rotate forward, or shark tooth. All of these indicators told me it was time to replace the chain and front sprocket. The DDC steel rear sprocket is also showing slight signs of wear. I’ll plan to replace it with my next new chain, which is hopefully is in more than 40 hours.
Installing a dirt bike chain is a process, and there are a lot of different processes talked about online. You need to find the process that works for you and follow it. I like to use vice grips and channel locks for disassembly and reassembly of the master link. I also use a grinder to cut the chain to length, instead of a chain breaking tool. Call me crazy. What weird ways have you found over the years that work for you?
With the race season coming to a close, the hours on the Sherco may slow down a bit. I doubt I’ll have too much of a wild hair over the winter to ride a ton since I have my Ultra Marathon coming up before Thanksgiving. I’ll be racing or running, and then I’ll be sleeping in on Saturday and Sunday’s for a bit!
Questions, Comments, or Concerns? ASK AWAY!
0 Comments
Leave A Comment