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11,456 Posts
The proper tool makes all the difference!
I'm in the middle of a chain/sprocket swap. The front (countershaft) sprocket was on there tighter than a turtle shell (we all know they're waterproof, right? ;-) ). I put the breaker bar to it: nothing. I almost flipped the bike over. So, I borrowed my buddy's impact wrench, hooked up to the air compressor, fired that bad boy up to about 125 psi and let 'er rip. A piece of cake. The proper tool makes all the difference.
Next, I had to cut the chain. Hacksaw, anyone? No thanks, I have borrowed my dad's Dremel tool, thankyaverymuch!! 30 seconds later, the pin head's completely gone and I'm ready to extract it from the chain. The proper tool makes all the difference.
Needle-nosed pliers and vice grips, Mr. Landry? No thanks, I've got my Motion-Pro Chain Breaker/Riveting set. That should do nicely. 3 minutes later, and I'm enjoying a nice cold Budweiser, looking at a pile of parts. The proper tool makes all the difference.
[SIDEBAR: I got the Motion-Pro kit for $69.95!! $78 shipped to my door . . .took 2 days. What a deal!! http://www.tucmoto.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv? ]
The proper tool makes all the difference in the world. I gotta' go buy me an impact wrench and a Dremel tool (yes . . . I'm the ONLY person on the planet without a Drememl to play with :roll: ).
My sprockets and chain were in poor shape and it's all my fault. :-(
For starters, the chain stretched out a month ago and I kept riding it with the adjustments all the way against the stops. Then, I made the mistake of riding it hard in this condition. My biggest mistake was that I didn't torque the rear axle when I replaced it after getting my new tire. That's right . . . I'm too stupid to torque one of the most important parts of the bike. :banghead:
So, I'm out riding . . . with an improperly-torqued rear axle . . . with a stretched-out chain . . . hitting it fairly hard in a left-hander . . .when I hear (and feel!!) a series of sickening "clunks" coming from the rear end. I knew it was the chain. I pull over and there's metal filings all over the rear of the bike. Ouch. I limped on home and started tearing it down.
The improperly-torqued rear axle allowed the rear wheel to move under the stress of the cornering, thus mis-aligning the sprocket at that point. The loose chain did it's own thing, which was basically to barely stay on the sprockets and chew off the inner-third of each tooth on the rear.
The front sprocket teeth looked like shark fins.
Maintain your chain. <=== That rhymes!! :mrgreen:
<. . . and use the proper tool. it make all the difference.>
[EDIT: I'm so @#$%ing giddy, I'm going to do my valves next. It's been, uh <censored> miles since they were last adjusted by the dealership. I think I'll order a gasket kit and plan on doing them before my trip to Arkansas on the 21st with "madmotorcyclist," a member of another forum who has become a friend of mine. He lives over there in Jonseboro, AR. He is, without a doubt, the youngest 60-something I've ever met. A good rider, an excellent ride leader, and a hoot to hangout with. He rides in that zone of "fast enough to have fun, slow enough to stay alive." Anyone want to join us for a spirited ride up Crowley's Ridge from Forrest City to Missouri on May 21st? It'll be a blast!]
I'm in the middle of a chain/sprocket swap. The front (countershaft) sprocket was on there tighter than a turtle shell (we all know they're waterproof, right? ;-) ). I put the breaker bar to it: nothing. I almost flipped the bike over. So, I borrowed my buddy's impact wrench, hooked up to the air compressor, fired that bad boy up to about 125 psi and let 'er rip. A piece of cake. The proper tool makes all the difference.
Next, I had to cut the chain. Hacksaw, anyone? No thanks, I have borrowed my dad's Dremel tool, thankyaverymuch!! 30 seconds later, the pin head's completely gone and I'm ready to extract it from the chain. The proper tool makes all the difference.
Needle-nosed pliers and vice grips, Mr. Landry? No thanks, I've got my Motion-Pro Chain Breaker/Riveting set. That should do nicely. 3 minutes later, and I'm enjoying a nice cold Budweiser, looking at a pile of parts. The proper tool makes all the difference.
[SIDEBAR: I got the Motion-Pro kit for $69.95!! $78 shipped to my door . . .took 2 days. What a deal!! http://www.tucmoto.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv? ]
The proper tool makes all the difference in the world. I gotta' go buy me an impact wrench and a Dremel tool (yes . . . I'm the ONLY person on the planet without a Drememl to play with :roll: ).
My sprockets and chain were in poor shape and it's all my fault. :-(
For starters, the chain stretched out a month ago and I kept riding it with the adjustments all the way against the stops. Then, I made the mistake of riding it hard in this condition. My biggest mistake was that I didn't torque the rear axle when I replaced it after getting my new tire. That's right . . . I'm too stupid to torque one of the most important parts of the bike. :banghead:
So, I'm out riding . . . with an improperly-torqued rear axle . . . with a stretched-out chain . . . hitting it fairly hard in a left-hander . . .when I hear (and feel!!) a series of sickening "clunks" coming from the rear end. I knew it was the chain. I pull over and there's metal filings all over the rear of the bike. Ouch. I limped on home and started tearing it down.
The improperly-torqued rear axle allowed the rear wheel to move under the stress of the cornering, thus mis-aligning the sprocket at that point. The loose chain did it's own thing, which was basically to barely stay on the sprockets and chew off the inner-third of each tooth on the rear.
The front sprocket teeth looked like shark fins.
Maintain your chain. <=== That rhymes!! :mrgreen:
<. . . and use the proper tool. it make all the difference.>
[EDIT: I'm so @#$%ing giddy, I'm going to do my valves next. It's been, uh <censored> miles since they were last adjusted by the dealership. I think I'll order a gasket kit and plan on doing them before my trip to Arkansas on the 21st with "madmotorcyclist," a member of another forum who has become a friend of mine. He lives over there in Jonseboro, AR. He is, without a doubt, the youngest 60-something I've ever met. A good rider, an excellent ride leader, and a hoot to hangout with. He rides in that zone of "fast enough to have fun, slow enough to stay alive." Anyone want to join us for a spirited ride up Crowley's Ridge from Forrest City to Missouri on May 21st? It'll be a blast!]
