O-ring chain, Huh?

DirtyBimmer · 05-07-2008, 07:07 PM

In my defense of the upcoming idiotic question, I've owned mostly shaft drive bikes... So, my gal's BMW F650 GS. I took the front sprocket cover off (for oil filter access) and found three broken rubber o-rings, just hanging out in there, along with the other crud slung off the chain. Are these the "o-rings" from the o-ring chain? Does this mean the chain is junk? Is it normal or acceptable to lose some o-rings? I checked for chain wear like the owner's manual says, seems ok. The bike has 4000 miles on it, haven't been super good about lubing or adjusting the chain, and yes, the lube I use says "o-ring safe" Any opinions?

dppeter · 05-07-2008, 07:16 PM

An "O"-ring chain has sealed rollers (with lube inside them). Once the O-rings go then you will lose the internal lube. The chain will still work but you will have rollers that will cease to roll and it will function like a normal chain. This will lead to greater wear on the sprockets - greater than you will get with a functional O-ring chain anyway. In my opinion you should replace the chain. That's what I would do anyway. You should also check the sprockets to see if they might need replacting as well. Common practice says to replace all these items at the same time but with only 4K on the bike you may not need to do so. IMHO.

kdxkawboy · 05-07-2008, 08:42 PM

You should replace sprockets when you replace the chain - a slightly set of worn sprockets will cause a new chain to wear all the faster. At this point, as long as the chain and sprockets are still within service limits you might as well run them to the bitter end. Its a good idea to have a set of replacement sprockets and chain sitting on the shelf. That way when the chain is toast, for a couple hours work you are right back on the road.

klrfreedom · 05-08-2008, 12:00 AM

4000 miles seems awfully soon to be loosing o-rings. Unless she's doing a lot of off road riding I would check for proper alignment of the rear wheel / sprocket or other reasons for failure.

Rad · 05-08-2008, 06:26 AM

You do not have to replace sprockets each time you replace a chain. Sprockets are just like any wear item on a bike; if worn, replace, if not, keep. Read the following link on the subject.

http://www.canyonchasers.net/shop/ge...chain-rplc.php

My guess why the chain went so fast is because it was kept way too tight; a common problem with n00bs and chain bikes.

Foot dragger · 05-08-2008, 06:37 AM

Ive never had an o-ring come out of a chain in extreme thrashing on dirt bikes, something got way too hot or faulty chain problems,if only 4 K miles I would check with the dealer about the chain.

spanker · 05-08-2008, 06:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by klrfreedom

4000 miles seems awfully soon to be loosing o-rings. Unless she's doing a lot of off road riding I would check for proper alignment of the rear wheel / sprocket or other reasons for failure.

10-4 on that; my F650 GS has 19000 miles on the original chain, including a 4900 mile TAT ride last year.

GodSilla · 05-09-2008, 07:18 AM

How much do you like your girlfriend?

Put it another way, if it was my butt on the seat I'd have new chain and sprockets at the earliest opportunity.

If you've found 3 or 4 orings, how many more may have just fallen right off? It suggests a fault somewhere, and the chain is only as strong as its weakest link, which must now be quite suspect.

ALWAYS put new sprockets on with a new chain. Get the best you can afford on the day. Cheap oring chains and cheap sprockets are a false economy.

I certainly wouldn't want to throw a chain half way around a corner with oncoming traffic. It's the kind of cheapskate mistake you only get to make once..........

In the "good old days" (which were quite shitty a lot of the time, actually) chains were often a drama, but with modern oring chains it is rare to hear of any problems whatsoever, unless caused by "owner intervention" (read: bad or plain stupid maintenance). A new set of bits properly adjusted should last a long time and be trouble free.

05-07-2008, 07:07 PM	#1
DirtyBimmer ^OP Adventurer Joined: Mar 2006 Location: Seattle, WA Oddometer: 16	O-ring chain, Huh? In my defense of the upcoming idiotic question, I've owned mostly shaft drive bikes... So, my gal's BMW F650 GS. I took the front sprocket cover off (for oil filter access) and found three broken rubber o-rings, just hanging out in there, along with the other crud slung off the chain. Are these the "o-rings" from the o-ring chain? Does this mean the chain is junk? Is it normal or acceptable to lose some o-rings? I checked for chain wear like the owner's manual says, seems ok. The bike has 4000 miles on it, haven't been super good about lubing or adjusting the chain, and yes, the lube I use says "o-ring safe" Any opinions?

05-07-2008, 08:42 PM	#3
kdxkawboy Mr. NVKLRGirl Joined: Dec 2004 Location: Gardnerville, Nv Oddometer: 2,631	You should replace sprockets when you replace the chain - a slightly set of worn sprockets will cause a new chain to wear all the faster. At this point, as long as the chain and sprockets are still within service limits you might as well run them to the bitter end. Its a good idea to have a set of replacement sprockets and chain sitting on the shelf. That way when the chain is toast, for a couple hours work you are right back on the road. __________________ *When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro*

05-08-2008, 12:00 AM	#4
klrfreedom the shiny side goes up! Joined: Nov 2005 Location: Oregon Oddometer: 56	4000 miles seems awfully soon to be loosing o-rings. Unless she's doing a lot of off road riding I would check for proper alignment of the rear wheel / sprocket or other reasons for failure. __________________ '06 Buell XB12X "Ulysses" '02 KTM LC4 640E "sixdays" '97 Kawasaki KLR 650 (sold)

05-08-2008, 06:37 AM	#6
Foot dragger beat up ex flat tracker Joined: Dec 2006 Location: chico,just below rag dump(nor-cal) Oddometer: 6,928	Ive never had an o-ring come out of a chain in extreme thrashing on dirt bikes, something got way too hot or faulty chain problems,if only 4 K miles I would check with the dealer about the chain. __________________ Some bikes around at times

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05-07-2008, 07:16 PM	#2
dppeter Adventurer Joined: Jan 2008 Oddometer: 21	An "O"-ring chain has sealed rollers (with lube inside them). Once the O-rings go then you will lose the internal lube. The chain will still work but you will have rollers that will cease to roll and it will function like a normal chain. This will lead to greater wear on the sprockets - greater than you will get with a functional O-ring chain anyway. In my opinion you should replace the chain. That's what I would do anyway. You should also check the sprockets to see if they might need replacting as well. Common practice says to replace all these items at the same time but with only 4K on the bike you may not need to do so. IMHO.

05-08-2008, 06:26 AM	#5
Rad Just me Joined: Sep 2001 Location: Santa Cruz, Calif Oddometer: 12,130	You do not have to replace sprockets each time you replace a chain. Sprockets are just like any wear item on a bike; if worn, replace, if not, keep. Read the following link on the subject. http://www.canyonchasers.net/shop/ge...chain-rplc.php My guess why the chain went so fast is because it was kept way too tight; a common problem with n00bs and chain bikes.

05-09-2008, 07:18 AM	#8
GodSilla I did that. Joined: Sep 2006 Location: The Promised Land Oddometer: 6,451	How much do you like your girlfriend? Put it another way, if it was my butt on the seat I'd have new chain and sprockets at the earliest opportunity. If you've found 3 or 4 orings, how many more may have just fallen right off? It suggests a fault somewhere, and the chain is only as strong as its weakest link, which must now be quite suspect. ALWAYS put new sprockets on with a new chain. Get the best you can afford on the day. Cheap oring chains and cheap sprockets are a false economy. I certainly wouldn't want to throw a chain half way around a corner with oncoming traffic. It's the kind of cheapskate mistake you only get to make once.......... In the "good old days" (which were quite shitty a lot of the time, actually) chains were often a drama, but with modern oring chains it is rare to hear of any problems whatsoever, unless caused by "owner intervention" (read: bad or plain stupid maintenance). A new set of bits properly adjusted should last a long time and be trouble free.