After 25.000 miles new chain

[CDNRatMan]

  Well good because Mr. GreenBarn now has money for Driftin 14 and taking his missus for that wonderful vacation she so needs......

[greenbarn]

Well, I'm certainly GLAD to hear THAT.   Starting to get worried....

glad you like it better.

[darkdrifter]

cdratman,  mr greenbarns pocketbook is safe!
I do indeed really like the new sprocket combo.
its definetly a noticeable differance.  I'm gonna leave the rear sprocket alone.

I bought one of those diamond X o-ring chains and I'm amazed at how quiet it is.
I'm gonna get one for my Indian.   well worth the money!

[CDNRatMan]

 I had a stock chain I am guessing and it was still good once I swapped the front sprocket and it was moved forward a bit not much, and loads of room to do adjustments. Not sure what brand of chain it was but know it was in the $180.00 range.

[darkdrifter]

and where you able to comfortably use the same amount of chain links after the primary sprocket swap?
assuming you where using the stock 112 link like I currently am

[greenbarn]

If I remember correctly it's right hand thread.

[darkdrifter]

lol!  well then, how could I not do it then? 

I ordered the sprocket.
I could look in my nice new shiny manual, but would you know off the top your head if the nut is reverse threads?

[CDNRatMan]

 darkdrifter I am so confident that you would be happy with the front swap alone that if you are not that Mr. GreenBarn will pay for the parts. 

in the top of the speed range I noticed a huge difference in feel and RPM through the machine, and seemed to like to run really nice along that range. I have been cruising along on our Northern highways at about 65 mph and it seems just dandy.

Rob, FYI I have a new chain I put on last year and since have put on 6,461 kms on that chain or 4014 miles and have only had to do one adjustment on it.

[Nanook]

My sprocket looks good I was just wondering if I should change the chain, Is it possible that a stretch chain could produce this kind of problem? Or is it just is it just slack sdjustment? It happen 3 times in the last 3 000 km. Like I said I adjusted the chain slack but was afraid of over doing it, it happened one time since and the sound was quite different, mostly just a clunk. When I oppened the case to check the front sprocket I saw that at the front bottom of the case it was worn as if the chain rubbed down there, or maybe it is just machined this way.

Anyway thanks for the help and future comments
Rob

[greenbarn]

I'm at 23000 km my chain may be due, it was pretty loose ant two time it produce strange noise like when you skip a sprocket in bicycle and like the chain rubs against the case. But it's my first bike and don't know what to look or hear for. I adjusted the slack and heard some clank noise again but no more rubbing noise. A mechanic told me to change the sprocket only every two times I change the chain but again it's the same guy that told me that the chain would be ok for the season, so any help would be welcome!

thanks
Rob

Nanook, a new chain sprocket has nice round troughs between the teeth.  The teeth are squared off on top, and are symmetrical.  When it wears, it wears more on one side, making a lop-sided looking tooth, which also will eventually wear to a point.  I attached a pic I found that does a good job showing new vs. worn out.

If yours is getting worn it could slip, but I'd think it would have to be pretty worn.

[greenbarn]

Darkdrifter:  changing the drive sprocket to 18 will certainly help you out.  Ratman can vouch for that - he said that sprocket change did wonders by itself.
You should read the post in the 800 performance mods section - lots of good info there:
http://www.vulcandrifterriders.com/forum/index.php?topic=22705.0

Changing the front to 18 is one step, and going to 18/38 would be a second step.  You get about 2X RPM reduction by doing both.  Certainly the 18 tooth front is cheaper, and thereby more bang for your buck.

http://www.gearingcommander.com/  is a great site where you can look at gear ratios.  According to the calculations, at 60 MPH you get the following RPMs on the vulcan:

17/40 ( stock)- 3427 RPM
18/40 ---------- 3237 RPM (-5.55%, 190RPM)
18/39----------- 3075 RPM (additional -5.01%, 162RPM, or total -10.28 or 352 RPM)

Looks like you could get almost identical gear ratio by going 19 on the front and leaving 40(stock) on the rear.  I've read on this forum elsewhere that the 19 front sprocket will fit with no problem, but I have no personal experience.

I needed a chain and the rear sprocket was significantly worn, so I put the whole set on, and went 18/38.  Love it. YMMV.

[Nanook]

I'm at 23000 km my chain may be due, it was pretty loose ant two time it produce strange noise like when you skip a sprocket in bicycle and like the chain rubs against the case. But it's my first bike and don't know what to look or hear for. I adjusted the slack and heard some clank noise again but no more rubbing noise. A mechanic told me to change the sprocket only every two times I change the chain but again it's the same guy that told me that the chain would be ok for the season, so any help would be welcome!

thanks
Rob

[darkdrifter]

Drakdrifter, I spent the $180.00 on a good "o" ring chain, I have been watching it really careful and checking the tension on it. I have not had to adjust it since I installed it, albeit that after I did the sprocket swap I did adjust it again, I am doing another 1500 km ride this weekend and will check it prior to departing and then before heading home. I'll let you know if I need to adjust it.
Front sprocket swap would be really good right about now if you are changing your chain and your rear sprocket is in good shape.

thank you sir!
I am pretty happy with my low end speed, but like mentioned in the other thread, I would like to bring my rpms down abit at my higher end.  I feel like I need a higher gear when I'm at 70 mph.

My rear sprocket looks new, and I'm going to asume its the 40 tooth sprocket, but will check this week.
Would you recomend I start out and go to a 18 tooth primary (front) sprocket?

[CDNRatMan]

 Drakdrifter, I spent the $180.00 on a good "o" ring chain, I have been watching it really careful and checking the tension on it. I have not had to adjust it since I installed it, albeit that after I did the sprocket swap I did adjust it again, I am doing another 1500 km ride this weekend and will check it prior to departing and then before heading home. I'll let you know if I need to adjust it.
Front sprocket swap would be really good right about now if you are changing your chain and your rear sprocket is in good shape.

[darkdrifter]

I think I'm reaping the results of skimping out and buying a inexpensive oring chain on ebay.
Its wearing alot faster than what I think a good one would.  I'm going to remove it this week and inspect and clean/possibly replace.  I think I'll wait on doing the sprocket swap till after I've did the "grampsizing" mod

[TeeCee]

I hated the chain on my 800.
Bought the belt conversion from Scoot Works.
Runs like a new bike. Much smoother.
Only have about 2000 miles on the conversion but likin it so far.

[topherloaf]

+1 on the must do AND 18/38

[greenbarn]

OE is 17/40.  I found the bike to be geared to low to suit me.  Too high revs at highway speed, and I was always hunting for 6th gear.  After some studying on this forum, and other places, and talking to the folks at Scootworks, I decided on 18/38.  I bought the sprockets and chain from scootworks.  It was a great upgrade, as far as I can tell so far.  I just haven't had enough miles to really do a good review.  So far, though, I think it's just great.  I haven't noticed any issues getting started from a stop, and high gear is better.  No more hunting for 6th!

This should go on the MUST do list, IMHO.  That and the progressive springs.   Big improvement.

[CDNRatMan]

right now I am running a 17 front and a 40 rear, so wondering what you did and found from the change. Which I have been told are the standard.

[Drift1]

Yes sir Greenbarn.......also curious on this myself.PO had this done before I purchased the bike.If I remember correctly the front sprocket is 17,does that sound correct?I'll tell ya,it gets off the line fast as hell what ever the change was to the sprockets.Being I didn't have this mod done myself I'm not exactly sure what the change felt like but the PO sure was extremely pleased with the outcome.

[CDNRatMan]

ok so please expand and tell me more, what did you switch to and what is the differences and last of all why is there no write up or pictures of this work being done and the results......

[greenbarn]

Yes, I did the swap on the sprockets.  This is one of the best mods I've done.  I'd list it as a "Must" on the drifter 800 mod list.

[CDNRatMan]

speaking of which did you ever do the sprocket swap? and if so to what and was there any noticable difference?

[greenbarn]

My original had 15,000 miles.  It could have gone longer, but I wanted to change the gear ratio anyway, and it had significant wear (and was was 11 years old) so I swapped it out.  Seems like I paid about $180 USD, but cannot remember for sure.  I did the work myself so didn't pay any labor.

[John Hopkins]

After 25.000 miles, my bike was making some noise from the chain. It was loose, and everytime i was fixing it, it lasted onlu a couple of days. I took it to my garage and new transmision kit (chain plus two sprockets), 156 usd...plus work 100 usd...thats makes a total of 250 usd for the complete repair....the real cost were 200 eur, heheheheh.
Is it more expensive at this part of the atlantic, or cheaper?
Regards from Spain...

I work that out at about 125 miles per euro..

John.