Stupid chain/master link question

Discussion in 'Mechanics Garage' started by Terosu, May 5, 2011.

  1. Terosu

    Terosu New Member

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    First of all Hi from Finland! I recently bought a 1990 RC36 VFR750 for my first bike and replaced the chain and sprockets. They are D.I.D o-ring chains. My question is about installing the master link, I pressed the sideplate on but I may have tightened the other end slightly more than the other. The other side is as wide as the other links (Something like 23mm if I recall correctly?) whereas the other side is 0.15mm-0.20mm tighter. So the link is just slightly crooked, but very very slightly. It doesn't seem noticeably stiffer than any of the factory links but I tend to be somewhat neurotic about things like these so I need a few smart guys' opinion on whether it will be fine or if it will cause problems.

    I guess I could add another general question while I'm here, how fast should these bikes warm up on idle? I feel like my temp gauge is going up too slow (again maybe I worry too much). When it gets to halfway up the fan comes on for a bit as it should. It takes something like 20min to reach this temperature though. I can't ride around much yet since I don't have my license (need a separate license for cars and bikes here)
     
  2. elwray

    elwray New Member

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    Welcome to the site! I can't really help you with the chain question unfortunately. But as far as the warm-up: if it's the original thermostat in there, it may be starting to get a little "sticky." If it sticks open, it won't come to full temperature (or will take very long) and if it sticks closed it will overheat. On the older generations like yours I don't believe it's a very difficult task to replace it, and it might be worth it for nothing more than peace of mind. It's not a terribly expensive part here in the states, but I'm not sure what OEM parts go for abroad.

    Is it taking 20 minutes sitting at idle, or while riding?

    I have a few Finnish friends from college, every summer I go up to their lake house and enjoy their wood fired sauna and play some Molkky :)
     
  3. Scubalong

    Scubalong Official Greeter?

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    As for the master link, as long as the link is move freely and not kink or binding it should be fine. Make sure the two rivet are musroom around the heads.
    Engine temp should be 110° F for warm up and ready to ride :) The fan will kick in around 225-230°
    It should only take less than 5 minutes to reach 110°
     
  4. Terosu

    Terosu New Member

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    Thanks for the answer. It takes about 20min on idle to warm up, like I said I can't ride around much until I get my license. The radiator and hoses feel warm/hot well before that though. Is it possible to swap the thermostat without taking off the carbs? Don't much feel like doing that anymore, must have done it 10 times over the last couple of months :tongue:
     
  5. squirrelman

    squirrelman Member

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    Your bike does not need more than 2-3 minutes warmup time, and in a cool climate may never reach even 1/2 way unless riding in stop-and-go traffic.

    in northern latitudes it's normal to see the gauge just moving off the bottom after about 15 minutes riding. thermostats on your gen are reliable, so try a small cardboard radiator block-off plate if you want warmer running.
     
  6. Terosu

    Terosu New Member

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    It seems to be moving pretty freely to me, doesn't seem stiffer than the factory rivets. But I tend to worry, especially when it's such an important part. Then again I'm sure there are a lot of people who kind of freehand their masterlinks onto place without using a dial caliper like I did.

    I staked the pins so that they mushroomed about 0.5mm, according to instructions from a VFR repair manual I downloaded.
     
  7. ridervfr

    ridervfr Member

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    Finland huh. You listen to the Backyard Babies? They are from Stokholm Fuking Sweden though. When I lived up in NJ my 91 would warm up within 2 to 3 minutes, started it with half choke as I recall. I still use choke in South FL too, its kind of an inricher. Gets flipped off 20 seconds though and takes throttle in a minute.

    Your chain question: You staked the rivets and they mushroomed out? One side is .015 tighter than the other using a digital caliper? I wouldnt worry about it/My RK Chain kit has a little jig that you use to test out the mushroomed rivet. If it goes into the HOE and doesnt slip out its ok. Just use some common sense, if the rivets look lousy get a new master link and re-stake it. There is always a little more binding in the master compared to the other links in chains, its not like we are the machines that rivet the chains. I get 20,000 or more out of chain and sprockets.

    Last thing you want is your riveted chain to come undone, if that happens say good bye to your engine and maybe ur arse as a busted case could make you intimate with the tarmac :smile:
     
  8. Terosu

    Terosu New Member

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    I measured it with a dial caliper and it is 0.15-0.2mm tighter on the other side. So not very much. About 0.006 inches if you're more familiar with that. But like you said the last thing you want is the chain to come undone so that's why I worry so much :tongue: This is my first bike too, so I'm just learning the ropes :tongue:

    It doesn't take more than a couple minutes to warm up to the point where I can take the choke off and rev it a little without the engine cutting off but the temp gauge seems a bit slow to rise to me.

    And lastly no, I don't listen to the Backyard Babies that much :smile: I probably should though.
     
  9. donald branscom

    donald branscom New Member

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    Before your time it was done all the time, and we did not use a dial caliper.
    Chains are extremely reliable. Have you ever seen a motorcycle chain laying on the freeway? You see the toothed belts laying on the road all the time.
     
  10. ridervfr

    ridervfr Member

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    Sounds like a HD bashing event regarding shredding belts and getting stuck. My fourth demonic cousin shredded his belt on his Harley and was stuck in the middle of no-where. Bad Karma since it was an ex police bike and you know some fat donut eating bastard was sweating on the seat dolling out his quota of tickets.

    Anyway, I had an interesting thing happen on my EX 500 last week which has an endless riveted chain. Seems the two 8 mm bolts that hold the counter sprocket on along with a flat female splined washer thing decided to leave the scene. So there I was in a turn off with no engine de-accel or anything really. Coasted to a stop safely and found the damn chain just hanging there. Funny thing was the counter sprocket was stuck behind this plastic cover. No damage to the out put shaft or any thing amazingly. I fished out the sprocket and called my dad, two hours later I was able to return to the bike with wire twisters and saftey wire to wire the sprocket on. Got home with no insidence.

    The next day I had access to a parts bike and took those two bolts and washer thing. This time I drilled them BITCHES with a 1/16 drill and saftey wired that chit. Crazy chit does happen. I have seem pictures from bikes in action on the race track/this one picture comes to mind with a racer in mid turn and in the air behind him is his chain, like some snake.

    If you do run a master link that does not stake you want the closed end to be approaching the counter sprocket while the wheel is rotated in a forward motion. I like to run a fine wire around the master link and clip. Cheers :smile:
     
  11. donald branscom

    donald branscom New Member

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    Did you use grade #8 bolts and locktite?
     
  12. ridervfr

    ridervfr Member

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    I did have the engine out of this particular bike/I did not use lock tite but I used my 14.4 electric impact gun. Guess I did not give them 8 mm bolts enough of the berries. When I re-did it with the drilled bolts I used a hand tool and felt them tighten. At that point I wired them so now there is no chance of that happening again. Funny thing is I used to race one of those bikes ten years ago in CCS. Could nor imagine that chit happening on the race track, I did brake down on a warm up lap with a leaking pet-cock. Or as manly men say it "Fuel Tap"/could say Pea-Cock too I guess :smile:
     
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