Hitchcocks Forum

Hey all,

As the thread title suggests I am as green as can be and have just had my first chain break. It wasn't catastrophic as I was a mile from home.

I have had my bullet 500 almost a year and it is my first ever bike, I ride it everywhere everyday and have been learning a great deal as and when problems arise.

I am hopefully ascertaining a rear chain replacement is a fairly standard deal but wondered if there was any advice for the extremely green before I reinvent the wheel so to speak.

Is this a good time to think about clutch replacement or are there any other obvious parts to inspect before I order from the host?

Any advice very welcome, cheers, Frann

just amending this slightly as I've had a bit of a mess around. The Chain is stuck at the front end so it's snapped end is resting almost on the sprocket behind the clutch (not enough space to attach new chain but enough to hold) and it doesn't budge either way. Is this a really obvious thing that i'm missing or is it a case of maybe having to take off the primary case and have a look? The gears haven't seized or anything truly gutting. Again thanks so much for any advice, I fully rely on this forum and the internet for the advice that keeps it running. F

I'll have a go.. fit some wood blocks under the centre stand to give some clearance... The rear wheel will be slackened for adjustment on fitting new chain so take it off right now..
Leave the brake drum in position on the swing arm.. Remove the two bolts that hold the chain guard and remove, the dog can now see the rabbit... Remove as best you can the broken chain and inspect the sprocket for broken tooth also for obvious damage to the gearbox/primary cases... If alls well reassemble with new chain. not too much tension, inch and a half slack up and down movement from centre line. check wheel alignment with the front wheel. Straight edge or string.. readjust rear brake pedal...check brake light.. Clutch has nothing todo with it and can be fettled any time without disturbing rear chain or wheel.... If however you find damaged sprocket or primary case rear then yes the clutch and primary case will need to be removed to facilitate repairs... good luck gwilly.

Just an after thought, make sure the chain link is fitted on the wheel side of the chain.. Daft i know but there really isn't much room between the sprocket and primary and its best to be safe than sorry.. gwilly

Gwilly can't thank you enough for the comprehensive advice, I'll give it a whirl tomorrow and let you know the results for posterity but also some sense of closure Thanks again. Frann

Nordicgloom, the fact that the chain broke in the first place means you've not been maintaining/lubricating/checking it properly. Chains don't break if they are looked after - not on a comparatively low power machine anyway. I've not had a chain break in 45 years. Follow gwilli's advice and it should come loose. If the chain did break (rather than just the link come undone) it must have been in a bad state so check the sprockets carefully - they could well be knackered as well.

I know this sounds obvious but do make sure the bike is in neutral before trying to pull the chain back out the way Gwilly says. Its easy not to realise its still in gear with a missing chain.

my rear chain came off my 2000 350 bullet a couple of years ago turned out one of the rear brake shoe springs came adrift jaming the rear wheeel throwing the chain and smashing the rear sprocket