Hitchcocks Forum

Good morning all.

I occasionally buy the American mag Motorcycle Classics; great and very varied read. The current (Jan/Feb 16) issue, the cover features a Brough Superior, has an article on changing the primary chain of a 500 Bullet 2002 and goes through the, seemingly very easy, step-by-step procedure. The article's featured bike, kept in very good order, has only 17,000 milesand yet the chain was stretched to it's limit and needed replacement.

My question: it this to be expected? My own is a 350 2004 with about 12,000 miles (I know it's little used, but very much loved). What are the symptoms of a stretched chain and how is, indeed can this be, felt in any way. Should I just take off the cover and have a look, and adjust if possible?

Thanks.

No this is not to be expected, symptoms don't know as never ran a slack primary. It is very easy to remove cover, check and adjust.

They are a very strong duplex chain, considering how many other makes of motorcycle only run a single chain, these should last you 500 years with care.

Ogri, chains don't stretch; it's wear in the roller/pins that make them longer.
As Leon says, on a 350, if it's kept lubricated and cleaned out now and again, it'll outlive you.

hope this helps?

Thanks a lot guys. Sounds like a lifetime warranty in that case!!

Nobody mentioned symptoms so here are a couple I've come across: the wearing chain can be slack enough to strike the alternator pillars in the chaincase, this produces aluminium and steel swarf which can be fatal to the alternator (shorting it out,) and doesn't do the clutch friction plates much good either. You can't hear this when the engine is running but you can hear surprisingly large amounts of noise from the loose chain whipping about on the two long runs, this is usually at idle or changing gear although some folk have reported a sort of "harmonic" noise under load at certain frequencies. Changing the chain can reduce general engine noise quite a lot, you don't tend to notice as it builds slowly over time. All chains have some "initial stretch" which should be taken up at the first couple of services, then they tend to settle down for the rest of their lives!

REgards, Mark

Nobody mentioned symptoms so here are a couple I've come across: the wearing chain can be slack enough to strike the alternator pillars in the chaincase, this produces aluminium and steel swarf which can be fatal to the alternator (shorting it out,) and doesn't do the clutch friction plates much good either. You can't hear this when the engine is running but you can hear surprisingly large amounts of noise from the loose chain whipping about on the two long runs, this is usually at idle or changing gear although some folk have reported a sort of "harmonic" noise under load at certain frequencies. Changing the chain can reduce general engine noise quite a lot, you don't tend to notice as it builds slowly over time. All chains have some "initial stretch" which should be taken up at the first couple of services, then they tend to settle down for the rest of their lives!

REgards, Mark

Anyone who thinks that chains don't stretch obviously hasn't changed a camchain in a Honda CB500T. I would be immensely pleased to get 17000 miles from a Bullet's primary chain, especially an Indian made chain. Regards, Paul.

like bw said the indian ones can stretch like a rubber band.



hence why i put up the service limit info from the RE workshop manual.

this at the very least is direct reference.

contrary to a general opinion.



or like the saying goes "Opinions are like assholes...everyone has one".