Hitchcocks Forum

Hi all. My 2007 Electra XS (9300 Kms) started to make a light clanging sound from the drive chain area last night.
When I inspected the chain I found one of the outer links had snapped in two.
The chain is original and has been kept at correct tension/well lubricated.
What may have caused this and/or is this a regular occurance with Enfield chains?
What make chain should I buy to replace it which will last longer?
Is it safe to ride the bike to my dealer to get the new chain or is it going to snapp completely any time now?
Electras? Anything can go wrong - and usually does!
Any advise much appreciated.

No it shouldn't do that. Any Japanese or English 5/8x3/8th of a suitable rating for a motorbike should be fine. We aren't talking outrageous horsepower here. However I personally avoid all the really expensive and over bulky o-ring and x-ring chains as 1. The cost three times as much and don't last three times longer and 2. The bikes aren't designed to accomodate them and so they can chew chunks of alloy out of the final drive area of the gearbox. Keep it lubricated and the tension right and you should get a solid 5-6 thousand miles out of it.. I awaite a storm of opposing opinions with anticipation. S:)

I'd concur with that.
Don't bother with o ring and the like, Franky the only time I fit o ring etc is if they're on a bike I buy already or I happen across a good deal for a chain and sprocket set which happens to be o ring and cheaper.
Buy from a decent source, (i.e. Any bike spares supplier, m&p busters etc, NOT Ebay), I don't go for name brand, unless again I can get a D.I.D. for good money, keep adjustment ok, clean and lube frequently and 10k on a chain and sprocket set can be had.

Only 10k from a chain and sprocket set on an ENFIELD????...I've not done many miles on my 625 yet, and most of my other bikes are shaft drive, but the bike I used to use the most was an 850 commando. .....That would do 6000 miles from a chain, and I didn't need to change the sprockets until 20,000......If a standard Enfield need a new c&s set in 10,000 miles (or is that kilometres?) then my 625 is likely to need them every oil change.

I put a Reynolds chain I got from Hitchcocks on my 500 work bullet after the original lost a outside link and snapped not the spring link connector at 5000 Miles. Since then the bikes done 15000 Miles more total 20000. I have only adjusted it a few times since I put it on its still like new no sign of wear on the sprockets neither yet. I Think I will easy get 20.000 out of it before it needs changing as when I last took it off few weeks back and cleaned and measured it before MOT there is no sign of serious of wear yet. It Was well worth the extra money in my opinion as its making sprockets last longer as well.

On the other hand, I like O ring chains. My 350 classic came with one as standard and it's been great so far. I've only ajusted it once in 10,000 miles. It doesn't come near to fouling anything and I just spray it with chain wax now and then. Saves all that oil on the rear wheel rim.

I put an expensive 'O"ring chain on my 750 Honda a few years ago 45,000ks have only adjusted it once and it looks as good as the day it was fitted. Lubed it up this morning and am heading off in the morning and will probably do 2500ks over the weekend. My crossbred has an "O"ring, my Inter the same, I haven't adjusted the Inter chain in 5 years and I don't expect to in the next 5 years. Because of this I have just fitted an "O"ring to 2 612's and a 570, we wouldn't bother with anything else out here now. And before anybody asks, we fit a 2mm spacer between the inner primary and the crankcase ( We use a steel clutch plate for the spacer)

Another thing Stu, your chain was too tight

I wonder if it was too tight Norm? My dealer adjusted it for me at the last service to spec but I am 215+ lbs ready to ride and could the chain have been running tight as the shocks compressed?
Hitchcocks sell Reynolds chains which are well known - would one of those be better than OEM quality?

Yes, Stu, it would be.