Any Chain drives left?
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 3,269
Likes: 12
From: NJ
Any Chain drives left?
Anyone on this site still run a chain final drive? You know, (chain drive) Back when men were men and HD's were HD's.........If theres anyone left other than me, How many miles ya gettin out of your chain?
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 8,641
Likes: 26
From: Ozark Country
RE: Any Chain drives left?
Istill run one on my '81 Shovel...
And it even has a kicker, along with the electric start, something that is unheard of these days.
Don't ride it much anymore (kind of retired it), but I was getting about 20,000 miles out of a chain. Never really 'beat it' though, mainly just steady highway cruising..
And it even has a kicker, along with the electric start, something that is unheard of these days.
Don't ride it much anymore (kind of retired it), but I was getting about 20,000 miles out of a chain. Never really 'beat it' though, mainly just steady highway cruising..
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 13,389
Likes: 26
From: Windham,Maine
RE: Any Chain drives left?
After owning a couple of dozen chain driven Harleys,it has taken me a while to feel comfortable with the belt.Much quiter and no oil slinging everywhere.All the pro's tell me with proper maintenance,the belt and pulleys should last much longer than a chain.It is a little unnerving thinking how much of a chore it would be to replace the belt over a chain.We will see how it goes.
Cruiser
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 175
Likes: 1
From: Phoenix, AZ
RE: Any Chain drives left?
I hope I never have to go back to a drive chain.
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 2,379
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RE: Any Chain drives left?
Ran a Chain on my 84 FXR that I had from 91 to 06. Best Chain I found to run was a Tubesaki 0-ring chain rated at over 10,000 TSI. It was the only chain that I did not stretch or wear out quickly. That Chain with new Sprockets lasted many, many miles and many years.
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Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,327
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From: S.E.PA
RE: Any Chain drives left?
ORIGINAL: HD7585
Anyone on this site still run a chain final drive? You know, (chain drive) Back when men were men and HD's were HD's.........If theres anyone left other than me, How many miles ya gettin out of your chain?
Anyone on this site still run a chain final drive? You know, (chain drive) Back when men were men and HD's were HD's.........If theres anyone left other than me, How many miles ya gettin out of your chain?
I use to get between 10-12k out of a harley chain, then starting buying 530 Italian O ring chains, they have been making heavy duty chains the longest I believe, I forget the name, got about 30k out of them.
As for “Anyone on this site still run a chain final drive” Not too many I would guess, butman just open a m/c mag, if you ever seen those fire breathing monster engines, take a look, it has a chain on it, not for old school looks or just to be different: - ) but for power, you really don’t think a belt can hold up with that much HP, do ya ? ever see one snap at the drag strip ? in fact one dosen't see too many belts at the track.
This is from memory but I am close, I remember reading sometime long ago, chains had very high in the 90’s say 97 or 98% efficiency rating, followed by the large harley belt less than the chain but close, 94 or 95% as for the shaft drives were the worst around 92 or 93% lets face it, out of the 3 the shaft just sucks for motorcycles, it’s ok for cars and trucks, ever drive one ? with miles on it ? notice the time-delay from the twist to the rear wheel ? yes that noticeable, the more miles the worst it gets, change the u-joint gets you back to new, but that’s not saying much.
cj
