► Chain failures: 43 so far and still counting

[lunchbox]

Greggers, you don't say why you changed your chain or how many miles it had done. You say it looked good when it came off and had no lateral sag so I guess it just stretched. One word of caution though - thick, sticky chain lube can mask chain wear by filling gaps and reducing wear related movement.

From reading forums here and in the States it is clear that the CZ chain quality is wildly inconsistent, with some riders managing 10 - 15K miles (although it should be nearer 20K) and some breaking after a couple of thousand, sometimes twice, like mine. Some riders also mention chains rusting soon after they are put on - see the pics below of my 500 mile, dealer fitted, heavily greased chain as an example.

O and X ring chains in this day and age should last more than a few thousand miles and they should never break. That is dangerous and points to a manufacturing fault - even bad maintenance should not break a chain in a few hundred, or even thousand, miles. BMW's refusal to acknowledge this fault is inexcusable and I for one will be pursuing this with them using the law if necessary. I hope others will do the same.

 

[Micky]

BMW's refusal to acknowledge this fault is inexcusable and I for one will be pursuing this with them using the law if necessary. I hope others will do the same.

I'm usually very quick to defend BMW, but what you say is totally correct. There are sufficient reports of chains going AWOL for it not to be a coincidence. BMW can only bury their head in the sand for so long

 

[TERRY RYAN]

The same thing that happen to my BMW Chain to,my dealer tried to tell me is was a stone that went in-between the links and caused it to push link out and break
I also have found since the iris chain has been fitted the ride is smoother and smoother transmission, the shusssh shusssh thing has gone to best thing I ever did as well and £65.00 well worth it

 

[Blind Lemon Ade]

Coopers in Tun Wells just told me, one of their customers had a chain "jump off", which damaged the wheel hub, currently awaiting replacement under warranty...

 

[shag]

My chain SNAPPED late last night in the dark and all i can say is shiiiiite me
Left the bike overnight and returned this morning and no sign of the chain
Where it landed is anyones guess. The back tyre was flat as a ducks foot HOW?????????(new Tyres)
Right now i am ready to bin this bike. Its is due in monday for a new chain and sprocks and also new drive bushes so what the dealer is going to say i have no idea!

At this rate i wont make the manx ferry let alone morrocco....BMW ASSIST

This rant is only just starting...

















i know dont drink and type

 

[Globerider]

another broken 800 chain !!!

Didn't even notice mine had a crack in it until I carefully removed it! having only really just been bedded in (so you'd think!!) @ 2200 miles, with a biggish ride to China coming up & hearing a few horror stories of dodgy Czech chains I thought I might as well just replace it regardless. Plan was to keep it as a spare, since it theory it's had virtually no real wear! After removal, observations;
1. looks a generally shoddy thin chain
2. lots of wear signs on the rollers, even though it hasn't been far enough to ever get close to running dry!
3. At least one cracked side plate which would be very difficult to spot with it on the bike, but would definitely have disintegrated within the next few hundred miles (if I was lucky!!!!)

Replaced with a new DID - instantly looks & feels 10 x the quality, but in reality would probably only cost BMW another €20 / bike to fit something of this standard. With BMW's reputation for 'final drives' shaft drive, I can't believe that they'll be happy to rack up a bad reputation in this department!!??

I'll be taking this up further with 1st a dealer & then customer (care . . . we'll see) In this instance I guess that I've potentially saved them a warranty claim for a much bigger bill. End of the day, it's great that you guys on here have spotted problems, warned others & we all continue to; a./ spread the word, b./ feedback to BMW

Outcome; well I certainly don't want them to replace it under warranty with another 2000 mile lifespan Czech chain!! so guess it's just one of those things that we put down to experience & hope they improve for future owners.

 

[sijohnston]

i was due to be leaving to head around ireland on a trip at the end of last summer. With 3000 miles on the bike one of my links was broken. i had no option but to go to a bike store, by a heavy duty jap chain, fit it, and then leave early the next day. hursts motorrad couldn't do anything in time for me. however, when i got home, i brought them the broken chain and they said that when it was done, they'd fit a new heavy duty chain and sprockets for me under warranty. Got that done a few weeks ago with 17k on the bike. so, don't go spending money on this stuff guys, BMW should cover it!!!

 

[lunchbox]

Have you had chain problems?

My F800GS had a chain go at 4500k and another at 5000k miles! BMW had the nerve to offer to replace it with the same CZ chain and I refused on safety grounds so I had to shell out £100 for a proper DID one (plus pay for new sprockets).

At the time (April 09) I found a thread on this forum and one in the States that confirmed chain breakage, rusting and uneven early stretching to be a fairly widespread problem for many owners, however many have had no probs at all! This suggests a batch manufacturing problem at suppliers CZ.

BMW are denying knowledge of any problem at all, even thought a couple of weeks after mine went my local dealer had another 800 in with a chain break. How many failures makes a problem I wonder?

Anyway being mightily pissed off I am pursuing BMW by letter and have reported the defect to VOSA who are investigating from a safety point of view. I have also emailed the MD of CZ to see if they will admit to any problems (before their lawyers tell them to keep schtum). Motorcycle News on 1st July printed 2 articles, one about BMW now topping the recall stakes and another by Kevin Ash about the way BM quality and reliability is taking a nosedive. I am writing to them about this issue.

So if you have had any kind of chain problem with on OE chain on an 800 please post here so I can gather more evidence to feed the media and to throw at BMW until they admit to the problem - and recompense those of us who have lost out.

 

[sijohnston]

i had the same thing as you at around 3000 miles. my dealer put a new (heavy duty) chain and sprockets on under warranty. i'd push them hard and tell your dealer that others around the UK are replacing under warranty!

 

[yosemite_sam]

Drive chain

I'm the very pleased and proud owner of a 800 GS, with one exception, and that's the drive chain. I've nearly 9000 miles on mine now (seems I'm very lucky to get this milage) and have just noticed the o-rings falling out of the drive chain. The chain has been cleaned and lubed on a regular basis. I've yet to speak to the dealer about this and will be asking for a replacement under saftey grounds.

 

[Wookie]

Binned both of ours after 3.5k and put on HD chains.

Have ZERO faith in the chains and couldnt be arsed with BMWs denial of the problem. Id rather shell out £100 now than possibly £7.5k (and **** knows what personal injury) WHEN (not if) the chains eventually break....

Steve

 

[shag]

I have put up and shut up with all the recalls and rocker cover gasket and other little niggles-BUT FFs the chains are crap

Like you mine snapped at 6998 K (had a scootyoiler thingy since day un)
I had new sprockets under warranty but they fitted my own heavy duty x-ring chain free of charge (nice of them).

You are right in pursuing the matter before someone gets hurt or worse! gfb
They need to take notice.

Cheers lunchbox

shag

 

[shag]

I've nearly 9000 miles on mine now (seems I'm very lucky to get this milage) and have just noticed the o-rings falling out of the drive chain.

Dont want to pish on ya chips but thats how mine started to fail..

Missing o-rings then the chain starts to get tight spots and regardless of how well you clean and lube BANG

 

[baggie]

I noticed a couple of o-rings protruding from the chain when I was giving the bike the weekly once over.
I was about to ask the question "how long have I got/is this common?" but found this thread instead
New chain etc on order.

 

[popeyethesailor]

O ring missing @ 700 milles

I'm very happy with my new 650 but after Reading this thread about chains I thort I better check mine it's done 700 miles and I have one o ring missing! I'm off to see what my dealer says I'll post the reply on here

 

[Gipsy]

Elvie fitted a new Renthal chain as she wanted peace of mind.

 

[lunchbox]

let them know

Thanks to everyone who has posted on this thread this week (and before). I have written again to BMW using evidence from this forum, as I didn't like the f--k off letter they sent me first time, I am also in the process of writing to the editor of MCN.

I know it is tempting to just cough up for a new HD chain and not complaint to BMW because it gets you nowhere....BUT....if enough of us complain through the dealerships and directly they have to record these failures and that gives VOSA, who enforce and monitor all safety recalls in the UK, something to go on.

Anyway everyone will make their own decision but thanks to all who have posted - we have certainly all got company!

 

[Tim Cullis]

VOSA will primarily be interested in chains that broke whilst the bike was moving. You will need to involve them yourself by downloading a form and sending it off. See http://www.infar.co.uk/tim/gs/Vehicle Safety Defect Report (your name here).doc

Tim

Unfortunately the form is no longer available online Tim, I got mine in just before they removed it! However you can phone them and report failures (most chains break when the bike is moving so do represent safety risks).

I had a long chat with one Martin Ryder (sic), an engineer in the Vehicle Safety Branch here in Bristol (0117 954 3300), who understood the problem even though he rides a K1000 shaftie! He said they deal directly with the producers engineers thereby circumventing the bollocks you get from customer service! They expect a response in 4 to 6 weeks so I will keep this thread informed.

If enough of us report to VOSA BMW will have to admit this fault so if you have had a chain break give them a call.

http://www.vosa.gov.uk/vosacorp/contactus/contactus.htm

http://www.infar.co.uk/tim/gs/Vehicle Safety Defect Report (your name here).doc

My link was wrong, now corrected (it's to a blank form on my website)

 

[popeyethesailor]

I will be getting the same chain put back on my bike when it goes in for a missing o ring lets see how long this one lasts !

 

[chad]

Your advise gents please. After reading this checked my chain more carefully. Yes I have at least 2 o rings missing. Don't want the same sub standard chain put back on so what should I say to the dealer? (coopers tun wells).

btw bike done 1850 miles and has BMW scottoiler!