► Chain failures: 43 so far and still counting

  • Thread starter Thread starter Elvie
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bob the grizz said:
How can that be worth having when it either doesn't work or spits oil all over the place :augie

Better to have an overlubed chain than a dry one !!
I'm sure once I get the setting right it will be fine:D
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Overlubed chain better than a dry one? Mmmmm not if it's all over the back tyre.

Get the setting right? Mmmmmm good luck :eek:

Trouble is the settings wants to be varied according to conditions :augie

I'm with Tim on this one... good chain spray is fine, applied when needed. Doesn't fling off. Rear of my 'bike as clean as a shaft drive :thumb

But with no oil leaks ;)

As said, over 14,000 miles and it's been adjusted just once :thumb

That'll do nicely thank you :thumb
:beerjug:
 
+1 Same as F650GS (Puma), had mine fitted on my 800 GS, by NOG, took a bit of time to adjust it down, to a optimum flow rate, I then paint-pen marked the setting, so it's easy to return after priming, needed if I let it run out:blast

I'm now looking at fitting the Lube Tube for additional range.
http://www.scottoiler.com/sol_lubetube.asp
 
GringoRojo said:
what's the difference wrt luggage space between a can of spray lube and a 500ml bottle of scotoiler topup? none as far as I can see.
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But have you tried it in the real world? Even wrapped in zip-lock plastic bags the Scottoiler bottle and the associated filler tube get extremely messy, and for a long trip you need much much more than a mere 500ml.
 
Micky said:
The chains fitted to the 650/800's are cheap and nasty CZ made in Checkoslovakia! The country hasn't existed for a few years :eek:

The replacement chains for the single cylinder 650's used to be DID but then the CZ chains replaced them. They're crap :eek:

Having said that my 800GS has done 4,000 miles and the CZ chain hasn't even been adjusted yet, but I know that when it starts wanting adjustment it'll go very quickly :eek:

Having said that, the chains fitted to the 650/800's are still lasting longer than the drive shaft, drive shaft bearings, oils seals and ring antenna's of the 1200's :eek:

:beerjug:

www.adventure.gs
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Er don't think thats correct I know of a good few GS 1200 that have done 50thou miles plus without any failure of the driveshaft or it's components. I do know of one that cracked it's front fork brace right where the drilling goes through for the brake lines!! But that was a bike that I suspect was wheelied to death. Got shot of the it pretty quick:thumb2
 
good'oleboy said:
Er don't think thats correct I know of a good few GS 1200 that have done 50thou miles plus without any failure of the driveshaft or it's components. I do know of one that cracked it's front fork brace right where the drilling goes through for the brake lines!! But that was a bike that I suspect was wheelied to death. Got shot of the it pretty quick:thumb2
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I'm not talking about failures of the drive shafts (OK I mentioned them) ... I'm talking about leaking oil, ring antennas, rear bevel box bearings etc. :eek:

Rear engine oil seal... front gearbox oil seal, rear bevel box... do a search, there are legions of such oil leaks and ring antenna failures :eek:
:beerjug:
 
Micky said:
Overlubed chain better than a dry one? Mmmmm not if it's all over the back tyre.

Get the setting right? Mmmmmm good luck :eek:

Trouble is the settings wants to be varied according to conditions :augie

I'm with Tim on this one... good chain spray is fine, applied when needed. Doesn't fling off. Rear of my 'bike as clean as a shaft drive :thumb
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I would agree that when its not set right and a lot are not it comes out like a slick from a James Bond DB5 :eek: :eek:


db5.jpg


and I can imagine all that lube in a dusty enviroment. terrific grinding -paste:blast

so for the big runs that Mickey and Tim get invoved with there system works for them (I supose it does exactly what it says on the Can) But for general UK riding and set corectly (lowest) I find it spot on :thumb

good'oleboy said:
Er don't think thats correct I know of a good few GS 1200 that have done 50thou miles plus without any failure of the driveshaft or it's components. I do know of one that cracked it's front fork brace right where the drilling goes through for the brake lines!! But that was a bike that I suspect was wheelied to death. Got shot of the it pretty quick:thumb2
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The Shaft well I know a few here that have had problems and one GSA1200 that has had 3 yes 3 final drives that bike has gone and he has another 12GSA as its the bike he loves. surely when the concept was born it was suposed to be more or less maintenance free to last the life of the bike, maybe for some it does, but also for many it does not. Its got to be the worse nightmare waiting to be well and truly shafted :blast
 
Having replaced my 1200GS with a new white 2010 model 800GS last week I can confirm that it came with a Regina chain as standard fitment, so I guess they've finally decided to ditch CZ as their chain supplier. I think the rear sprocket is also of a new design but cannot be certain of this.
 
chris22252 said:
Having replaced my 1200GS with a new white 2010 model 800GS last week I can confirm that it came with a Regina chain as standard fitment, so I guess they've finally decided to ditch CZ as their chain supplier. I think the rear sprocket is also of a new design but cannot be certain of this.
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How can I find out which chain is fitted on my bike?I've bought it at the end of march and only thing I know is that it is silver(instead of dark).Is this how to spot the difference?Iam concerned as Iam going away in 10 days and the last thing I want is to be stuck somewhere in the middle of the continent with snapped chain.Thanks for reply.
 
New chain and sprockets

Just had my 800GS serviced at NOG and they are fitting new chain and sprockets for free now. BMW must have finally realised/admitted that the originals were crap!

Contact your local dealer about the new bits I guess.
:)
 
According to my dealer the replacements are made from the same monkey metal and are still 'crap'.. time will tell haha.
 
I have a 03/09 GS800 F, done 12,000 miles,chain is getting very slack and I can hear chain slap. Taken it to BMW twice now to check and adjust. They didn't mention any fault, but said it needs replacing. Checked my chasis said it was fine.

So I'm planning on calling again tomorrow to try and get it covered under warranty. Failing that I'm planning on getting a new chains and sprockets.
based on the full thread I'm going to buy:

Heavy duty DID chain
new sprockets
NO scottoiler - mixed reports in thread plus, my own previous experience was poor
Fitted by non BMW

Let me know if you disagree with any of the above, thanks
 
scubascuba3 said:
I have a 03/09 GS800 F, done 12,000 miles,chain is getting very slack and I can hear chain slap. Taken it to BMW twice now to check and adjust. They didn't mention any fault, but said it needs replacing. Checked my chasis said it was fine.

So I'm planning on calling again tomorrow to try and get it covered under warranty. Failing that I'm planning on getting a new chains and sprockets.
based on the full thread I'm going to buy:

Heavy duty DID chain
new sprockets
NO scottoiler - mixed reports in thread plus, my own previous experience was poor
Fitted by non BMW

Let me know if you disagree with any of the above, thanks
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+1 :thumb2 for Scottoiler fed from a Lubetube in the rear compartment..
when set-up correctly it's good for 3,500 > 4,000 miles
 
scubascuba3 said:
I have a 03/09 GS800 F, done 12,000 miles,chain is getting very slack and I can hear chain slap. Taken it to BMW twice now to check and adjust. They didn't mention any fault, but said it needs replacing. Checked my chasis said it was fine.

So I'm planning on calling again tomorrow to try and get it covered under warranty. Failing that I'm planning on getting a new chains and sprockets.
based on the full thread I'm going to buy:

Heavy duty DID chain
new sprockets
NO scottoiler - mixed reports in thread plus, my own previous experience was poor
Fitted by non BMW

Let me know if you disagree with any of the above, thanks
Click to expand...

If I'm reading this correctly, then it has been adjusted twice in 12000 miles? Mine has been adjusted more in the last 5000 miles (after BMW fitted new chain). I don't think you've got anything to worry about.

Interestingly, it's been 8 months since this thread popped up, so seems to be no more problems with the chains.
 
I think there was a period when they got a poor batch of chains and being new they were being overtightened.
The bike has now been out for over 2 years so they have sorted the problem s, and learned from their mistakes.
 
scubascuba3 said:
I have a 03/09 GS800 F, done 12,000 miles,chain is getting very slack and I can hear chain slap. Taken it to BMW twice now to check and adjust. They didn't mention any fault, but said it needs replacing. Checked my chasis said it was fine.

So I'm planning on calling again tomorrow to try and get it covered under warranty. Failing that I'm planning on getting a new chains and sprockets.
based on the full thread I'm going to buy:

Heavy duty DID chain
new sprockets
NO scottoiler - mixed reports in thread plus, my own previous experience was poor
Fitted by non BMW

Let me know if you disagree with any of the above, thanks
Click to expand...

12000 miles on a chain without an oiler is quite good.
When you fit the new chain make sure you adjust it correctly.
 
I'm no expert but for my previous bikes a Suzuki and a Honda I never needed to adjust the chain whilst I owned them and there was no chain slap/slack, but these were not the same type of bikes. I didn't realise chains can last as little as 12,000 miles, for me that means 1-2 times a year I need to replace the chain and sprockets.

Anyway thanks for the input, sounds like a scottoiler is sensible, I've ordered the chain and sprockets.
 
StumpyFingers said:
12000 miles on a chain without an oiler is quite good.
When you fit the new chain make sure you adjust it correctly.
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My GSX-R1000 had 24,000 miles on it when I sold it, with original chain and sprockets, still in good condition. All you need to do to them is to lube them (with engine oil) and clean them when you wash the bike.
 
TheJoker said:
My GSX-R1000 had 24,000 miles on it when I sold it, with original chain and sprockets, still in good condition. All you need to do to them is to lube them (with engine oil) and clean them when you wash the bike.
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Therein lies the problem.
People forget to re-oil the chain after washing the bike.
BMW have had a few issues with the C&S sets on their bikes so 12000 is a good distance.
The japanese have had decades of practice with the drives of their bikes so I would expect them to last better.
 
Nippy Normans supply Touratech, Wunderlich, Desert Fox and many other makes of accessories.
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