Haynes on Chains

[Richard]

The Haynes manual says: NEVER install a drive chain which uses a clip type master (split) link. Guess what I have discoverd on my bike. Yup, the very thing that apparantly should not be there. It has some life in it yet but can anyoone tell me why these types of chain link are aparently so dangerous. Or are Haynes being over-cautious?
Regards, Richar

[robelst]

Found one on my bike as well when I bought it. Even worse: the open end of the clip was facing the driving-direction. Given the overall condtion of the chain, it must have run like that for zillions of miles. It does not prove Haynes statement is rubbish though. Clips are usually considered safe on small and middleclass bikes only. I suppose powerwise the AT is pretty close to middle-class, but since a proper AT runs its chain rather loose, I suspect it moves around quite a bit, maybe giving the clip a rough time? I wasn't sure when I replaced my chain early this year, and used a rivetter tool instead.

Having said that: Last year, I went on holiday to France and Italy with a friend on a Tenere, running an endless chain, and me still on the clipped AT. One of us broke the chain... and it wasn't me. One of the blades was just bend open in a 90 degrees angle . We fixed his chain with .... a clip. And that held out for the rest of our trip.
Life can be rather confusing sometimes

[Richard]

Thanks for that. Looks like it isn't such a bad thing, thouh maybe with double the power it would be essentail
The open end of my clip faces the front. Is that wrong?
Regards, Richard

[Richard]

I realise that last post was a bit Irish! It opening faces the front when on the top chain run i.e. when uder tension.
Regards, Richard

[mal]

If your going to use a spring link the closed end will face forwards( i.e the direction of travel) on the top run of the chain ,if anyone can explain better please do so.

[Simon]

If someone took a picture of it would be best i think.

[icenian]

Image the chain running, and imagine the clip striking something. The bit that strikes should be the closed end, so the clip is forced on, rather than forced off. (I offer this as I reckon it's easier to remember why a thing is done a particular way, rather than just trying to remember it as an arbitrary rule.)

I always thought that if your chain was slamming into things, then you would already be experiencing severe problems, and the clip would be the least of your worries That's a road riders perspective, though.

Of course, there's nothing the rufty overlanders couldn't fix without gaffer tape, an old pair of tights and a condom

[paultheold]

I have been running with a split link for the last 9000 miles, 4000 miles ago I took the chain off to rebuild the engine, and refitted the same split link. on strip and rebuild the split clip was not stressed so was deemed serviceable, I have had riveted links fitted by dealers that were over peened making the link tight. remember split links were used for years on Brit bikes. The AT is low tech and low revving. I work with metal and know what makes it tick.

[YEN_POWELL]

I have been running with a split link for the last 9000 miles, 4000 miles ago I took the chain off to rebuild the engine, and refitted the same split link. on strip and rebuild the split clip was not stressed so was deemed serviceable, I have had riveted links fitted by dealers that were over peened making the link tight. remember split links were used for years on Brit bikes. The AT is low tech and low revving. I work with metal and know what makes it tick.

I don't think we can trust the word of a man who hears metal ticking. I think we should get a second opinion from a Czechoslovakian.

[paultheold]

You have not heard me tick. Monday mornings I tick like like a five bob clock,
I have more hammers than you can throw a stick at,