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Bodger Fix What they don't show you in the repair manual - tales of duct tape, bailing wire and WD 40. Bodge, Bush Mechanics, farmers fix, patch, temporary repair, or whatever your definition, tell us YOUR best story of a bodge that got you home!
Photo by Josephine Flohr, Elephant at Camp, Namibia

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by Josephine Flohr,
Elephant at Camp, Namibia



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  #16  
Old 1 Aug 2017
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Originally Posted by mollydog View Post

I replace my front sprocket every 7 to 8K miles and carry a spare front sprocket on board. Last chain (just replaced it) was a high quality DID VM-2 X Ring chain. It lasted 24K miles ... and could have done another 5K miles easy! Used 3 front sprockets over this 5 year, 24K mile period.
Here we go again........... I must be doing something wrong with my bikes? The wear rate other people report on sprockets, tyres, brake pads ...... never seems to tally up with my findings.

I changed both tyres, both sprockets, chain and pads on my DL650 before a trip as well as the usual service type stuff. Made everything nice before I left so there would be no "issues" on the road. And there were none. Since then I have clocked up a few more miles ending in the demise of the new front tyre ( metzler tourance ) also the front sprocket looked like it was cooked ( part of a DID kit) pads all ok plenty left, rear tyre fine loads left. How many miles you ask ? 20K yup 20,000 miles. 50% of that 2up.

My school reports all read " must try harder "
Holy crap I must ride like a old granny ! ( actually? ... technically 50% of the time the granny is on the back )

Going back to OP I can't help wondering how much neglect, how far and how hard you have to ride a CT110 to get it to spit teeth from the rear sprocket? That's almost an achievement to be proud of, clearly completely out of my reach.
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  #17  
Old 1 Aug 2017
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As Molly stated Preparation is the best route,

but what was asked in the original post was what to do now as he/she was in deep p....

I came across a similar issue where I was able to locate a new DID chain but impossible to find the correct front sprocket I wanted.

I solved this by buying a Yamaha front with the correct number of teeth and pitch I wanted, this was off one of the many smaller type bikes seen across the world so easy to get,,,,,,,,,other brands also available.

Then in a machine shop I got them to on the original front sprocket to machine off the old teeth down to the core and then take out the centre of the new sprocket and forced fitted and welded the two together.

I had now a BMW fitting hub so did not interfere with the splines and a brand new quality tooth set.

With the new chain its been working great.

Granted maybe the parts available are not always the best but if you need to ride then whats around is the best you're going to get.

Ride well ride safe.
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  #18  
Old 2 Aug 2017
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Originally Posted by markharf View Post
Surely there are possibilities aside from "clueless riders." And just as surely, no one here considers their own periodic "rants" on to represent the final word on a subject? All we really get to do is offer our observations and experience for others to make use of, or not--as they choose.
No FINAL WORD proclamations here ... lots of ways to screw up. My ideas are only ONE of many.

Maybe you've missed the many ride reports and cries for help on here (and elsewhere0 where riders ignore their chain/sprockets and end up stuck somewhere? Seems to me to be one of the MOST common trouble issues we see. Am I wrong on this?

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Originally Posted by markharf View Post
Personally, I don't change front, rear or chains as often as you claim is necessary. (Nor do I meticulously clean or oil chains, but that's another story.) I get good service life out of all of these, with what strikes me as a good balance of care and neglect.
I don't replace a chain until it's worn out and have documented better results by changing front sprockets out. The rear sproc. and chain stay on for the duration, as I've ALWAYS recommended. So, I'm only suggesting carrying a spare front sproc., nothing more.

And the scenario I layed out would be the "ideal" situation for prep. I do believe if you start out with high quality components ...everything will last longer. But as always ... YMMV. I realize that abroad you often must go with what's available ... and that may be crap. You go with it cause it's better than not going.

Quote:
Originally Posted by markharf View Post
Every so often I've gotten over-optimistic, and ended up changing out parts under less-than-optimal conditions (think: subzero cold in a dark parking lot, or torrential rains and tropical humidity), but then again there are dozens of occasions on which I've not done so and gotten along just fine--on five continents and in scores of countries.

YMMV, but I hope that's helpful. Kudos to the OP for exploring the available options and finding, as one does, a workable solution!

Mark
Over optimistic is one thing ... but the "clueless" folks I'm talking about ... truly ARE. At least you knew when you were "running out of chain", am I right? I've pushed my luck too ... with mixed results. But as a former Enduro racer I usually err on the conservative side when it comes to Chains/sprockets.

Seems many out there don't even bother to take a casual glance at their sprockets or chains .... ever ... until it's too late.

I have actually run into travelers "on the road" in this situation ... and after 5 continents, I'm sure you probably have as well.

Just offering up tips here ... they can take them or leave them. It's not the only way to travel, just what has worked for me and many others I ride with.
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  #19  
Old 2 Aug 2017
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Originally Posted by Redtape View Post
As Molly stated Preparation is the best route,

but what was asked in the original post was what to do now as he/she was in deep p....

I came across a similar issue where I was able to locate a new DID chain but impossible to find the correct front sprocket I wanted.

I solved this by buying a Yamaha front with the correct number of teeth and pitch I wanted, this was off one of the many smaller type bikes seen across the world so easy to get,,,,,,,,,other brands also available.

Then in a machine shop I got them to on the original front sprocket to machine off the old teeth down to the core and then take out the centre of the new sprocket and forced fitted and welded the two together.

I had now a BMW fitting hub so did not interfere with the splines and a brand new quality tooth set.

With the new chain its been working great.

Granted maybe the parts available are not always the best but if you need to ride then whats around is the best you're going to get.

Ride well ride safe.
That's some damn fine engineering! I've seen similar done. Really helpful to find other similar bikes whose parts may fit YOUR bike. But thinking outside the box (or really normal operating procedure for an engineer!) is way to go in such a situation.
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  #20  
Old 2 Aug 2017
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Originally Posted by g6snl View Post
Here we go again........... I must be doing something wrong with my bikes? The wear rate other people report on sprockets, tyres, brake pads ...... never seems to tally up with my findings.
Riding style has something to do with it as does type of roads ... after that it may be pace but can also be that you're a very smooth rider using gentle inputs everywhere. I'm jerky on the controls and hard ON and OFF the throttle and brakes.
Bad for MPG and tire life!

I grew up racing, still ride with ridiculously fast maniacs. But I'm an old man and have slowed WAY the Fu...k down (as you do if you desire to live a few more years! )

Our California roads are tight, beat up and twisty, lots of fun! ... and we ride them quite aggressively. I rode all around UK, going to Sunday morning meet ups to ride with locals. I was rather shocked how slow riders rode.

Quote:
Originally Posted by g6snl View Post
I changed both tyres, both sprockets, chain and pads on my DL650 before a trip as well as the usual service type stuff. Made everything nice before I left so there would be no "issues" on the road. And there were none. Since then I have clocked up a few more miles ending in the demise of the new front tyre ( metzler tourance ) also the front sprocket looked like it was cooked ( part of a DID kit) pads all ok plenty left, rear tyre fine loads left. How many miles you ask ? 20K yup 20,000 miles. 50% of that 2up.
Well if really riding with Granny on pillion, then all makes sense. You are lucky, cause your costs are WAY down vs. other more aggressive riders who burn through components. I do OK on Chain/Sprockets but burn through tires pretty fast. No problems with brake pads or clutch (no wheelies here) .
Quote:
Originally Posted by g6snl View Post
Going back to OP I can't help wondering how much neglect, how far and how hard you have to ride a CT110 to get it to spit teeth from the rear sprocket? That's almost an achievement to be proud of, clearly completely out of my reach.
I'm betting no one ever even looked at chain or sprockets. Given enough time or miles you can were out a 110 sprocket like that ... even with just 8 HP.
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  #21  
Old 3 Aug 2017
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Originally Posted by mollydog View Post
I don't replace a chain until it's worn out and have documented better results by changing front sprockets out. The rear sproc. and chain stay on for the duration, as I've ALWAYS recommended. So, I'm only suggesting carrying a spare front sproc., nothing more.
I suspect "out of sight out of mind" may be the case here. Front sprockets are generally hidden behind cases and some riders may not realise they wear faster than rear ones.

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  #22  
Old 3 Aug 2017
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It's not just "out of sight". I wore a couple of front sprockets like that back in my "yoof" - and not on big bikes either, both were on 250 two strokes. I rode one of them from Sheffield to London with the chain tightened up like bowstring to try and prevent it slipping. It kind of worked until it started raining.

I'd never heard of hooking or wear or anything like that; as long as I could see teeth it looked ok to me. Until one day it wasn't.
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  #23  
Old 16 Aug 2017
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My old BSAs front sprocket was worn virtually smooth but the problem was that I couldn't get the retaining nut undone - it had probably been there since the bike was made in 1954. Heat was not a good idea as the input and output shafts are concentic and any distortion will cause even more problems. Tightening the chain worked for several thousand miles.

The whole lot has now been replaced and all works fine.
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