dilemma, urgent advice needed
 

Hey all, and happy new year,
I am now in Pisco, 240 km. south of Lima,Peru.
I am concerned about my front sprocket which has started to look worn. I dont carry an extra unfourtanetely.
The back sprocket wear and chain slack when lifted from back sprocket are almost no existent. So basically its only the front sprocket that is the issue, which makes sense when is has to roll 3 times as much as the back sprocket for the same distance travelled and also the force is distributed from the front.

The dilemma is that the next chance I get for changing the sprocket(s) are in Santiago, Chile which is roughly 4000 km (2500 miles) away.

I just came form Lime and just now I realized that I might need a new sprocket soon and the next avalilable one is quite far away. I should have changed the sprocket in Lima when I had the change.
I can now either head back to Lima (240 km) north. Have a new sprocket installed, and then head back to here to continue east towards Cusco, Peru. A detour of 480 km. and 2 days driving in this traffic.

Take a look at the pictures and video here, and tell me what you think I should do.
The big question is: how far can I push the front sprocket before it completely fails on me. I dont want to be stranded in the desert somewhere say in 2000 km. away. Bear in mind that I oil the chain often. I travelled on this sprocket and chain set from Solvang, CA.

https://www.box.com/s/b3689o667yr3920fhp3s

https://www.box.com/s/a8zwy9wmlv9ln9i1svir

https://www.box.com/s/tkplscr0dr5brvkraiur

Sincerely,
Jesper Rasmussen
jras8000@yahoo.dk

Hi Jesper,

I ride a small 250 lightly loaded bike and would ride to Santiago on that front sprocket no problema.

But it looks like a KLR sprocket guard in your photo, and I will assume you are traveling solo with a heavy load. That front sprocket would quite likely make it to Santiago. But why not ride back 240 clicks to Lima for peace of mind?

I'm not sure how much longer you are traveling past Santiago, but if it were me, I would ride back to Lima, replace the front sprocket and buy a spare set of sprockets and chain and carry them as spares since they can be hard to come by for big bikes.

Just an idea.

Kindest regards,
John Downs

Yup, that's what I'd do with the slight difference that I wouldn't fit the new ones until the originals were well and truly shagged.

Looks like quite a bit of life left in those in your photos, esp if you are good about lubing the C & S.

Ride on.

Looks good to me as well.

I think you'd be OK to continue as long as you're not racing or doing sprint starts, and continuing with the oiling. If it wears much more you might increase the wear rate on the chain a little but that can be minimised with the oiling and steady smooth riding. If it were me I'd say there's no danger of any breakage or failure before Santiago, and I'd continue as long as there's definitely a replacement in Santiago.

But as John says it's not far back to Lima.

So I'd ask, which would make you feel better. Return through all the traffic and the extra time but know you'll get a new sprocket sooner, or continue on your journey pretty certain that you'll reach Santiago OK and do it there, avoiding the back-tracking? (Maybe you're in a hurry - you don't say).

Do whichever would make you feel less anxious - unwanted worries can lead to other unexpected upsets.

Hi,

When i was in Lima it was easy to get sprokets for all the comon bikes there. Anyway the fotos look all right so i would not worry about reaching Santiago on the direct way...

Greetings to the Dakar, Tobi

I have started a trip with worse than that :eek3:

Many times I have been surprised just how knackered things have to get before they stop working, then there is often a way to get by and make the next stop.

Real men carry on.
Sensible people get it fixed !
Real sensible men......... fix it !
Women ...........erm .........careful here............ :innocent: Probably don't get caught out in the first place?

Personally I think it will be fine.

You're just following the paved highway south, without deviating? No problem. You can certainly keep an eye out for a replacement sprocket (if that's a KLR, you might find one along the way in any number of places, although then again you might not....). It's also worth considering that in Peru and Chile you can have parts shipped in on regular buses easily and quickly, so whatever is available in Santiago or Lima can be had within a day or two in most smaller cities.

If you're doing what most do--some wandering around in the Andes, some exploring the dirt, gravel and salt roads of the altiplano between Lima and Santiago, get a spare set of sprockets to carry. Also: quit lubing your chain when off the pavement to slow the wear.

520 chains are not difficult to find in any major or minor city. Sprockets are much tougher, and spares are easier to carry, so you'll do well to get in the habit of carrying at least an old, used set.

Hope that's helpful.

Mark

Thanks for all your advice guys.
I think I'll be heading towards Lima again for the dahm sprocket.
Gas, time spent, and a lesson learned (carry spare sprockets in poor countries)


Thanks again guys, and have a
HAPPY NEW YEAR.

Jesper

Send it ahead of you...
 

Front sprocket has ware. Not bad but worn, and that will ware the chain faster.

I'd ring a shop that has the front sprocket and have them send it on to you ... at a place say 3 days onwards... this way you get the sprocket and continue traveling. Have the sprocket arrive at least 1 day ahead of when you should get there.

If you do that you won't need the chain and rear sprocket, well not to the next major stop.

You should have some spare master links and a short length of chain.. and I'd add another counter shaft sprocket. Maybe you should get two rather than one ?

I think that is the best decision, it is not so much fun riding when you are worrying about the bike. The front sprocket is past its best and will be putting a heavy strain on the chain.
I carry spate chain, but not sprocket as on my bike they are a bit of bother to change. Fortunately the front sprocket will outlast several chains.