Every chain will eventually have its end of life, just how does one know when it’s time for it to be taken off duty? Read on to know what you need to be looking for and what all is required to be changed in the process.

Checking your chain

The chain and sprockets are a very accessible part that you can see and inspect hence it doesn’t take too long for you to make a decision on when to change it. It is a messy part with all the years of lube, dirt, slush that if not regularly cleaned will need you to wear gloves to inspect.

There are few ways that you can check and start assessing what needs to be done

• Your manual has a procedure that will tell you exactly when the chain has either gone out of shape over time by adding weight to a point on the chain measuring the length.
• The other way to check is to try to pull the chain off the rear sprocket, if you can see half a tooth of the sprocket then it’s time for it to go. A chain should ideally fit snugly and not come off the sprocket when it’s pulled.
• Over time chains do tend to have tight spots and kinks, these are signs that you should be looking out for. A chain should run freely without any jerks when you put your bike on a main stand when the tyre is rotated
• Look out for rust
• Sprockets do wear out over time so look for them losing shape of the tooth or a bigger space between two teeths
• Look for the dots on the swingarm and see how many are left when you tighten your chain

From what we have experienced cleaning and lubing your chain regularly i.e 400-500 km will get you the best life out of it. There is another aspect which is chain slack that keeps the tension in check, if the chain is too tight it will damage the seals and bearing of the transmission as well as wear out the chain and sprocket sooner. The chain slack is specific to your bike and is always mentioned in your bike manual.

Getting to replace your chain and sprocket

We always recommend changing chain and sprockets together as these are all components that work together and wear out as they keep running over time. The cost of these vary depending on the length of the chain required and the pitch. A chain can retail from 6,500 INR onwards, sprockets from 1500 INR for the front and rear starts off at 4,500 INR. A good tip here is to check on the condition of the chain guide as well as the rubber cushions below the rear sprocket.

So here’s our final word the more often you check your chain, clean it and lube it and adjust the tension, the less often you’ll have to do the bigger job of replacing it. Follow the steps above and your drive chain can last many more kilometers.

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