My chain is junk.

[shinyribs]

I bought my chain off ebay from a vendor called forward motorsports. The brand of the chain is "Factory Spec". It has under 5k miles on it and its shot. It stretched a crazy amount right when I got it and then it started spitting out o-rings.Nice.A 1 mile ride on a gravel road with NO power applied should not need the chain tightened so far as to slide the axle back a full 1/4".I should have thrown it away then.When I popped the master link off the other night I noticed these score marks.This is my fault.I did not pack grease in there when I installed it. Upon further inspection I see now it has spit out 17 of its o-rings and the majority of the ones left actually have orange,rust dust shooting out past the o-rings. It really appears the this o-ring chain was never packed with grease when it was made.The rollers ( that still have o-rings) turn so freely there is no way there is any grease in there.They actually rattle.

I hate to bad mouth anyone,but I would hate to see anyone buy one of these chains.In my opinion,its pure junk.

Like the saying goes: Good parts ain't cheap,cheap parts ain't good.

I got what I paid for I suppose.

[sgtslag]

Wow.  Thanks for the warning.  The good news is that you did not suffer a catastrophic failure while riding!  It never occurred to me that anyone would make an O-ring chain, without packing the grease inside.

Only 5,000 miles?  That's around 10,000-15,000 short of what it should be.  I guess I am glad I avoided e-Bay when my chain was replaced, though I did some serious searching on there for a replacement (ended up taking it to my local repair shop, as I wanted a riveted chain, rather than a master link, and I couldn't justify the cost of the tools for a possible one-time replacement -- was considering selling it already). Cheers!

[TOOLS1]

My EK chain is working great. After over 1,000 miles I still have not needed to adjust it. I put Chain Wax on it every 300 miles, or, so.
TOOLS

[SoonerRon]

Bad news for me, I just bought one these chains from the same outfit. Got it in the mail last week. I'm still building my bike so it'll be a while before I put it to use. Guess I'll have to keep a close eye on how it wears.

[seestheday]

can't you pack it full of grease yourself?

[sgtslag]

I think it would require pretty much taking every individual link apart, packing it, then re-assembling each link...  It could be done, but I would not want to do it, myself -- I'm too lazy.  

[shinyribs]

SoonerRon wrote

Bad news for me, I just bought one these chains from the same outfit. Got it in the mail last week. I'm still building my bike so it'll be a while before I put it to use. Guess I'll have to keep a close eye on how it wears.

They have a one month warranty. I 'd make sure to put it to good use. I'm not saying to crook anyone, but hate to see you have the same junk I got.

[shinyribs]

seestheday wrote

can't you pack it full of grease yourself?

I was thinking about this on the way home.You can get a needle for the end of a grease gun.Its made for greasing ball joints,tie rod ends etc. that do not have a zerk fitting. The idea is to stab the dust boot with the needle and inject the grease that way. Its such a tiny needle that it wont create a leak.I suppose you could stick the needle BESIDE the o-ring and inject the grease that way,but definitely do not pierce that little bitty o-ring.They have a tough enough life as it is.

[shinyribs]

Tools got my good-deal chainnow he's rubbing it in! I got this from the same guy today.CHEAP!!! Anybody have any experience with a C.C. Rider chain? Couldn't be all bad,Elvis sang about themPlus it is H-D approved! It is old,I know,but it was still sealed up and when we opened it the chain looks brand new. Supposed to be a good one and it does have a "20,000 mile warranty"Or did 20(?) years ago.LOL.I figured if it was a $84.95 chain years ago it shoulda been a good one.That's what the price tag says. Eric has one on the cb750 he road races and he could have sold me a new on for $75-100+ off the shelf. He let me have this one for $20. Seriously though,would you run it? Honestly.

If nothing else I dig the box,it's going on the wall.

[SoonerRon]

In think for $50 I'll let it ride (so to speak). With the heads-up you've provided I'll just treat it like a std chain and lube it up as needed. I'll lose ten bucks at least on the return shipping anyway. I guess that's the way it is on ebay... sometimes you hit and sometimes ya miss. I've bought some good stuff I couldn't get anywhere else and i've also bought some crap.

[shinyribs]

Same here.I've gotten both good and bad. This is my first bad,maybe mine was a fluke with being dry. Autopsy to come soon!

[TOOLS1]

I would run it! Custom Chrome does not sell junk.
TOOLS

[shinyribs]

Thanks.Good to know. I googled it and that chain retails for $145 nowadays. Hey man,20 bucks,I got a better deal than you didlol

[TOOLS1]

I could use a chain, for Mortal Vindication.
TOOLS

[shinyribs]

530?  How many links you need and i'll see what I can get my hands on.

[TOOLS1]

I'm not sure of how many links I will need. The frame has 4 inches of stretch. I could always add links if I needed to.
TOOLS

[shinyribs]

I should have a few extra links off of mine! My bike only has 99 links,this chain is 102. Not sure what else Eric has,but I know he has more with 101 and 102 links. Hope to pick up the '78 tomorrow and may pick up my tires.Supposed to be ready. I'll be away from the 'puter. If I am out that way and he has some is it cool to call you? How can you figure out what you need? 4" stretch i'm guessing add about  8-10 links?

[TOOLS1]

Call any time.
TOOLS

[Honda Dog]

I have had good luck packing chains as follows. I get a can of wheel bearing grease and put the grease in an all metal pan big enough where the chain can coil up in it. I then very carefully heat the grease until it melts and put the chain in the liquid. I let it stay in there an hour or so under very low heat. Just enough to keep the grease melted. The liquid grease will penetrate completely into all parts of the chain. After an hour or so I pull the chain out and hang it up with a piece of wire and let it drip. I also wipe off the chain with a rag. As the chain cools the grease will harden up again and be in every nook and cranny of the chain. When you first put the chain back on it will throw some grease but it will stop in less than a mile. Your done, a well packed chain with grease inside all the rollers. I don't do this with new chains as I try to buy good ones and they come packed well. For a older chain this works great, just clean the chain well in solvent first and let it dry and blow it out with compressed air.

[Lucky]

You do NOT need an O ring chain Period.
Just a regular chain.