AATV chain questions

[Mike]

I am thinking of replacing sprockets and chains when I have my Max apart and was wondering:

-What brand of chain do you recommend (and why if you have any comparison stories)?
-Where do you recommend purchasing the chain?
-How much do you usually pay?
-How much do you usually buy?

[hydromike]

Wow did you open yourself up here, Mike. You'll probably get 30 different responses from 30 different people. This is a pretty debated issue so expect a lot of different ideas.

First of all, when re-chaining an entire machine I buy chain in 50 foot rolls for the Attexes which typically comes with between 4 and 6 (guess that would be 5, ay?) master links. You can buy it in 10 foot rolls, but you invariably end up with exactly 1.5 feet of chain that you can't use on the machine unless you use 3 or 4 master links to bind it together (bad plan). Buy a chain breaker and break the chain where you need it for each part of the driveline.

I have pretty good experience with the import-varieties of the U.S. brands. (confusing, isn't it?) I've really own used U.S. Diamond or UST (U.S. Tsubaki) plain old #50 roller chain. I get a great deal on both brands from Motion Industries . They also sell all of the other parts for every machine (sprockets, bearings, flux capacitors) if you're looking for them. I've been quoted about $4.30ish per foot for both US Diamond and UST "domestic", but the US Diamond and UST chain import varieties run closer to $1.80/ ft.. I've spoken with two different Motion distribution centers who have always steered be toward the import varieties when I exhibit some indecision on the chain. Their reasoning? They claim that they've seen both the domestic and import brands processed on exactly the same piece of equipment, running down the same line in the same 'dern factory. I obviously can't attest to this, but both import varieties have held up fantastically. There is some initial "stretch" to each brand, but my chains in the racers are fairly well-abused. If you keep them clean and well oiled, they should last a good long time.

Of course you can go get the big fancy o-ring chain which'll seal out the crap longer, but in the long run, my opinion is that I can replace chains more than twice at $1.80 to equal the cost of the pricey chain. I've rechained the D/stock and 503R, the 295, the ST/400 with UST/USD and they've held up great. The 4-stroke and the RIM were both rechained with USD, and I'm very pleased so far with about 5-10 hours on each.

I've never purchased a sprocket. I have lots of good used inventory to pull from.
~m

[whipper-ag]

Just like Aeromike says. AMEN.

[Mike]

Mike, you very thorough. Thanks for taking the time to write that out. I think you answered every question and more.

[Mike]

I still haven't purchased my chain yet but while checking prices around my area I talked with a guy at Tractor Supply and he told me where they ordered their chain from. I thought I would post a link to it.

Daido Corporation - roller chain, Murtfeldt, cold forming, linear motion

The Daido Corp #50 chain is 1.72 / fr. at tractor supply and I will probably call tomorrow to get a price straight from the manufacturer just to see. Have any of you had any experience with this chain?

[techfx]

I should be rechaining at some point here too. I bought a 10ft roll of SST #50 regular roller chain for my Big Max last year "just in case" While researching for more chain, I noticed that there are different Grades:

Standard ANSI
Super Roller Chain
Super-H Roller Chain
RS-HT Roller Chain
Ultra Super Chain

From this website 1.2 High Performance Chains

Is it important to get the "Ultra Super Chain" or is standard roller chain okay to use?

Has anyone ever used SST brand chain?

I'll likely go with Diamond or Tsubaki based on this thread so far.