Replacing vs. shortening chains

[buster.stockman]

My longest drive chain is very loose. Is it okay to remove a link or should I replace it?

[JohnF]

Replace. The pitch of the chain no longer matches the pitch of the sprockets and will wear your sprockets.

[Rumbles]

I understand what JohnF is saying but I have 225 hours on my Response and none of the chains are stretched enough to hit the frame members yet but they are getting close. I figure the chains ODG use of are of high quality and since these chains have been perfectly maintained I figure that maybe I will look into installing half links to extend the life of the chains. Maybe someone can comment on this being possible or will half links shorten them too much.

[Roger S]

I think you'll find a 1/2 link is way too short/long on an argo with no chain adjustment.

[rkthev]

Be sure your chains are properly lubricated when checking length or adjusting them, as the film of lubricant fills the clearances around the pins, and the chain will be shorter, or tighter than when it is dry.

[akpride]

replace

Replace them, I just bought some double 50 in 10 ft rolls @ $55 a roll from motion ind. Look them up on line I also lookes at getting them from shoup but motion had a dealer in town.

[Roger S]

55 is cheap, does it have a brand name? Let us know how it holds up.

[buster.stockman]

thanks. are all rc 50-2 the same. i am not sure what you mean by the pitch of a chain.

[Roger S]

I havn't seen different types of double 50, unlike other pitches. Pitch is the "size" of chain, sort of. The first letter, 5, means 5 eights inch between pins.

[lewis]

This is a good little reference to chain and sprockets selection and explains what pitch is. Hope this will help.

Notes on Sprockets and Chains

[buster.stockman]

Then all 50-2 have the same pitch. The parts manual had me confused. It had stated different pitches:

Mid Chain, RC50-2 x
44P, incl. 53

Rear Chain, RC50-2 x
96P, incl. 53

Are the 44P and 96 P the number of links?

[JohnF]

Are the 44P and 96 P the number of links?

Yes.

And watch ebay - I managed to get Morse 50-2 for $50 per 10 feet. I also grabbed 10ft of HKK for $30 to do a comparison so I'm running Morse on the left rear and HKK on the right rear to see if there is a difference. Also I scored 13 morse 50-2 connectors for $5.35, that like 13 for the price of 1.

[Rumbles]

just another thing to add is that as a chain wears/stretches the pitch (distance between the pins) increases meaning after time it does not match up to the sprocket well anymore and this will wear the sprocket. I guess that is why half links if they could be used are a bad idea.

[buster.stockman]

pitch

it was thanks a lot