so...I was working on my RF9 530 conversion last night

[Cvergi01]

I got this bike for free because the lady said it didn't run and she was moving out of the state and didn't want to take it with her.  All I did to get it running was spray a crud load of starting fluid in it while cranking it over and low an behold...SHE RUNS!  very excited.  ran like crud so I pulled the carbs and sure enough, they were FULL of the red water/fuel goo.  flushed it all out and cleaned the crap out of EVERYTHING... now it runs much better    one of the issues that I've been meaning to get too, now that it's running properly, is the noisy chain.  Very embarrasing to pull up to a gas station where there's a sexy brand new bike with CLACK CLACK CLACK  uh...hey guys    I checked out the chain and it was terribly dry and stiff, so, I grabbed the WD-40...lubed it up and noise gone...YEAH!  noise comes back...BOOO...after about ten miles...BOOO.  Does this over and over, so I decide to finally replace the chain and do a 530 conversion while I'm at it.  

Taking it apart last night, I first went for the front sprocket.  While I was looking for the appropriate sized socket for the nut, I slid a socket on that was a little too big and while twisting it by hand just too see how MUCH bigger it was, the nut came right off...didn't even need a socket    so, I figure well that probably has something to do with the noise...maybe While taking the rear sprocket off, I found a few broken teeth .  so, I figure well that probably has something to do with the noise...maybe  onto the chain...bad...it was sooo bad.  Long story...uh...long, I am very happy with myself for getting this done finally  

[Zixxerpilot]

Gotta love chain swaps. Hope you use more than just WD-40 on the chain, though. It's fine for cleaning, but you should use a proper chain lube. Chain Wax or Honda HP with Moly are my favs.

[Cvergi01]

yeah, I figured that the bike was free and the chain was screwed, so I was going to replace it soon.  I used oil once...put it on a rag and ran it down the chain but it lasted just about as long.  

I got my chain and seafoam last night...was thinking of how I'm going to put on...hammer or rivet tool.  however, by the time I got home...it was pissing rain so, no chain for me.  Chain came with a clip style so I'm going to go with that until it breaks, then I'll do it right  or is it goung to kill me in 20 miles?

[Blunder]

Some people get spastic about clip-style master links and avoid them like the plague. It's like everyone has a friend who knows somebody that had one of those lose a clip causing the chain to fly off and trash the engine cases or decapitate the children in a passing mini-van even though their mother told them not to look at the dirty biker.  

The clips can fly off and do require that you check them regularly, but you're down there anyway when you're checking tire pressures so what's an extra few seconds? Racing organizations require the clips be safety wired, but that's a hassle, so I put a dollop of silicone sealant on it after every time I clean the chain. Then I use a proper chain lube.

Chain lube thread-

http://www.sport-touring.net/forums/index.php/topic,61009.0.html

[Cvergi01]

grooovy, thanks    I'm a little too excited to wait for a new master link anyway.  My rear sprocket is +2 and, accidently, my front is -1 so...gonna be interesting  

[Cvergi01]

    I had my lady friend helping me get the wheel back in last night and asked her to pull the caliper out of the way.  should have told her not to kink it.  saw her bend it over, kink it and bring it back and I was hoping that it would be all right...it wasn't  now the rear brakes lock up, so, time for an upgrade to stainless  getting ready for the WCRM is killin me.

[Blunder]

 

I suppose the old rubber line could have been degraded enough that kinking it could destroy it and cause the caliper piston(s) to lock in place , but if using that story as an excuse to upgrade to braided lines works...

[Cvergi01]

has to be what it was, I loosened the bleeder to release some pressure and it was fine...until I hit the brakes again.  I've done it to ONE car before (used to be an auto tech) and that was the last time I ever bent a brake line too far...sucks to have to pay for it out of pocket.