Replacing 3/8" x 5/8" rear chain

[sprint]

Need to replace the 3/8" x 5/8" rear chain.

Any recommendations as to makes that give good longevity and the best place to buy in the UK?

Should one stick to the std imperial size or go for the 530 size or does it really not matter?

[muskrat]

G'day Sprint.
5/8 x 3/8 is 530. Just a good quality (Regina, DID, Reynolds) std or HD. O and X ring chains are too heavy and rob too much power. Chain with a joiner with clip are easier to replace than the new rivet type. Use the old chain to guide the new one on.
Cheers

[duTch]

 

(Regina, DID, Reynolds)

...or Renolds....

[duTch]

 Sorry, it's just a bitch to go looking for something that isn't spelt the way you want....

[muskrat]

 

[bsa-bill]

I would of spelt it with a Y as well

[RichardL]

Made me go looking for the correct use of "spelt", which is confusing enough. Going past that, Googling "reynold" chain or, even, "reeynald" chain immediately finds "Renold plc".

Richard L.

[bsa-bill]

spelt  and spelled both correct - the one I hate is texted, sound like the effort of a five year old, also a kind of wheat.

Perhaps not the same as the original, does happen  as in Triumph with a slightly different tail

[a101960]

Any recommendations as to makes that give good longevity and the best place to buy in the UK?

I would steer clear of Reynold chain. It really is not the product that it used to be. Regina chain seems to last well. The best advice I can you give is to contact the chain man. He will give you good advice. He knows his subject well, and his delivery prompt. The chain man comes highly recommended  by everyone that has dealt with him. I do believe that he often goes to club nights doing seminars on chain.
John
http://www.the-chain-man.co.uk/

[RichardL]

First of all, "Chain Man" seems a great guy. About Regina, I looked at their site and their chart jumps to O-rings for 650 cc. With Muskrat advising against O-rings, I wonder which Regina chain would be best for our lot.

Richard L.

[sprint]

Thanks for the replies and advice.

Thought that the 530 was a metric equivalent of the imperial size, but clearly not.

Will give the Chain Man a ring and see what he recommends.

[muskrat]

"O" ring chains will last longer than std but usually have thicker plates making them wider and may rub in some applications. They are also stiffer to bend/roll which uses power meant for driving. Our 650's put out about 30-40 HP, modern 250's do about the same.
Cheers

[BSA_54A10]

For real longivity you need to buy two or more chains so that you can have one chain on the bike and a nice clean lubricated one ready to replace it.
I use a 3 chain rotation, 1 on the bike, 1 in the grease tin and one in the degreaser.
I boil the chains in Duckhams ( similar to Linklife ) and strongly recommend this method.
Chains are dead easy to pull through by connecting old to new and pulling through.
Sprockets on the other hand are a right royal PIA to replace so it becomes a no brainer.

By regularly removing the chains and cleaning them thoroughly you actually look at them properly so will catch any problems before they catch you out and reward you with a long push home

[Speedy]

Let me get this right,  the chain 5/8" pitch and  3/8" wide with 107links. My chain had a half link so it is 107.5 links long. It is a Reynolds chain.
I have  never had any problems with this chain,  but that half link has been a bit of a worry, especially when you see the  way they are fitted.
I have never been Let down by the chains , its remembering which way round the retaining clip goes around that makes you think. I did put one on the wrong way around on a tiger cub, and it did come off, it really makes you think how a little piece of metal can stop you in your  tracks.
Happy riding with a well oiled chain.

[Greybeard]

This bloke is where I got my present chain. He knows what chain your bike needs.
https://the-chain-man.co.uk/