Chain broke today

[BribieDuc]

On my way to work today and BANG - the chain came off.  Luckily I was at about 30 kmph about to enter a round about. And better still within pushing distance of a little bike shop in an industrial estate. 
Not sure what happened, the chain looked to be in good condition about 1/2 worn, looked oily although the end link seemed very tight after it broke...maybe not seized but bent from impact? Yes, it was using a clipped joining link - never again!
The chain was fair jammed up around the front sprocket - took heaps of not too gentle persuasion to get it out. Shredded the plastic chain guard and as a result the rear hugger is toast. No other damage so that's okay.
New chain and I was back on the road within a few hours - delayed by getting the chain loose.
Bizarre really, as I have been thinking about chain oilers and the such recently.

[Spider]

any damage to the case?

brand of chain? (not that anything is going to stop an impact) - did you buy the same brand again is a better question?

good to hear it all ended safely!

[dragonworld.]

I've used con links for ever, even on my race stuff and never had a problem. 

But if I have had to remove the chain for some reason I have always put a new link on and never used a second hand one.

Which direction was the open end of the con link pointing?? 

[techno]

Buy a lotto ticket. That could have been soooooo much worse.

My last project bike was a suzuki that some young guy was riding when the chain broke and wrapped around the back wheel. Spat him off so bad he never got back on a bike. He put it in a shed until I got my hands on it. Had to replace lots of stuff that was damaged including the swingarm.

Good to see your damage was not as bad and your back on the road. [moto]

[brimo]

Just shows how you need to do a regular inspection of your chain, well, the whole bike really, +1 on the connector clip too, used em for years and never had a problem, but you've gotta make sure that clip is pointing in the right direction, even on a road bike where you get a build up of crud under the sprocket guard, without cleaning that out regularly it could cause the clip to come off.

[bigiain]

No other damage so that's okay.

Check the case carefully - that particular failure is well known for cracking the engine case around the output shaft bearing, so much so that you can get aftermarket case savers to protect against it... I'd be pulling the front sprocket cover off and cleaning everything up scrupulously clean, and leaving the cover off so I could keep a close eye on it for oil leaks... Good luc with it, I honestly hope you've "got away with it"...

Bizarre really, as I have been thinking about chain oilers and the such recently.

If it makes you feel any better, lubrication or lack thereof is unlikely to have had anything to do with the chain failure... I _did_ double take and think "Wasn't he just asking about a scotoiller" as I read this though...

big

[Dannog]

+1 big's comments.
I know you can get the case saver from Jeff at MonsterParts and have seen it a number of other places. Always thought this would be a good bit on insurance.

[CairnsDuc]

Got a Case saver from Desmotimes, I hope I never need to use it, but I figure it's a hell of a lot cheaper than repairing/replacing a smashed case.
Cheap insurance 

[BribieDuc]

Thanks. Had  a really good look and it seems the case is okay...I'll keep an eye on it though and look again over the weekend (in daylight).

The chain jammed up behind the sprocket so maybe that was my saving grace. Will order the case saver from Desmotimes ($22) as my lotto ticket.

Connecting link was nowhere to be seen so unsure which end failed.

Can't remember the brand of chain...but new one is an EK with rivet joining link. Yep, there was a olt of gunk around the front sprocket, so maybe.

Must either get the huhgger repaired (plastic welding?) or buy another - anyone have a spare for sale?? Looks kinda cool without the hugger but suppose I really need to cover that chain and prepare for the rain.

Based on all your advice, guess I'm one lucky Dude. 

Having a leg operation on  Monday so the bike will be in the garage for at least a month or so ... it can keep the Monza (which is stripped down to frame at the moment pending painting) company. Looking forward to watching all those DVDs I never seem to get to see.

Rgds,
John

[Spider]

dual sided swing arm of course....

Spider imports has a hugger you can try! (was on a 2003 m1000s with DSS)

RJ

[MonsterDorf]

Last time I broke a chain was on my GPZ900 (circa 1989). Was riding for hours at 160KM + (Canberra to Richmond) and backed off to take a turn. Put on power and wham off she went.

Luckily it dropped to the ground but smashed the engine casing, chain guard and took some teeth off the front sprocket on its way through.

Sitting on the side of the road, no mobile, getting dark with a big puddle of oil under the bike. Worst of all it was after I spent a mint on putting it back together after chewing out some main crank bearings.

That day I promised myself I'd always use the best chain and sprockets and maintain them meticulously and replace whenever they started to wear - been good ever since.

[Spider]

what do you use Dorf?

[MonsterDorf]

I tried "Chain Gang' but they didn't have any sprockets so I went to CA Cycle Works and got AFAM steel sprockets, EK MVXZ X ring chain with matching screw link (neat way to put it back together as the screw rivets the link into place then snaps off).

To clean the chain, I then use the technique described by LT Snyders in his Ducati Maintenance book.

Simply spray your chain with WD40 then wipe it down. Spray it again with WD40 and hose off. Dry and then apply a light coat of good chain lube. Seems to work a treat.

[DUCMONROB]

Last time I broke a chain was on my GPZ900 (circa 1989). Was riding for hours at 160KM + (Canberra to Richmond) and backed off to take a turn. Put on power and wham off she went.

Luckily it dropped to the ground but smashed the engine casing, chain guard and took some teeth off the front sprocket on its way through.

Sitting on the side of the road, no mobile, getting dark with a big puddle of oil under the bike. Worst of all it was after I spent a mint on putting it back together after chewing out some main crank bearings.

The beauty of the GPZ was that the casing around the chain was a separate part to the crank case!
Top bike in their time, so good I have one in the shed almost rebuilt to its former glory. [moto]