Are Your Sprockets OK? A 0-Cost Item that Easily Tells When to Replace Way too Useful~

How to

There is no clear standard for when to replace sprockets, such as when to change them after ○○km.
This is because the life of sprockets is greatly affected by situations such as circuit, off-road, and street driving, as well as the degree of daily maintenance. Therefore, it is difficult to judge when it is time to replace sprockets by yourself.
In such cases, the items introduced here will help you out!

First, review sprocket wear.

When is it time to replace the sprockets?

As mentioned at the beginning of this article, it is not possible to say for sure when to replace the sprockets using distance as a general guideline. So the degree of wear of the sprockets is determined by looking at the teeth and valleys of the sprockets! As the sprockets are worn by the drive chain, the peaks and teeth of the sprockets change shape.

Although it is an extreme example, if the teeth and valleys of the sprocket are worn to the limit, it will be in a state that is expressed as a sword mountain or shuriken just like the image.
Once this condition occurs, it is too late and the sprocket teeth will break, or in the worst case, the teeth will break and the chain will come off. Chain disengagement can lead directly to a serious accident, and preventive replacement is necessary before the sprocket gets into this condition!

An endless loop of sprocket wear, chain deterioration, and sprocket wear.

Regardless of which comes first, sprocket wear or chain deterioration, the wear of one accelerates the deterioration of the other.

The chain pins wear out and the overall length of the chain extends, which increases the clearance between the sprockets and the chain when they bite together.

The chain and sprocket should mesh perfectly, but if the clearance widens, the chain rollers will contact the sides of the sprocket troughs.

As this happens, the sprockets become increasingly sharp as the sides of the teeth and valleys are ground down.

In fact, this is the difference between a new sprocket of the same size and a worn used sprocket.

Furthermore, when the silhouette of the worn sprocket is superimposed on the new one, this worn area can be clearly seen.

In addition, in contrast to the wear of the sprocket due to chain deterioration, if the sprocket is already worn, the chain roller pin side of the chain is subjected to a greater force. Thus, if one of them is new and the other is already worn out, the service life will be shorter than if the chain and sprocket were replaced at the same time. Therefore, when replacing the sprocket or chain, it is recommended to replace them at the same time!

Does the type of sprocket change the ease of wear?


Sprockets are generally made of aluminum or iron. The advantage of aluminum sprockets is that they are lightweight, while the disadvantage is that they are less durable than iron sprockets.
Conversely, the advantage of iron sprockets is that they are more durable, as almost all sprockets used in the factory are made of iron. The disadvantage is that they are heavier than aluminum.
Although there are differences in durability, the common point regarding wear is that once the surface-treated parts are worn out, the wear speed increases at an accelerated rate.

Each sprocket manufacturer uses treatments to increase the durability of the sprocket surface to prevent wear, such as hard anodizing for aluminum sprockets and high-frequency quenching for iron sprockets. However, these are only surface treatments, and once the surface-treated layer is fully worn away, the wear progresses at once.

Visually, it is not clear when to replace it.

We know that the condition of sprockets should be judged visually, not by distance, but we, as non-professional bikers, do not have a good idea of the standard!
In such cases, the X.A.M Sprocket Wear Checker can be used as a guide.

X.A.M Sprocket Wear Checker

This item is distributed by X.A.M. (XAM), which develops sprockets such as the Tufflite Steel Series, which features a particular style with a color order system and special plating and meat removal.

This wear checker is an excellent tool that can be placed on your car's sprockets to give you an indication of wear! The wear checker is a great tool to determine the wear of your car's sprockets just by placing it on your car's sprockets! Usually, these checkers are distributed at X.A.M. booths at events, but this time we will use the image data to make our own DIY sprocket wear checker! The wear checker image data was provided by X.A.M JAPAN. Thank you! Readers are also free to download the images here!

Let's make a sprocket wear checker!


First, save the image data of the wear checker you received and print it out in postcard size. This time, since we printed the wear checker on A4 size paper, we will cut out the checker along the shape of the check

Since the paper is too thin and not strong enough to be used as copy paper, this time we will use cardboard boxes that were lying around at the garbage dump as the backing.
Using glue, the wear checker is attached to the base paper, from which it is further cut out.

Finally, detach the instruction sheet from the checker and you're done! Although it took a little time to cut out the base paper, I was able to make my own wear checkers without much trouble!

Point

- It is a measuring device, so the standard is important. Print in postcard size to ensure that it is properly printed in full size.
- Choose a base paper that is neither too thick nor too thin. If it is too thick, it will be difficult to cut out, but if it is too thin, it will become too thin and you will not be able to measure accurately.

Time to measure


Now let's actually use the wear checker on the sprockets!

Brand New


First, apply it to a new sprocket. The sprocket checker has three measuring surfaces, one for each chain size. In this case, there is almost no gap because it is new.

Extremely worn sprockets


Next is this artfully worn sprocket that appeared at the beginning of the article.

I mean, I don't need to use a wear checker to know that this is a bad level, so it's not very helpful.

Sprockets that appear slightly worn


This time, the sprocket is so worn that although some wear is visually apparent, it is hard to tell if it is clearly time for a replacement.
The sprocket teeth are not in bad condition, but looking at them with a wear checker, it is clear that the valleys are worn.
Looking at the criteria on the sprocket wear checker, in this case, the degree of wear is about one step before it is time to replace the B's.

Sprocket that has been ridden about 500 km on the circuit (vehicle: S1000RR)


This is a sprocket that was used on the circuit.

Although the valleys are not as worn as they could be, the teeth are worn down considerably. When the motorcycle is used in a high-power situation, or even on a circuit, it will wear heavily even in such a short distance.

I suddenly felt uneasy and went to look at my bike's sprocket


I suddenly remembered that I had never checked the condition of the sprockets regarding my own motorcycle. I felt uneasy, so I checked it immediately. Contrary to appearances, they were not too worn. Relieved.

Checked the sprockets on the other off-road vehicle too!
I thought it might be slightly worn, but the wear was more advanced than I expected!
It can be said that it is just about time to replace it.

For the teeth of the sprocket, it is easy to visualize the degree of wear from the sharpness of the teeth, even without a checker. However, the valley part is difficult to judge unless you have a new sprocket on hand. With the checker introduced here, sprocket wear that would normally be difficult to determine visually can be easily identified at a glance!

If the sprockets are down, I suggest replacing the chain at the same time!

Measure it with a checker, and if the sprockets are worn down, replace the chain altogether!
As explained in the first half of the article, sprocket wear accelerates chain deterioration, and chain deterioration accelerates sprocket wear. So, rather than replacing one or the other, it is more economical to replace them at the same time for a longer service life!

SUNSTAR: Sunstar Chain & Sprocket 3-Piece Set


In such cases, the Sunstar 3-Piece Set is convenient and economical.
The set includes front and rear sprockets and a chain and is compatible with different car models, so you can completely refresh your drivetrain just by buying this set!
The wide lineup is also attractive, with compatibility for 500 different models, including different years.
You can find a detailed explanation of the product here. Please take a look!

XAM: XAM Tufflite Steel Rear Sprocket

Here are some of the X.A.M. sprockets that we recommend for this sprocket wear checker image provided by X.A.M.! First of all, in addition to the bold wall cutting, the distinctive style of the coloring is eye-catching! This hue is the result of a special plating process called anodic zinc plating.
While steel sprockets are durable, they tend to be heavy, and their appearance tends to be plain, but Tufflite Steel is different. The newly designed lightning holes reduce weight and styling, and the special plating and high-strength steel material also make them durable.

DID: DID ZVM-X2 Series Chain


If you're having trouble choosing a chain, we recommend this one! This is DID's flagship model, which underwent its first model change in 7 years in October 2022! This is the highest grade of sealed chain that achieves overwhelming rigidity and long life thanks to technical feedback from MotoGP.
The new model features a narrower chain width for even greater rigidity, and DID's patented X-ring technology has been developed to reduce friction loss.

Webike PIT in service recommended for sprocket and chain replacement


Webike ships items purchased on Webike to the store where they will be installed! The purchaser/client goes to the store on the reserved day and has it installed. This service is perfect for those who want to change a chain and sprocket but don't have the time or effort to do it themselves!
You can contact the store in advance through Webike Shop Navi and share photos of your motorcycle and its condition in advance. You can contact the shop through Webike Shop Navi and share photos and the condition of the motorcycle in advance, and they will give you a rough estimate of the labor cost. If the store agrees, you can purchase the product!

If you use Shop Navi to select a store, you will know not only whether or not you can bring your motorcycle in for tire replacement or custom parts installation, but also the atmosphere of the store. Simply select your favorite items from the product lineup and bring your motorcycle to the store empty-handed to have your consumables replaced or custom parts installed.

Sprockets and chains are important parts that transmit the driving force of a motorcycle.
If the drivetrain is worn out, no matter how much power the engine has or how grippy the tires are, the motorcycle will never reach its full potential. To bring out 100% of your bike's appeal, refresh the drivetrain and enjoy a healthy motorcycle life!

Copied title and URL