Hi, there!

My chain has gone south and just yesterday I bought a new one. I went all out and bought a DID chain (it came with sprockets and was 30EUR off the regular price), but when I got  home I found out it is an endless chain.

How do I install an endless chain? How-to's, pictures, advice are all welcome.

Thanks,
D.

See the first couple posts in the Removing Chain from Bike thread, and the first couple in the I need help dismounting my CHAIN!! thread.

The "little rear cover on the left of the engine" that KevinC mentions is right above the rubber piece on the gearshift lever in the photo below.  Take it easy; it's plastic!

OK, a couple of questions:

1. Are there 'right' and 'wrong' way of sprockets orientation?
2. The same for the chain?

My new chain is DID 520VM... Is it possible, that it is NOT endless but just packaged so it looks like it is?

D.

PS: I've carefully looked at every single chain link and they all look the same - so I guess it is an endless chain...

Quote from: danci19731. Are there 'right' and 'wrong' way of sprockets orientation?

I don't know of any restriction on the orientation of the rear sprocket.

If you have a 94+ model, you should probably mount the front sprocket so the "shoulder" is on the same side as the original.  If the new sprocket has no shoulder and your original one did, you can use appropriately-sized washers as a spacer.  Or you can follow gsJack's lead and not worry about it.  Just make sure that your wheel & chain alignment is right on and you should be fine.

Quote from: danci19732. The same for the chain?

Either direction is fine for the chain.

The only restriction applies to clip-style master links.  As the bike rolls forward, the closed end of a clip-style master link should be the leading edge of the link.

Quote from: danci1973My new chain is DID 520VM... Is it possible, that it is NOT endless but just packaged so it looks like it is?

My replacement D.I.D. 520V chain came as a straight length with a master link.  If your D.I.D. chain came joined in a loop it's endless for sure.

QUESTION: Did your chain come with an extra clip-style master link?  Just curious if they provided for changing your mind.

Quote from: Kerry

Quote from: danci19731. Are there 'right' and 'wrong' way of sprockets orientation?

I don't know of any restriction on the orientation of the rear sprocket.

One side of the sprocket had a sign - I just installed this side out.

Quote
If you have a 94+ model, you should probably mount the front sprocket so the "shoulder" is on the same side as the original.  If the new sprocket has no shoulder and your original one did, you can use appropriately-sized washers as a spacer.  Or you can follow gsJack's lead and not worry about it.  Just make sure that your wheel & chain alignment is right on and you should be fine.

A shoulder? OK, I think I know what you mean.. Yeah, my bike is a 2000 and the previous sprocket had that sort of a shoulder. So does the new one - so there should be no problem.

Quote
Either direction is fine for the chain.

The only restriction applies to clip-style master links.  As the bike rolls forward, the closed end of a clip-style master link should be the leading edge of the link.

Quote from: danci1973My new chain is DID 520VM... Is it possible, that it is NOT endless but just packaged so it looks like it is?

My replacement D.I.D. 520V chain came as a straight length with a master link.  If your D.I.D. chain came joined in a loop it's endless for
sure.

I just thought that maybe they put the master link on the chain so the installer should first remove and then re-install it.

But after carefully inspecting the chain link-by-link I decided it is an endless chain...

Quote
QUESTION: Did your chain come with an extra clip-style master link?  Just curious if they provided for changing your mind.

[/quote]

No, it was just a (closed loop) chain and two sprockets. And the chain is gold-colored...

Oh, and it's already installed...

D.

Quote from: danci1973[...] the chain is gold-colored...

Oh, and it's already installed...