While I was cleaning my chain Friday, I couldn't find the masterlink because, for the first time in the 63,000+ miles of riding chain-drive bikes, the master link clip was gone! 

So I safety-wired it.  I feel safer than I would if I had put another clip in place.  The chain didn't seperate because the outside plate is a press fit, but...y'know, there's a reason a clip would be there.

Happened to me once too.  Instead of safety wire, I cleaned off the link and spread clear adhesive silicone on it.  No probs since.

I've seen that done with the orange RTV.  I would have done that too, if I had the clip.  A new clip would cost me $5 (comes with a whole masterlink).

What brand/type of chain?

I am saying nothing!

Sledge is thinking get a rivet type master link and fix it right.   

Yea those of you that get shops to fit your chains (those using master link clip types) make sure to check what direction the clip is facing when you pick up your bike.  For such a simple job apprentices will often fit it and quite often I have found my master link clip facing the WRONG direction EG prongs facing forward instead of backwards.

Quote from: gsJack on July 08, 2009, 08:35:06 PM
Sledge is thinking get a rivet type master link and fix it right.   

No, Sledge would say: grab a beer, take off the swingarm, and use a continuous chain! 

Quote from: scratch on July 08, 2009, 03:56:44 PM
While I was cleaning my chain Friday, I couldn't find the masterlink because, for the first time in the 63,000+ miles of riding chain-drive bikes, the master link clip was gone! 

So I safety-wired it.  I feel safer than I would if I had put another clip in place.  The chain didn't seperate because the outside plate is a press fit, but...y'know, there's a reason a clip would be there.

I take back all the nice things I've said about clip style masters after discovering this today:



But, I did just change front sprockets, and likely did something dumb.

I've tried similar things out in the bush with dirt bikes, the results have never been good. Replace that clip/master link asap

Michael

Still have a perfect record here on installing clip type master links so they are still a go with me.      Let's see, 6(CB400)+80(CB750K)+96(CM400)+170(GS500)=352,000 miles on chain driven bikes minus approx 42k miles put on the two GS500s oem continuous chains = 310,000 miles on clip type master links without a lost clip. 



Knocking on wood as I type!    

I only ever had one clipped master link and it flung itself off and hit my boot one day while I was going 100km/h steady speed on a straight piece of highway at night in the dark. 

Quote from: gsJack on May 16, 2012, 06:47:24 AM
Still have a perfect record here on installing clip type master links so they are still a go with me.      Let's see, 6(CB400)+80(CB750K)+96(CM400)+170(GS500)=352,000 miles on chain driven bikes minus approx 42k miles put on the two GS500s oem continuous chains = 310,000 miles on clip type master links without a lost clip. 



Knocking on wood as I type!   

ya, the humor of my post was lost, or i executed it poorly



had I not just finished swapping out a 14t front sprocket for a 15t, I would blame weird gremlins and such. as it is, i'll blame -me- an only me for changing a part and not specifically inspecting all the relevant parts around it afterwards.

gs 31,000 miles (clip style)
fz 6,000 miles (clip style)
drz 6,000 miles (clip style) oops, but likely my fault

so only a grand total of around 56,000 miles with no issues using clip style master links. i'm still a newbie, but each and every mile on the drz should count as 20x for regular street riding. or more. sometimes.