Phooey

Hi Stu, went with the EK.

Had a mate pop round. Apparantly it is fine and no more than a few stiff links. Will give it a run and see what happens.

Checked that MrFro ... Looks OK to me

Thanks eastanglianbiker, but this tight spot is excessive. I changed the chain because of an excessive tight spot but this is worse than the old chain.

No debris or bits that shouldn't be there. I checked the sprocket and link alignment ... on front and back ... and all appears ok. Just to make sure I also checked the rear sprocket with a make shift tool to check alignment and all appear to be ok to. I know that something must be out of alignment for the tight spot but can't see it.

Ok, so I have decided that I must be too thick to do bike maintenace! As some of you may know, I had to buy a leverage bar to get the front sprocket loose. So this morning, having the morning off work and the sun shinning I decided to get the job done. With front sprocket cracked I split the chain. No problems and starting to feel good. I removed the rear wheel, axle came out easily and rear sprocket off once I found a way of holding it to loosen the nuts. Next time I'll be cracking them before taking the wheel off! So front and rear sprocket changed, old chain off ... next thing to do is replace the rear wheel. Bit fiddly but managed to get the axle back in and castleated nut and washer back on. Loosened the chain adjuster to give loads of slack for the new chain and got the new chain on and joined with the greased O rings and plate. Joining was harder than I thought ... not as strong in the hands and arms as I used to be Anyway, all went well ... just left with adjusting the chain. Now here is my problem. After adjusting the chain I seem to have a tight spot and a very slack part. Worse than the old chain and sprocket set If I adjust as I do for normal adjustments I get part superslack like racing slack and a tight spot that barely moves! I started the bike and put it in 1st to see if the rear wheel looks like it is running true just incase I have totallymissread the adjusting marks and the clanking noise is horrendous! Chain obviously too loose but I can't take up the slack without making the tight spot even tighter and risk breaking the chain. The tight spot is close to the joining link! What have I done wrong?

http://www.thebikerguide.co.uk/bikerjokes.html

Hi Fozzie, yeah it was the front sprocket. I took it really easy with rear wheel locked with a batton (2" x 1") and the rear brake on so not so much force pushed onto the battons and rim. It came off but it took more force than I would have liked. Apparantly ZZR's are known for it! My first experience so I can't say for sure. Next time I need to remove front sprocket I will find out.

Ooo, now that is a good suggestion.

I got mine from my local friendly bike shop Address: 77-81 West Street, Bristol BS2 0BX Phone:0117 940 5555 Hours: Open Mon - Sat · 10:00 am – 6:00 am For the purpose of advertising this I can confirm that I am in no way affiliated with this business Please don't ban me Stu

Ok, so I ordered and received my 'gert big stick' http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/251254969909?_trksid=p2060778.m2749.l2648&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT I had these two bits arrive with it. What are they and what do I use them for?

ACU license? Totally ignorant. What is this?

As the title says, do you think EK chains are any good.

Oh yes ... that would piss me off removing chain then realising that I can't get the frontsprocket off.

Stu. yeah I do ... feels a bit like taking a shotgun to a budgie!

Indeed ... not sure about buying a grinder though just for the occasional chain and sprocket change.

Is this any good guys or am I wasting my money? One of the cheapest that I have seen and I thought since a chain replacement isn't every other week it might do the job. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Motorcycle-Ch ... 43d7b09641

I do agree Olie but, when it is your own kids we think differently. I'm not sure that I wouldn't beat the crap out of anyone taking pics of my kids! Don't think that I would go as far as killing them though ... prisoners would do that for me. I'd happily do time to protect my kids.

Thanks everyone. I appreciate your thoughts. I think I could get a lot from your article, Phil. Thanks. Will read properly when I have a minute or ten to sit down. Now, where are those cream cakes the missus bought me? Only joking! lol

I am trying to reduce the fat, especially around my middle portions. When is the best time to do the excercises? 1 ... Morning so that I give my body chance to burn more off as I move around all day? 2 ... Evening so I give my body time to recover and repair during sleep? 3 ... Any better time? I am not body building I just want to lose some fat. I am probably around the 30% + body fat figure. My metabolism is pathetically slow, (wish I could afford to get it actually measured) I dieted with my boss once and after a month of eating salad and drinking water in a very active job I gained two pound while he cut out a couple of pints and only ate one meat pie for lunch instead of his usual two and lost half a stone. I have managed to stablise my weight over years of trial and error. I walk around all day in a gentle way (teach at FE college), yoga once a week and karate twice a week. I try to minimise fat and sugar intake and average about 1200 - 1500 kcal per day. I can just about maintain 180 lb on that. Oh I am only a short arse at 5' 8" Someone once told me that I wasn't eat enough calories to lose weight so I increased to 1800kcal and gained three pound in one week. Back to 1200 - 1500. I'll be the first to admit that I know nothing about dieting and food science but it would appear neither do the professional. I get different answer, and contradictory answers, from differenet sources. Your thoughts please?

Those were the days But that's another story!

Thanks guys. Yes everything you have said is correct but the way it is situated I can't fill it without taking it out of the holder and then I have to remove the feed pipe so I no longer have a vacuum. Looks like it is dealing with the air bubble by itself. Will keep an eye on it and see what happens.

Cool. Thanks Stu.

Ermmmm! I just sat next to my bike with the engine running thinking about the problem and noticed that oil was dripping onto my chain. Maybe the air in the tube doesn't make any difference?

Not sure that I am describing the situation very well here. Here are some pics that will hopefully make it clearer, although the quality of the pics are not good. The filler bottle is a squeezy type, Mr Fro, with the plastic tube on it. The problem is that I have the remove the resevoir which necessitates the removal of the feed pipe. Removing the feedpipe is letting air into the system. This is what I want to avoid.