how to measure chains

mizke · 03-03-2011, 01:30 AM

i can get cheaper chains online then i can at the local shops. but i have to know what size chain to order..

so far all ive been able to measure is the chain and sprocket pitch which is 1/2in..

does any one know of a website or could post pictures of the exact points to measure and how to take said measurments and get the chain size..

thanks guys

TeamCheap · 03-03-2011, 06:09 AM

I'm guessing you have a 428 or possibly a 520 size chain, I did find these guides that might help you figure out the right size.

waynev · 03-03-2011, 09:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mizke

i can get cheaper chains online then i can at the local shops. but i have to know what size chain to order..

so far all ive been able to measure is the chain and sprocket pitch which is 1/2in..

does any one know of a website or could post pictures of the exact points to measure and how to take said measurments and get the chain size..

thanks guys

Since your quad is like our beasts then it should be 428 chain, and the 1/2" pitch you measures proves it's either 420 or 428, if your sprokets are around 1/4" thick then you need 428. As for length, they are usually sold in #'s of links, just count how many you have and make sure the chain you order is long enough, you will probably have to cut/break it to the proper length.

mizke · 03-03-2011, 11:42 AM

ya not worried about getting the right length, i planned on ordering the longest i could and then cutting it down

so after measuring the pitch and between the inner plates what do i do with those numbers ?

guessing i have a 428 then, the inner plates are 5/16 sweet, idk why i was getting so confused over measuring the chain but i think i have it figured out now.. so thats 1 of 3 things to figure out, next up is my head light wirring and then getting my swingarm welded

mizke · 03-03-2011, 01:20 PM

my sprockets are 9/32, is that close enough to 1/4 to work for a 428 ? i guess worset case if i order the wrong sized chain i could just find some sprockets to fit it..lol..

waynev · 03-03-2011, 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mizke

my sprockets are 9/32, is that close enough to 1/4 to work for a 428 ? i guess worset case if i order the wrong sized chain i could just find some sprockets to fit it..lol..

Yep, 1/4" is .250" and 9/32 is .2812" so it's definatly 428, if your sprockets were about .187"-.200" then i'd say 420 chain

mizke · 03-03-2011, 02:33 PM

sweet, thank you.. the page i was checking the information out on had me thinking i had a 520 chain.. stupid bad information..now im one small step closer to getting my quad back to running shape if i dont light it on fire out of frustration with my head light wiring..

TeamCheap · 03-03-2011, 05:45 PM

I used 520/O-ring on the Blastard because the blaster comes stock with 520 and I was so glad I could find countershaft sprockets to fit the china engine.

waynev · 03-03-2011, 09:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mizke

sweet, thank you.. the page i was checking the information out on had me thinking i had a 520 chain.. stupid bad information..now im one small step closer to getting my quad back to running shape if i dont light it on fire out of frustration with my head light wiring..

Well you said 1/2" pitch, so it can't be 520, the first number in the chain size number is the pitch measured in 8ths, so 1/2" pitch=4/8ths, so it could be #40, 420 or 428, now #40 and 428 are basically the same pitch and width but i find the 428 to have heavier links and a higher tensile strength.

mizke · 03-03-2011, 10:17 PM

well im ordering a did 428 chain, just need to figure out the length.. is a single link 2 rollers ?

waynev · 03-03-2011, 11:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mizke

well im ordering a did 428 chain, just need to figure out the length.. is a single link 2 rollers ?

A link is a link, you need to count the outer and inner links, i believe the last DID 428 chain i bought for my beast came as a 130 link chain.

mizke · 03-04-2011, 12:01 AM

well i counted 52 or 53 pairs of rollers, thought those where "links" so i just paid for a did 428 standard non oring 110 link chain.. so either way its long enough, i thought it might be long enough to make 2 full chains so i can have one in storage for when i need to replace it again

waynev · 03-04-2011, 07:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mizke

well i counted 52 or 53 pairs of rollers, thought those where "links" so i just paid for a did 428 standard non oring 110 link chain.. so either way its long enough, i thought it might be long enough to make 2 full chains so i can have one in storage for when i need to replace it again

Well since a pair is "2", then based on your roller count you should be about 104-106 links.

johnwayne · 05-09-2011, 06:16 PM

thought i should add that the 2010 limited edition beast has a 530 chain

03-03-2011, 01:30 AM	#1
mizke Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: austin, tx Posts: 1,452	how to measure chains i can get cheaper chains online then i can at the local shops. but i have to know what size chain to order.. so far all ive been able to measure is the chain and sprocket pitch which is 1/2in.. does any one know of a website or could post pictures of the exact points to measure and how to take said measurments and get the chain size.. thanks guys __________________ 200cc beast replica,carsoli cdi,performance coil,fmf powercore 2,uni air filter,hour/tach meter,jetted mikuni carb,msr bars,moose racing grips,yz250f clutch perch,D.I.D chain
	0

03-03-2011, 01:20 PM	#5
mizke Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: austin, tx Posts: 1,452	my sprockets are 9/32, is that close enough to 1/4 to work for a 428 ? i guess worset case if i order the wrong sized chain i could just find some sprockets to fit it..lol.. __________________ 200cc beast replica,carsoli cdi,performance coil,fmf powercore 2,uni air filter,hour/tach meter,jetted mikuni carb,msr bars,moose racing grips,yz250f clutch perch,D.I.D chain
	0

03-03-2011, 02:33 PM	#7
mizke Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: austin, tx Posts: 1,452	sweet, thank you.. the page i was checking the information out on had me thinking i had a 520 chain.. stupid bad information..now im one small step closer to getting my quad back to running shape if i dont light it on fire out of frustration with my head light wiring.. __________________ 200cc beast replica,carsoli cdi,performance coil,fmf powercore 2,uni air filter,hour/tach meter,jetted mikuni carb,msr bars,moose racing grips,yz250f clutch perch,D.I.D chain
	0

03-03-2011, 10:17 PM	#10
mizke Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: austin, tx Posts: 1,452	well im ordering a did 428 chain, just need to figure out the length.. is a single link 2 rollers ? __________________ 200cc beast replica,carsoli cdi,performance coil,fmf powercore 2,uni air filter,hour/tach meter,jetted mikuni carb,msr bars,moose racing grips,yz250f clutch perch,D.I.D chain
	0

03-04-2011, 12:01 AM	#12
mizke Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: austin, tx Posts: 1,452	well i counted 52 or 53 pairs of rollers, thought those where "links" so i just paid for a did 428 standard non oring 110 link chain.. so either way its long enough, i thought it might be long enough to make 2 full chains so i can have one in storage for when i need to replace it again __________________ 200cc beast replica,carsoli cdi,performance coil,fmf powercore 2,uni air filter,hour/tach meter,jetted mikuni carb,msr bars,moose racing grips,yz250f clutch perch,D.I.D chain
	0

03-03-2011, 06:09 AM	#2
TeamCheap Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: directly under the earths sun............NOW Posts: 2,302	I'm guessing you have a 428 or possibly a 520 size chain, I did find these guides that might help you figure out the right size.
	0

03-03-2011, 11:42 AM	#4
mizke Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: austin, tx Posts: 1,452	ya not worried about getting the right length, i planned on ordering the longest i could and then cutting it down so after measuring the pitch and between the inner plates what do i do with those numbers ? guessing i have a 428 then, the inner plates are 5/16 sweet, idk why i was getting so confused over measuring the chain but i think i have it figured out now.. so thats 1 of 3 things to figure out, next up is my head light wirring and then getting my swingarm welded __________________ 200cc beast replica,carsoli cdi,performance coil,fmf powercore 2,uni air filter,hour/tach meter,jetted mikuni carb,msr bars,moose racing grips,yz250f clutch perch,D.I.D chain
	0

03-03-2011, 05:45 PM	#8
TeamCheap Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: directly under the earths sun............NOW Posts: 2,302	I used 520/O-ring on the Blastard because the blaster comes stock with 520 and I was so glad I could find countershaft sprockets to fit the china engine.
	0

05-09-2011, 06:16 PM	#14
johnwayne Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 34	thought i should add that the 2010 limited edition beast has a 530 chain
	0