Soft Link or Riveted Chain?
 

Shazaam

When I bought my first 998S, it came as standard with what I would call a soft link (a link with two pins with indentations on the end that you would use a riveting tool on.

Is this different to what you would call a riveted chain, and if so, why should I need to fit something different to what Ducati fitted as standard?

....or do I just have the wrong end of the stick again!?!?!?!?!?

A std 998 chain has a Riveted
you can get a temp type chain link that has a C clip that hold's the link side plates together !
In Shazzams post the pic says Failed Clip link !!! ,
I have a C clip link in my tool kit incase i need to do a ( TEMP) roadside repair !

Found this site showing the fitting of a RIVETED LINK !!!

http://www.mad-ducati.com/Technical/...inToolUse.html



[Edited on 8-9-2003 by Totto]

Sorry, I misunderstood your term "soft link". I thought you were describing a clip-type master link. Clip-types are to be avoided because they are rated by the manufacturers at only 70% of the strength of the other chain links, and consequently are the most likely cause of chain failures.



So, if I understand you correctly, a soft link is the chain master link that is assembled and riveted by hand as opposed to the machine peened-over links created at the factory on continuous lengths of chain.

Soft master links will have the same strength as the other machine-made links if peened over properly. As Felix points out they're not reusable.

Since you're only adding two links then you need a new chain including a new soft link. If you were adding four links, I suppose you could splice-in two links with two soft links. Perfectly peened, of course.

As far as gearing I went with 15/41 on my 2000 996 and it just keeps pulling. Its amazing how different how different the bike reacts to throttle input now. Amazing

Has all the Scottish rain shrunk my swingarm?
 

OK guys - something funny going on here

In Shazaam's post, it suggests that the chain lengths specified will leave the eccentric in the 4-5 o'clock position.

Fitted a 96 link 525 chain last night, but the biggest rear sprocket I can accommodate with a 14T front is 39T - any more (40T) and the chain is beyond the 7 o'clock position, which, as I understand it, is definitely not where you want it to be.

So, is Shazaam's wording ambiguous, or is my swingarm horizontally-challenged? :(