Thats was close...
 

...after hearing stories of other having the same problem at one time or another over the years...it finally happened to me...the chain let go!!!:o:o:o:(:(:flame::flame::flame:

Luckly I was only doing about 40-50 on a local road, but was only in my armoured paddock jacket having just been to the gym and on my way to the Foxes Diner meet.

Fortunately, the chain just ejected itself clean out the back of the bike. Initially I thought the bike had jumped out of gear, as the engine revs suddenly jumped up and the bike lost drive. Carefully I tried to knick it up back into gear...but nothing...now I start getting images of the gearbox slowly eating itself from the inside, so I keep the clutch pulled in a coast to a stop. I try to bang the gear lever back through to 1st...and no problem, try to pull away...and still no drive!!!

Quick glance down to the left rear of the bike...that don't look right:lol::o

Look back up the road and see my chain lying in the middle of the road!

Very very lucky I guess having seen many reports of serious damage to the crackcases, swingarms etc due to a flayling chain. As for why it failed? I'm going to go back tomorrow to try and find it and look for answers! It was tensioned correctly, is regularly cleaned (WD40 + light oil on the o'rings) and inspected for any obvious signs of damage??? It was looking a little on the tired side, with some surface discolouration, but was by no means in need of replacement as far as I could tell.

One nice thing, was during the first 10 mnutes of me pushing my bike to the nearest phone box, 6 (six) people stopped and asked if I needed help. Ahhhhh, the draw of a nice shiney Ducati!!

The last guy actually lived backing onto the road, and he was out cleaning one of his many bikes when he heard me coming by and said that he was enjoying the sound of the termis approaching from afar when it sounded like either my chain had come off or I had! He decided to jump in his car and drive around to make sure all was OK. I pushed the bike to his house, he gave me a lift home (about 10 miles away), and I returned with my trailer to collect the stranded beast.

I guess its an excuse to fit a nice new bling bling chain...now where's that credit card!

www.bandcexpress.co.uk

you'll need that, get a Tsubaki Sigma R and a set of sprockets.

glad you are ok

So that explains your no show at the cafe.
Lucky escape there Harv, thankfully you and the bike still intact, hope you get it sorted soon, were you planing on riding it to Popham for the Megameet.

Well...I've got a wedding to attend over Sat/Sunday morning, so it depends on when I get back and how I'm feeling:barfy:

But I do aim to ride down..but it will be later in the day if anything. I'll be ordering a new chain tomorrow...which reminds me...can I borrow your chain riveting tool (again) please!!!;)

Crikey harv...close shave mate..glad you and the bike are OK..

Nat

Lucky sod.

:o:o:o:o


MIne went through crankcase :(:(:(

What make of chain was It.

u2u me with makers name if you don't want to put it on the board.

Age

Harv i'm at work during the day tomorrow and Wednesday then in the evening on Thursday and Friday, earlier at Fox's we were talking about meeting up at the Riverside cafe at Benson Wednesday evening. I could take the chain tool there or maybe arrange for you to pick it up Thursday or Friday daytime.

Kev

Bad/good luck Harvey,

There is a little Ducati widget that fits under the drive sprocket cover to protect the crank cases in the event of chain failure - a little bit of peace of mind for next time. Costs about £25.

I've had 1 on order for about 6 weeks - summer time in Italy.

I'll look up the part number and post it.

After your experience I can see a run on these parts happening.

Spinoli

Yeah...I've seen those before...look like I may be after one too now!

Kev, I can cycle over to Benson on Wednesday if thats a goer?

Harv, you lucky, lucky man....


BTW, the chainguard crankcase protector widget thing will stay on permanent back order as it's a discontinued item :(
I've tried 3 different dealers with the same result.

If anyone has one we could copy it. otherwise It's one of my winter "todo" tasks to make one.

[Edited on 16-8-2005 by Mr_S]

How old was the chain? Was it the original, as i see you saying "Borrow the chain tool again."

Can you see which link broke Harv? Was it the connector link or one of the factory links?

Should be I will confirm later
But check your pushbike chain before you leave :o

Andy last time Harv borrowed the chain tool I think it was either for his DR350 or the 748 he had before the SP.

It wasn't the original I don't think as it was gold. I think it was either EK or Regina...not sure...but not DID if thats wht everyone is thinking!

Perhaps I should clarify, the reference to borrowing the riveting tool again was regarding the last time I borrowed it to put a chain on my old 748...not this bike.

I will be going bak to the road to try and find the chain this afternoon. By the time I drove back yesterday it was gone, although several people did stop and tell me it was lying in the road only minutes before, so I assume it was flicked into the verge by a car not long after it came off.

Ok, the accused is dismissed....................:lol:

:lol:...cheeky git!

If your not going to Benson then its no problem for me to pop over to yours sometime suitable.

[Edited on 16-8-2005 by Harv748]

Was it a 520 or a 525 ????

standard 525 I think...hope so as I have just ordered another!

I hope you ordered sprockets too :)

Happened to me once on my old firebloater, accelerating hard past 90 the cain wrapped around the swing arm scratching evrything in the proccess then punched a hole in my crank case luckily not jamming the front sprocket. Brand new DID fitted by a dealer, they didn't accept liability but carried out full repairs. Not a nice feeling:barfy:

Glad you're OK Harv:)

[Edited on 16-8-2005 by dave996]

So how many miles and level of abuse did this particular chain take before it broke? Just interested to know - for reference.

Hard to say really...the chain visually looked fine, as I say a little discolouration on the side plates, but it was treated to regular cleaning, tensioning and oiling...?

I'm by no means a fast rider, although the previous owner was from what I have heard quite quick, but I have had it now for about 10 months and have done a few TD's on it with no issues.

Absolutely no reason for it to fail in my eyes?

So which bit failed, was it the link?

A luck escape mate, glad you're OK :D

A piccie of the no-longer-available crank case protector.

If anyone is clever enough to re-produce it, I will be happy to buy one.

Spinoli

mmmmhhhh...I feel a plan brewing:cool:

Watch this space:D

I'm going to have to open an account with you Harv.

Spinoli

I've some ally plate I'm going to use to create a rigid template (after the cornflakes packets are done with)

Then some steel plate afterwards..

Harv,

A couple of quick questions:

Are you running a 14 tooth front sprocket? - I've heard that these are harder on the chain.

Did you recover the chain and work out where/why it failed?

Little story - I met up with some guys in France for a track day, they'd gone down 2 up on a Fireplace. The chain had snapped, atomised the chain guard and cut a big slice out of the side of whole seat unit. The pillion was unhurt, but he sure was a funny colour.

Spinoli

Yes...I run a 14 on the front, but I think this is standard for my SP...and I don't belive running a 14 has any real world drawbacks for a Duke. A 13...yes definately, but a 14 is fine and recommended the world over by all.

I went back to find the chain in question he day after, but no luck despite a thorough search. Either it was picked up by someone (it is a popular route for cyclists and motorbikes so this is possible) or it had been flung into the verge by a car/lorry, so I guess I will never know the reason for the failure.

You may be interested to know, I have just received a quote back from the company that did the RHT's for me (laser cut from ally plate) and it looks like they can knock some steel guards up as in your post at a good price (laser cut from steel)...

I'm away for the weekend, but on Monday/Tuesday I will be sending them up a detailed drawing for them to use and manufacture.

I say again...watch this space.:D Form an orderly que please ladies and gents!

[Edited on 19-8-2005 by Harv748]

JHP say the guard still exisits, they just dont have any in stock.
I think they are £16.99

:frog:

Had a chain bust on me many years ago. Bunched itself up in front of the front sprocket and punched a hole into the gearbox.

Fortunately it was brand new (just a week old). Initially D.I.D. inidcated that I may have fitted it incorrectly. Once I explained my engineering background (they didn't ask for proof) they agreed that it was probably ok and quickly provided not only a new chain, but also paid up for new crankcases, roadside recovery etc etc. Good on D.I.D.

Mentioned to a Mille owning mate of mine that I used WD40 to clean my chain and he said there was a thread on the RSVR net that reckons this is a bad choice of cleaner as it removes all the good grease etc from the X/O rings due to its penetrative properties, anybody with more engineering savvy than me have any thoughts?

That's right, WD40 can affect some O rings, as it's made up of petrol distillates, amongst other stuff, and can cause them to swell. We recently had problems with some components at work, and I spoke to the technical guys at WD's head office and our O ring supplier, the consensus was to either change the O ring material to Viton (the green coloured ones used in carbs. etc.) or use a silicone based lubricant instead.

Surely it takes a lot to snap a chain??

I've never had one go (yet!!!) and I'm generally quite slack when it comes to looking after the chain. It tends to be when it gets shiney that I think "hmm better put some lube on that".

Never ever cleaned one though, just slap more lube on.