Z1 Enterprises Cam Chain

[dbeardslee]

So I've got another members '79SF out in the mancave, and today I went to install a new cam chain. The chain came from Z1 Enterprises and when I first laid eyes on it, I was a little miffed - it's a continuous chain. Not that big a deal, but it did require removing a link from the chain. I had rivet links for partsnmore chains, as well as for stock chains, but I wanted to make sure to use the correct link for the Z1 chain. Here's what I found out - the partsnmore chain had the smallest diameter pins holding the links together, followed by the stock chain, and the Z1 chains pins were .005" bigger than the stocker. So we have to get the appropriate rivet link for it, but I was actually kind of encouraged by this find. If chains stretch in the same way watch bracelets do, then the size of the pins should relate directly to how quickly the chain stretches. I know the partsnmore chain I installed in Betsy a little less than 10k miles ago has already stretched a lot. It'll never make 34k miles like the stocker did - I'll be lucky to get half that. I know when it's time to replace the partsnmore chain, I'm going to put a Z1 chain in it. Of the three types I've messed with, this one looks to be the most durable. It's definitely built the beefiest, and it only costs 74 cents more than the partsnmore - $32.74. Just remember to order a rivet link or two with it - another $1.31 ea.

[dbeardslee]

And one other little note on cam chain installs. I have a Provision 636 boroscope that I bought a couple years ago, and it is worth it's weight in gold. For some reason this SF is a real bugger when it comes to getting the chain on the bottom sprocket. It felt like it was on when I first slid it through, but I thought I would check it anyway. I slid the boroscope down inside the cam chain tunnel and could clearly see that the chain was off to one side of the sprocket. It still took a while to get it on correctly (and yes, the bike was on the center stand on a level floor), and without the boroscope to help things along I'd probably still be out there messing with it. IIRC I spent about $130 on mine, and it was money well spent. I use it for all kinds of stuff. Just passing it along.