Wolfshoes
Member
Three year old original equipment 410 Grubee chain lost a master link on a recent ride taking out a 11 guage stainless steel spoke and damaging others on the way out on my Landrider auto shift. Not only is replacing a spoke a time consuming pain in the a__; if the rear wheel is damaged, the whole bike may be totaled in replacement cost. While replacing the spoke; I changed the mounting for the rear sprocket to prevent future risk. Smooth (sand) modified bitumen (torchdown) roofing roll material from Menards used as adapting spacer between the hub and the rear sprocket was enlarged to 8.25 in dia acting as a guard for the 36 tooth 6 in dia sprocket.
Besides protecting the spokes, the material also dampens the side sway of the chain. To further reduce the chain side sway, guard material is also installed on the stock tensioner arm. Reducing the side sway would reduce the chance of throwing a chain and may extend the life of the chain and sprockets.
KMC Z410 chain is being used. The guard weights about 8 oz. after being reinforced to help maintain its shape during the hot 84 degree weather.
Pictured is the spoke side of the guard. Shims of the same material not pictured have been added to reinforce the dampener angle using the spokes for support. The disk on the right is the removed adapter shim showing how the spokes will nestle all the way through the material and allow the sprocket to align more directly with the side of the hub.
A similar perhaps better material would be Certainteed Flintlastic talc smooth summer grade which is believed to be a plastic having a higher melting point. Areas not needing a snow shovel may have to use another material as chain rivets may cut into the material at around 120 degrees F.
Besides protecting the spokes, the material also dampens the side sway of the chain. To further reduce the chain side sway, guard material is also installed on the stock tensioner arm. Reducing the side sway would reduce the chance of throwing a chain and may extend the life of the chain and sprockets.
KMC Z410 chain is being used. The guard weights about 8 oz. after being reinforced to help maintain its shape during the hot 84 degree weather.
Pictured is the spoke side of the guard. Shims of the same material not pictured have been added to reinforce the dampener angle using the spokes for support. The disk on the right is the removed adapter shim showing how the spokes will nestle all the way through the material and allow the sprocket to align more directly with the side of the hub.
A similar perhaps better material would be Certainteed Flintlastic talc smooth summer grade which is believed to be a plastic having a higher melting point. Areas not needing a snow shovel may have to use another material as chain rivets may cut into the material at around 120 degrees F.
