I need to buy a new chain and I was reading about the rubbing on the case. Which chain would be the best???

Get a narrow enduro chain or get the 1mm spacer the 4-stroke guys were using and run what you want.  I use the DID 520VT2 on my 500AF.

+1
DID 520VT2 - It's a X-ring chain. I just put one on with Ironman sprockets. Fits great
http://www.rockymoun...ng-X-Ring-Chain

Edited by AXAxiom, 17 July 2012 - 06:22 PM.

I just ordered the DID ert2 chain and got the 1mm spacer to be safe

i run the DID ert2 non oring chain an dont have any promblems.
good chain an not realy expensive about 60 bucks on ebay.
Kawie

kawie, on 17 July 2012 - 07:43 PM, said:

How is the stretch on those?  With the X-ring you ride it once, adjust it, and that's pretty much it.  Just curious.

There should never really be any "stretch" to a chain. They break in a bit but unless you are running a turbo charged iline four hill climb bike I dont think any chain is going to stretch. The X-ring isnt a sronger chain but it is longer lasting. The "x" reffers to the shape of the cross section of the rubber sealing ring. It works better at keeping the dirt and grime out of the chain so it doesnt wear out as fast. Keep in mind that any chain you go with will require frequent cleaning and lubing to make it last.

CRFrider30, on 17 July 2012 - 06:42 PM, said:

You don't need the spacer with the ert2 chain or the vt2 xring chain.  You only need the spacer if you are going to try to use a standard oring chain.

kneedrag05, on 18 July 2012 - 05:29 AM, said:

Really?  Hmmm, I wonder why my ert2 chain streched completely out of service within 10 hours of riding then (05 450r).  My VT2 chain has been running without and adjustment for about 16 hours now (after the 1st one that is).

frdbtr, on 18 July 2012 - 05:51 AM, said:

I guess I'm just being a little anal terminology wise. I have no doubt that a chain could "wear" very quickly if it is an unsealed or poorly sealed chain. For some reason the term "stretch" just bothers me, haha.

This is a little info from dirttricks.com

How do you determine when your chain is beyond the manufacturer's wear limit? First of all let's correct the myth that chains stretch. Chains don't stretch. The outside  measurement of an individual link plate does not get longer with wear. Your bike is not "so powerful" that is stretches chain. Chains are constructed of essentially link plates, pins, bushings and rollers. In order for a chain to roll around a sprocket the pins must have clearance through the bushing holes, allowing them to pivot. That clearance begins at about .0005", or 1/6 of a human hair. The pins and bushings are subjected to continual pivoting, and as they pass a sprocket, steel against steel wear occurs. This causes the pins and their mating holes to wear in an eccentric manner as the diagram below shows. In abrasive dirt conditions and especially mud, grains of sand are introduced between these mating surfaces and wear is accelerated many times over. A sealed chain (O-ring, X-ring, Z-ring ...) acts to prevent abrasives from entering this pivoting joint.

Edited by kneedrag05, 18 July 2012 - 06:35 AM.

kneedrag05, on 18 July 2012 - 05:29 AM, said:

We've always called it "stretch" since the net effect is that the chain is now longer and requires adjustment.  I wasn't suggesting the metal itself was stretching.  Splitting hairs a "little" there bro.

I've had decent results with the Rocky Mtn Primary drive X-Ring chain considering the price. I called them and asked who manufactures the chains for them and the only thing they would say about it is that they are manufactured in Czechoslovakia.  About $60 for a 520x120 X-ring.
http://www.rockymoun...RH-X-Ring-Chain

i dont recomend the primary drive chain. i bought one of the non orings to examine it and see what it made of. looks pretty cheesy and thinner plates compared to DID japan non oring chains. would have to double check but it seems like the link pins are smaller diameter also. used it on a cr250 for a few hours but made me nervous so i took it off. been collecting dust ever since. 520nz DID is a good non oring. holds 500cc power no problem

Edited by harryhandshake, 18 July 2012 - 08:34 PM.

Chains don't "stretch", but just a little bit of wear in each pin junction x 116 junctions = all the slack you get with the wear.  So, the more "stretch" you're getting really means the more that your chain is wearing.

All I can say is I will never own another ert2 or other brand of non oring/xring chain again.  I paid about $60 for the ert2 chain I had, I lasted....maybe.....10 hours.  I kept it clean and lubed at all times.  I went riding with a cousin who thought it was a brand new chain probably 2 rides before I took it off and threw it away.  In contrast, I put a DID vt2 narrow xring chain on both my Cr144 and my crf450r and both have only had 1 adjustment since new with no wear.  I paid $90 each for the vt2's.  My 450 has well over 16 hours on the chain and the 144 has about 30 on its.  You do the math.

Incidentally the ERT2 chain had to be adjusted after every ride until there really wasn't any more room for adjustment on it.

Edited by frdbtr, 19 July 2012 - 07:39 AM.

HrcRacing27, on 18 July 2012 - 11:18 AM, said:

Splitting hairs or not, it makes total sense and is helpful info.  That is why a sealed chain lasts so much longer since the dust and grime can't get in there to destroy the chains.  I was looking for a good durable chain for the CR80 since it seems to wear chains out like crazy and EK makes an oring chain in the 420 size.  I am going to have to let my neighbor know about it (he is the one who bought mine from me) so he doesn't waste anymore money on non sealed chains.

Edited by frdbtr, 19 July 2012 - 07:44 AM.

frdbtr, on 19 July 2012 - 07:43 AM, said:

VERDICT:    non-sealed chains = poopy

frdbtr, on 19 July 2012 - 07:43 AM, said:

Yep, that's why I posted that I run the DID 520VT2 and have always ran sealed chains.

The VT2 is a decent chain, for sure.  Next time you guys get ready to buy a sealed chain, you should try DID's new VX2 x-ring chain.  Modeled after the "beefier" 520VM chain they used to sell, they kept the beef (larger pin rollers than the VT2 chain fit the sprockets better and tighter) but narrowed the chain to about the same width as the VT2.  I hear they'll be phasing out the VT2 within the next year or two.  I was one of the first to get the new VX2 and I am running it with Ironman sprockets.  So far so good, but only at 10hrs of MX on that bike.