Final Drive chain

I'm hoping somone can clarify something for me. I recently got my '72 Norton Commando 750cc motorcycle up and running after purchasing it last Fall. After Changing out the old fuel and cleaning out the carbs and lowering the idle (with the help from past post's on this site) I finally went for a ride last week. Wow ! What a Sound ! the exhaust note is like music to my ears.

My biggest challenge is Getting used to the reverse shift and the "Upside Down" shift pattern.

I have an old Service Manual but I don't have an Owners Manual. I cannot find the chain size for the Final Drive . After a "Search" on the Forum I am unclear if I need a 520 or a 530 pitch chain. The sprockets are still in Good shape and I am think they are the stock sizes. I was concerned when I read about side clearances so I dont want to get the wrong chain and cause any problems.

Thank You - Dave W.

530 chain. 520 was a mod some do, requires machining. Use a standard non o-ring 530 chain for proper fit.

Conventional 530 chain fits, newer O or X ring 530 chain is too wide and will very likely have clearance problems...that is why some convert to 520, so O/X ring chain can be used

530 X-ring sealed chain mostly fits but on some grinds a bit of relief off the gear box or primary case pretty quick for silient low maintenance runing no problemo to the slightly scored cases. Need 99 links if 19T sprocket 100+ if biger sprocket. If ya oil the snot out of plain chain it lasts a lot longer but if ya ain't spraying oil off chain to make a big mess then you are shortening chain life by creating a grinding paste, so next best plain chain life is run bone dry. Do not buy 0-ring = Obsolete sealed chain unless you like to give up a few hp on its stiffness.

Standard 530 with plenty of grease wiped into it for me. As for the "Challenge" I have seen in a group ride my buddy shift the wrong way on 3rd. to 4th. and shatter the gearbox all over the highway. It was a Quaife too. Exciting , expensive and dangerous . Best to not complicate memory patterns by driving other motorized 2 wheeled stuff.

I'm going thru this feet switching the other way.. from Brit bikes to modern. I took the local MSF course to practice on a brand new Suzuki TL-250 so I wouldn't hurt the Harley. I found the best rule is when in doubt, mash down on everything - hands and feet.

The standard duty 530 chains work fine. I bought a bunch of RK chains with 98 links which is correct for a '72 with 19T drive sprocket. They work well. Early on I found that a Heavy Duty chain like the Diamond HD-530 was too wide and rubbed.

Thank you to All who responded to my question. I thought the 530 was correct but wanted to be sure . I am not a fan of the "O" ring chains so I will just get a conventional 530 chain.

I'm sure I will end up asking many more questions in the future. I got this '72 Norton Commando 750 last Fall. The previous owner assured me that the bike was gone through and ready to ride.

Upon closer inspection ,and after a couple short rides, I realized there are many small things that need some attention. The bike is 95% all stock and is very sound.

Is there an On-Line website or a store that you use to purchase Norton parts ? I will be needing a few cables and back drum brake pads for this bike .

Thank's again for all your Help - Dave W.

As a Commando owner you have taken on a life long study that never ever ends, but you are so far behind the curve ball right now, its best you open the Tech subject on posting photo's and go down the references to collect and vendors to call. This is not an ordinary simple motorcycle like a SR1000, its more life a living thing with genetic quirks, alien implants to source and a number of things to learn that will damage bike or you seriously in not aware of ahead of time.
NumberUNO is over tight yet seeming too loose cold triplex chain tension.
Do not limit yourself to your on home country when shopping for a Commando.
Do check brake fluid at shuts down and start ups for a good while to make sure it ain't blown off unknown. Brush you teeth before rides as you will be grinning for the forced on public attention everywhere.

dngrsdave said:

Thank you to All who responded to my question. I thought the 530 was correct but wanted to be sure . I am not a fan of the "O" ring chains so I will just get a conventional 530 chain.

I'm sure I will end up asking many more questions in the future. I got this '72 Norton Commando 750 last Fall. The previous owner assured me that the bike was gone through and ready to ride.

Upon closer inspection ,and after a couple short rides, I realized there are many small things that need some attention. The bike is 95% all stock and is very sound.

Is there an On-Line website or a store that you use to purchase Norton parts ? I will be needing a few cables and back drum brake pads for this bike .

Thank's again for all your Help - Dave W.

Click to expand...

MANY online parts sources, where are you located? www.oldbritts.com is a good one.

Thank you for the Words of Wisdom .... or was that a Warning. ha ha. I'm no stranger to working on a bike to keep it running. I've owned and kept going a '73 Harley Shovelhead bike for 26 years now.

I definately will have trouble with another of your warnings. The 2 rides I took so far I could'nt stop from grinning from ear to ear. I've heard many Beautiful sounds in my Life but the music frm those pipes as I'm applying some throttle gives me a Warm Fuzzy Feeling .

I live 30 miles South of Chicago.

I'll start to check out this site more for Venders and I'll also keep using the "Search" feature for more information.

Thank's- Dave

With ya on the sound so much when the peashooters rot out the replacements will be smaller and more open to get that full blast sound. Or I could do like Hobot and blast 'em full of rifle shot to achieve more heavenly tuneage. Sure wish the original back-off throttle twitterers were still available.

batrider said:

I'm going thru this feet switching the other way.. from Brit bikes to modern. I took the local MSF course to practice on a brand new Suzuki TL-250 so I wouldn't hurt the Harley. I found the best rule is when in doubt, mash down on everything - hands and feet.

The standard duty 530 chains work fine. I bought a bunch of RK chains with 98 links which is correct for a '72 with 19T drive sprocket. They work well. Early on I found that a Heavy Duty chain like the Diamond HD-530 was too wide and rubbed.

Click to expand...

Hope you did not have to pay for that course :shock: if that is what you came away with

JohnT

Go for quality not quantity.

iwis do a really good 530, M106SL, it lasts well, wont grind any parts away and wont break
the bank at around £40.

Dont go "heavy duty" bikes wear chain they shouldnt break chain, so quality is far more
important than big plates and high breaking load.

Andy

Wasnt it 5/8 " x 3/8 " . . some were lighter ( weight ) than others . some el cheapo stuffs junk , for this application .

530 is ref for 5/8 x 3/8.

Din ref is 10B-1 but if you buy from bearing people likely to be crap.

Andy

Matt Spencer said:

Wasnt it 5/8 " x 3/8 " . . some were lighter ( weight ) than others . some el cheapo stuffs junk , for this application .

Click to expand...

yes the factory spec is 5/8 x 3/8 BS (british Standard). Yankee chain (ANSI) is different. 530 is still 5/8th pitch, 3/8th between plates and roller dia of .400" and pin diameter of .200".

The ANSI 530 chain differs from BS in the following manner only. it is heavier ( in lbs / ft) cause it has thicker link plates. Therefore the outside thickness of the plates is wider. The overall width of the Joining link is wider than british standard. by about 60 or 80 thou if memory is correct. This makes the width of ANSI chain wider than BS chain. The pitch, roller dia and inside width between plates is all the same.

Therefore if room is limited or things are not quite right the wider joining link means that ANSI chain is more likely to gouge the inner primary. Of course, this would be in extreme cases only. ANSI is wider chain than British. Does this really matter. Most times NO.

There is industrial class chain (class B) which does not stand up to motorcycle work. it does not break, just stretches quickly and wears rapidly. Mr Spencer is correct in this. There are 2 classes of sprokets as well.

Thousands of Nortons using 530 chain are the proof that 530 chain is OK.

the purpose of this forum being sharing of information, I merely wish to inform that there is indeed more than one standard for transmission roller chain and there are minor differences.

Some may not be aware of this... corrections welcomed Bradley

andychain said:

Go for quality not quantity.

iwis do a really good 530, M106SL, it lasts well, wont grind any parts away and wont break
the bank at around £40.

Dont go "heavy duty" bikes wear chain they shouldnt break chain, so quality is far more
important than big plates and high breaking load.

Andy

Click to expand...

Heads up for an Iwis chain, the one I have on a Mk 111 has been adjusted twice in 2 thousand miles, just got one for my Bonneville.Great quality chains at a good price.
NO, I don't know Andy the chain man personally, but the chains are as good as he says.
sam

I believe my rear chain is 520 which was intended for a Japanese MX bike. I think my sprockets are skinnier than the ones fitted to the standard commando.

I need new chains on both my bikes, who sells these " Iwis" chains and what's the basic cost?

Andy The Chain Man seems to have them but in mean time can compare here

https://www.google.com/#gs_rn=21&gs_ri= ... 40&bih=340