Any ideas for an aftermarket drive chain guide?

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GuitarGuy1996

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Hey guys! I know this is a xs650 forum but I figured id see if I could pick yalls brains and see what you think. So ive got a 1980 XS400 that ive turned into a scrambler. Thicker fork oil, im working on high pipes and a skid plate, no rear pegs, taller rear shocks ect...... im almost done with it and really happy with how its turning out! My one issue right now is the chain is tensioned but rubbing on the swing arm since ive got the taller shocks. I haven't ridden it yet but I know as soon as id take it out, the chain and swingarm would be beating the crap out of each other. Which leaves me with a chain guard like most dirtbikes have. Any ideas on how I could get one on here? What dirtbikes would have a similar swing arm pivot so I could just drill and tap some bolt holes maybe? Thanks guys!
 
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I mean a taller tire wouldn't do it, itd have to be the sprocket that got upsized. The tall rear shocks are kinda the point, I cant really do that. Especially if im gonna get this thing to a show next weekend.
 
Does the chain need to be that slack to accommodate for travel? I'm picturing a spring -loaded chsint tensioner like you see on bikes with extended swing arms or some hardtails. Not sure how you'd mount it though
I fear that Jim is on to something.
If you need to show the bike just crank the chain tight. No one will notice.
 
GuitarGuy1996 said:
Thanks! Still thinking on the side covers. The factory badges arent easy to find it seems like.
Click to expand...
Well the naybers to the north have them Diablo cycle formerly reproduction decals.com carry a slew of repro decals for the big Japanese brands anda good lot of Europ[ean brands as well. Plus levers,pistons,shocks, lighting.Don't fill out an order after 1/2 dozen beer. The credit card rev limiter will be pegged!
I've dealt with them for 20 years. great service real helpful and knowlegable folks.
https://www.diablocycle.com/-Yamaha-Badges/

their full site list for brands and parts.
https://www.diablocycle.com/
 
GuitarGuy1996 said:
I mean a taller tire wouldn't do it, itd have to be the sprocket that got upsized. The tall rear shocks are kinda the point, I cant really do that. Especially if im gonna get this thing to a show next weekend.
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"The taller rear shocks are kinda the point..." and that is the point at that. As @Jim opined "I can't see that working as you have it" is correct. The tall shocks create a suspension - chain line geometry that is not compatible. Shorter shocks would move the chain line such that it would not interfere with the swingarm pivot, and then a taller wheel/tire combo would give you more ground clearance.

The Delrin block is maybe workable but is a stone ax solution that does not solve the problem, just masks the results. I could also imagine that even with a Delrin block, you may need a spring-loaded tensioner to control the chain thru full swingarm travel i.e. when the suspension compresses and the swingarm pivot/Delrin block isn't interfering, the chain will loosen significantly.
 
DogBunny said:
Attach a piece of Delrin onto the swingarm. Google: Delrin motorcycle chain rub block
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Many dirt bikes have similar rub blocks attached to their swingarms, pretty common.
That will work to a point, depends on how much longer you went with your shocks. You'll eventually reach a point where the lower run becomes too loose and you run the risk of throwing the chain off.
There are spring loaded idler sprockets or pulleys that can be bolted or welded on the the frame of swingarm that will take up that slack. For example
https://www.mcmaster.com/products/c...table-arm-roller-chain-and-belt-tensioners~~/
 
Wagner73 said:
"The taller rear shocks are kinda the point..." and that is the point at that. As @Jim opined "I can't see that working as you have it" is correct. The tall shocks create a suspension - chain line geometry that is not compatible. Shorter shocks would move the chain line such that it would not interfere with the swingarm pivot, and then a taller wheel/tire combo would give you more ground clearance.

The Delrin block is maybe workable but is a stone ax solution that does not solve the problem, just masks the results. I could also imagine that even with a Delrin block, you may need a spring-loaded tensioner to control the chain thru full swingarm travel i.e. when the suspension compresses and the swingarm pivot/Delrin block isn't interfering, the chain will loosen significantly.
Click to expand...
If the OP wants longer suspension travel, a longer shock is most of the time what you end up with. When I first got my XS 650, it had OEM shocks. Not very good. So I got a pair of XS650 specific Hagons. Only slightly better. Both of these pairs of shocks had around 76 mm of travel and 320 mm length. After some searching, I found some emulsion type Øhlins, made for 1st gen "New Triumph Bonneville", which have 4"/ 100 mm travel, and around 340 mm length. With more travel, a softer spring/ less preload is possible, so laden sag will be more, and chain rub less of an issue.
I still turned a nylon bushing with ID matching the OD of the swing arm cross tube. Then notched it for the left swing arm tube.
As for the OP's issue, I'd suggest looking at chain slider blocks for various MX or trail bikes, get one that is possible to adapt.
 
RC4MAN said:
Many dirt bikes have similar rub blocks attached to their swingarms, pretty common.
That will work to a point, depends on how much longer you went with your shocks. You'll eventually reach a point where the lower run becomes too loose and you run the risk of throwing the chain off.
There are spring loaded idler sprockets or pulleys that can be bolted or welded on the the frame of swingarm that will take up that slack. For example
https://www.mcmaster.com/products/c...table-arm-roller-chain-and-belt-tensioners~~/
Click to expand...
Thats what I was thinking. I was hoping there'd be like, an old yz500, or something that used a similar enough swingarm that I could bolt onto it and keep it from rubbing. I like the spring loaded tensioner idea but dang $200 ain't cheap!
 

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