Replacing Final Drive Chain and Sprockets on Our Honda XR650R and Other Motorcycles

Final drive chain and sprocket changes are a routine part of dirt and road motorcycle maintenance. In this detailed video, the process includes an upgrade in chain and sprocket quality plus the use of a superior chain breaker tool. Rubber chain guides get replaced as well.

This step-by-step also includes restoration of the frozen chain adjusters at the rear of the swing arm. SuperSprox Stealth sprockets, upgrade RK chain and the RK Excel chain breaker tool provide major improvements. Time-Sert® repairs at the adjuster threads restore the swing arm and assure a permanent solution for preventing frozen adjusters. See the details within the how-to steps.

Caution: The previous owner used the bike at Texas, which included humidity and creek crossings. The Honda factory chain adjuster screws (plated carbon steel) had corroded and seized in the aluminum swingarm threads. I made this repair with stainless steel Time-Sert® inserts. There is concern around mating stainless steel with aluminum. Especially in a corrosive (typically marine) or constantly wet environment, the "galvanic" reaction between these materials can create corrosion. Note that I apply Permatex Anti-Seize Lubricant (contains aluminum powder and graphite) during the adjuster screw installations to form a moisture barrier and resist corrosion.

Consider whether your repair threads will have exposure to moisture or, worse yet, salt and corrosives. This can act as an electrolyte between stainless steel and aluminum. Stainless steel is the "noble" metal (cathode). Aluminum becomes the anode and can corrode if a conductive electrolyte (water, salt water, high humidity, mineralized dirt and debris, etc.) gets between these parts...There are ways to prevent or reduce this risk from occurring. I used Permatex Anti-Seize Lubricant P/N 80048 for this adjuster screw project. Loctite 242 (Blue) Threadlocker on the Time-Sert® insert's outside threads can also serve as a barrier between the stainless insert and aluminum threads...Time-Sert® does make carbon steel inserts as an alternative.

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