There's your problem!!! NEVER use solvents to 'clean' a chain!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Solvents can and will remove the factory lube behind the O Rings. Failure will result.I have a 2020 650 vstrom with 20,000 kms. At the end of my first year with 11,000 i noticed some of the o rings were torn and coming out of the links of the oem chain. so i replaced it the beginning of this season with a JT Z3 super duty chain... 9k later the chain is toast... it is stretched beyond the pin count, has tons of lateral movement to the point where the link plates can touch, and won't stay in adjustment... this is my fourth chain driven bike and I have had other chains last multiple years with higher mileage.
The chain is aligned with the sprockets, I clean (kerosene) and lube (motul spray and paste and recently chain wax) my chain regularly I even stopped using a chain brush on this latest chain thinking it may have hurt my o rings.
I have seen on other posts that the chain tension is considered to small for this bike and should be set between 1.25 TO 1.75... I am a big guy over 250lbs and have always set the tensionto factory specs...
Is this the root of my chain issues??? With luggage gear and myself on the bike is the factory chain tension setting straining and blowing out my chain... any advice would be welcome.
Thanks
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I had the same reaction--washing regularly with a solvent like kerosene isn't good for the chain.
From the owner's manual:
Check your hub's cush drive rubber and carrier bearing. If the rubbers are worn, they allow an off-axis load on the bearing. If the bearing fails, then your chain will only be aligned at a standstill.
If your rollers are galled like this, either your alignment is not actually true or your bearing is toast:
![Automotive tire Gear Bicycle part Bicycle chain Wood]()
If your rollers are galled like this, either your alignment is not actually true or your bearing is toast:
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