New Starter Chain Correct But Too Short

djbrown · Post by **djbrown** » Thu Mar 19, 2015 10:52 am

Hey Everyone,

You guys were so much help on my previous issue I am back for more. The starter chain currently on my engine works fine but is too long. It drags on the bottom of the right side cover. If I delete a full link (which is really 2 links) it would be too short. So I ordered and received a new chain, it is an RK219, the part number is correct and as far as I can see it was the same for all years (please correct me if I am not right on this). I think RK denotes the company that made it and 219 infers the chain specs. The new chain is 1 link (or 1/2 link) too short. I counted the links and it is correct per the spec and Bill S., it is either 54 or 58 (I forget, it was 4 days ago). I counted the teeth on the starter cog and the sprocket on the crank both are correct per the parts fiche on CMSNL. I have not taken the starter down yet but it appears to fit correctly to the block and it does not appear to be spaced away from the block. So what could be the issue here? Any help is appreciated.

Thanks,
David

48lesco · Post by **48lesco** » Thu Mar 19, 2015 12:35 pm

All of our starter chains are slack and some do rest on the lower case. We just don't speak about that, or the size of the ball bearings in our clutch actuators.

All seriousness aside, where did you get your "correct" chain that is too short? If it didn't come in a Honda box with 28101-253-000 stamped on it it might not be quite right. A number of things come into play to affect the droop in that chain, wear in the big sprocket bushing is chief among them. I'd just put the old one back into play. When the starter clutch engages, it should center the bushing and tend to tighten the chain a little. If it's not thrashing the case, I wouldn't worry about it. Once the engine starts, it just lays there, quiet, motionless.

djbrown · Post by **djbrown** » Thu Mar 19, 2015 5:47 pm

48lesco wrote:All of our starter chains are slack and some do rest on the lower case. We just don't speak about that, or the size of the ball bearings in our clutch actuators.

All seriousness aside, where did you get your "correct" chain that is too short? If it didn't come in a Honda box with 28101-253-000 stamped on it it might not be quite right. A number of things come into play to affect the droop in that chain, wear in the big sprocket bushing is chief among them. I'd just put the old one back into play. When the starter clutch engages, it should center the bushing and tend to tighten the chain a little. If it's not thrashing the case, I wouldn't worry about it. Once the engine starts, it just lays there, quiet, motionless.

Nice! I deserve that.

It came from Nick in Ohio and so far his stuff has been aces for me. I will check the part number on the box when I am at home. It is not a Honda brand box for sure. I think the box says Rokuten or something like that. I am certain it says RK219 on the box. The new chain definitely looks different from the current/old chain. The old chain has the peanut shaped links and the new chain has much straighter shaped links. What gets me is it that if my starter is correct and my sprockets are correct it should not be possible to be a single link short because the chain has to be an even number of links. So unless the links of the chain are not correctly sized or the chain just is not fully extending because it is new/seriously-old stock. But I really tried to get in on and it was short.

mike1969 · Post by **mike1969** » Thu Mar 19, 2015 5:57 pm

Even Nick makes mistakes from time to time. I've been buying from him for 10 years and there was only one screw up.

pieeater · Post by **pieeater** » Mon Mar 23, 2015 6:50 am

To tighten the chain I put a thin washer at the back of each starter bolt

kirbb9 · Post by **kirbb9** » Tue Mar 24, 2015 12:59 am

Pretty slick idea, never thought about that one.

Brady