new primary chain

[Bernhard]

Where can I get a new primary chain for a 305 cb77?

[Snakeoil]

Unfortunately, they are no longer made. You have to look for a good used chain or find a NOS chain. I got lucky and found a NOS chain. Try the various dealers that sell vintage Honda parts.

Somebody here may have a good used chain they will sell you.

When I bought my new chain, I compared it to my old chain and my old chain seemed a lot better than I initially thought. There is a measurement procedure in the manual, if I remember right. Mine was on the edge. But I found wear in the case and did not want to take a chance. After installing the new chain, I suspect the wear was old wear and the chain had been replaced since that wear occured by a PO. I put my old chain away as a rainy day spare.

regards,
Rob

[Bernhard]

Unfortunately, they are no longer made. You have to look for a good used chain or find a NOS chain. I got lucky and found a NOS chain. Try the various dealers that sell vintage Honda parts.quote]

You are quite right, after 50 years there seems it seems all the NOS has been drained. As these chains have, if I am right, and odd chain pitch, not available over the counter from any other chain manufacturer, hence they are as rare as rocking horse poo!

[Snakeoil]

I did a search of all the various chain manufacturers, looking for raw chain that could be purchased and used to make new primary chains. I figured there has to be a market. But nobody makes that chain anymore. Not sure what it would take to get a company to make a run of that chain and what a minimum purchase would be. I would guess something like a 1000 feet or more would be a min run to make it economical.

regards,
Rob

[Bernhard]

One parts supplier was quoted £1000 for a run of ten , yes ten, chains which makes it very uneconomical to order. I am considering making my own, as I can with my limited engineering ability, although I do not have access to an engineering workshop any more, how hard can it be, once I have made the links, they will be farmed out to an heat treatment specialist, only the rollers will prove difficult.

[Snakeoil]

I would think that a run of a 100 would have cost close to the same if we are talking automated machinery.

regards,
Rob

[GORDON BROWN]

Hello Bernhard

I dont know if you are aware but there are conversions available ( at least there were ) in the UK with sprockets to take Duplex double roller chain which is easy to source. These were produced because of breakages when racing and I think mainly on the down shifts. Honda actualy produced a stronger race kit chain and sprocket set which also altered the primary ratio but this has a diffrent ( unavalible ) pitch again.
The problem with using other chain pitches etc. as far as I can see is both the cost of making front sprockets, the rears being fairly straight forward and possibly more important the stronger / larger chains will not clear the inside of the cases and also would not like the tight run round the front sprocket. I was told this was also the problem with using a belt drive ( belt trying to "lift" of the sprocket )
I dont know if it is common to see them broken in road use anyway ?
Unfortunately I dont have any spare new ones but I should have a decent used one if you need it .

Gordon

SAFOJ