GSXR-750 camchain in a CB500/550?

[Oddjob]

Been reading about one riders experience using a 1990-95 Suzuki GSXR-750 camchain instead of the usual DID chain in the 500/550 engine. Evidently it's flat sided so kinder to the tensioners, has a larger contact area so is quieter than standard. It's longer so means you need to split the chain and re-rivet which is a set back but can be done with a push bike chain splitter, he reused the existing rivets.

Evidently he's fitted one in a race engine revving to 10000rpm and he's done over 20 races with it fitted without any problems, most of them at insane RPM.

Anyone ever heard of this or tried it?

Since found the same chain in 90 links, unfortunately there appears to be no 88 link available, 90 links is only just over £22, soft link another £1.20. From all accounts the chain is stronger than the standard chain being a 219FTH chain.

[Nurse Julie]

I thought the GSXR cam chains were Hyvos? I'm sure that's what the workshop fitted last time I had a GSXR. Maybe mine was a different year / model though 🤔. The DID 219 FTH are what we stock, fit and sell. I'd love to know where you saw them for £22.
90 links sounds very short to me for a DOHC system.

[Oddjob]

No 90 links were what I spotted when I was looking to see if they did an 88 link version so I didn't have to break it. The GSXR-750 uses 118 links and it's not a hyvo, just a flat sided chain.

Got a ton of DID 219FTH chains not far from you in Lincoln, https://www.bandcexpress.co.uk/shop/transmission/chains/timing-chains.htm?page=2, turns out they have no 90 links so I got sent a 94 link instead for the same price. Wemoto also sell the the DID 219FTH at £33 for the 118L version or a Tourmax version inc soft link at £41. https://www.wemoto.com/bikes/suzuki/gsxr_750_ws/95

[Laverdaroo]

There's quite a few 88link DID ones on flea bay between £25-£30 on my searches ref, part number.  14401323003
Thought you didnt stock them Julie? I'm still after one for Mejima.

[Nurse Julie]

There's quite a few 88link DID ones on flea bay between £25-£30 on my searches ref, part number.  14401323003
Thought you didnt stock them Julie? I'm still after one for Mejima.

I don't stock 88 link Roo as we rarely use them these days but I stock 94 link DID 219FTH and I hold stock of soft links as well.

[Oddjob]

There's a place in Germany selling 88 link 219FTH chains. Around £31 inc P&P. Not a bad price.

I've got a special timing chain splitter and rivetter made by KTM, the links look like factory finished when done correctly.

[Oddjob]

Got the chain today and is in indeed a very flat sided chain.

I'll split it and join it at 88 links and post a pic of it compared to a NOS 500 DID standard chain.

There's quite a few 88link DID ones on flea bay between £25-£30 on my searches ref, part number.  14401323003
Thought you didnt stock them Julie? I'm still after one for Mejima.

Those ones will be the old type chain Roo, not the FTH type which are stronger than the standard chain, it's like putting a heavy duty chain in compared to a standard chain.

[Laverdaroo]

Aaahh, righto, I wasn't aware there was an option between the two but thats only as this is anew hobby and all that, let me know how it goes, would be very interesting to see what you manufacture up Ken.

Sorry Julie, I forgot to reply to you, sozza. If you could bob one on one side and the links, I'll have them off you toward the end of the month if that's OK? Oh, and I need a set of the balancing screws that go on the inlets that you have on fleabay, if thats Ok. I'm hoping to think of anything else before saying go for it then I can only have one parcel rather than three in two weeks thios time.

I'm sure I must have shares in the Post Office by now!

Ken. if Julie has one and I get it to you, would you mind fettling it for me to the right spec with your rivetter for beer tokens?

[Nurse Julie]

OK Roo, I've put them aside for you. Let me know when you're ready for them, no rush.

[Laverdaroo]

Phanks Julie, youre a ledge!

[Oddjob]

Ok, split the chain. Odd thing, the chain was in a 94 link box but it was a 96 link chain, I remove 6 links at first, counted the links before re-connecting the chain and had 90 links left, so I had to remove another 2 links. I must have counted those links 30 times to make sure but the same figure kept coming back to me. Even when I connected the chain together again I still kept counting links convinced I'd made a mistake but I seem to have 88 links.

I even got the NOS OE chain out of it's bag and counted them to make sure 88 was the right number, it was.

So chain done and here's a comparison pic with the original equipment DID chain by the side of it, please count the links for me and tell me I'm not going mad. Notice how much grease is on the OE chain, how it compares to the 219FTH chain, I'd imagine those figure 8 links would rub more against the tensioning blade whereas the flat sided 219FTH chain would be far more friendly to it.



Close up of the new rivetted link. It's identical pattern to the factory finish, if it didn't have DID on it you wouldn't be able to spot it. It's also really free moving and has the same amount of play as the original links.

[K2-K6]

Neat riveting, I get 88 pins for both chain.

Have you weighed them ? Is there much difference?

[Sesman]

Yep, 88.

[Oddjob]

Neat riveting, I get 88 pins for both chain.

Have you weighed them ? Is there much difference?

Oh good, you both count 88. WTH was a 96 link chain doing in a 94 link box.

I'll do a test weigh and see what the difference is, I know it has more tensile strength.

Found this.

[Oddjob]

I've been thinking of ordering a few of these chains, cutting and riveting them down to 88 links and selling them to members for £35 inc P&P.

Anyone interested?

If not I won't bother. I'd need about 10 to make it worthwhile.

191g for OE, 232g for 219fth