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How to check if you should change your chain kit?

If you want to use your chain kit as long as possible, it is important to regularly check and maintain the components on your MX or enduro bike. The wear of chain, front und rear sprocket can't be avoided and is individual in the respective parts. The wear is influenced by your riding style, weather conditions and the ground on which you ride regularly.

So how do you know if you should change the chain, front or rear sprocket? With a chain gauge you can check if your chain has extended and a replacement is necessary. This method is more accurate than pulling off individual chain links on the rear sprocket to determine the lengthening of the chain. Another indicator are deformed teeth on the front sprocket as well as the rear sprocket. The typical shark tooth shape of the front sprocket occurs because the teeth on the sprocket are worn unevenly over time. When you notice one of the described indicators on your drivetrain components, you should change your chain, front and rear sprocket as soon as possible. Because these components become worn together, they should be replaced at the same time.

Quick and uncomplicated: Your chain kit from Maciag Offroad

Our chain kit configurator is a quick and easy way to get your new chain kit. Simply enter manufacturer, model and year of your MX or enduro bike and our configurator tells you the correct chain length for your bike. This way you don't have to shorten your chain which saves a lot of time. In addition to the chain, you also get the correct front and rear sprocket for your bike. Both will be with the correct amount of teeth for your model.

1. Removing front sprocket and chain

Working steps:

  1. Remove the front sprocket cover and loosen the clip of the drive sprocket retaining screw
  2. Locate the chain lock and open it with pliers and remove it from the chain
  3. Then you can pull off chain and front sprocket
Tip: As long as you haven't pulled off the chain yet, you can switch to the first gear or use the rear brake to fix the drive sprocket, which loosens the retraining screw of the front sprocket.

Required tools & material:

2. Removing the rear wheel

Working steps:

  1. Untighten and remove the rear wheel out of the swingarm of your bike
  2. Place the wheel flat on your work surface or a level surface with the sprocket facing upwards
  3. Now unscrew the sprocket and remove the old rear sprocket
  4. Use a wire brush to clean the hub ring of dirt
Tip: In order to avoid injuries while screwing off the sprocket, we recommend to use gloves during this step.

Required tools & material:

3. Change the rear sprocket

Working steps:

  1. Put on the new rear sprocket and align it with the correct side up
  2. Then install screws, washers and nuts
  3. Now tighten the sprocket
Tip: Tighten the screws crosswise so the sprocket aligns itself correctly.

Benötigtes Werzeug & Material:

4. Installing the rear wheel

Working steps:

  1. Carefully place the wheel back into the swingarm
  2. Then fix the axle blocks on both sides. Reinstall the rear axle, axle block, washer and nut
  3. Push the rear wheel as far forward as possible and lightly tighten the axle nuts.
Tip: In order to keep the screws of the axle blocks slightly movable, spray them with some general-purpose spray. Then screw in the set screws for the axle blocks completely.

Required tools and material:

5. Changing the drive sprocket

Working steps:

  1. Clean all parts necessary to fixate the drive sprocket and degrease the sprocket. If your drive sprocket is installed with a screw instead of a clip, apply thread-locking adhesive on it
  2. Position the sprocket on the drive shaft and screw it tighlyt with the prepared screw
  3. Pay attention to the correct positioning of the lock washer in case there is one installed on your bike
  4. Now tighten the screw or fix the clip correctly
Tipp: Before fitting, take a look in your manual how the drive sprocket is supposed to be installed correctly. Also pay attention to the correct torque when tightening the locking screw.

Required tools and material:

6. Installing the chain

Working steps:

  1. Guide the chain over the rear sprocket and through the chain block. Put both ends on the rear sprocket to keep the chain in place
  2. From behind, pull the chain lock through both ends of the chain and put on the plate from the front. Clip the lock when it's done
  3. Install the clip lock with the closed side in the rotational direction of the chain
  4. For safety's sake, check if the chain lock is closed and sealed once more before tensioning the chain
Tip: If you enter manufacturer, model and year of your bike in our chain kit configurator, you can choose chains, front and rear sprockets that fit on your bike.

Required tools and material:

7. Tensioning the chain

Working steps:

  1. Evenly tension the chain on both sides until the chain has a some tension
  2. Based on the notches on your swingarm you can see if the axle block is evenly positioned on both sides and if you're positioning the wheel evenly
  3. Then you can fine-tune the chain with the correct chain slack according to your manufacturer's specifications
  4. Now you can tighten the rear axle nuts with the correct torque
  5. After that, you can as well tighten the clamping screws and rear sprocket bolts according to the manufacturer's instructions
  6. Finally, you only have to tighten all the nuts of the rear sprocket according to the manufacturer instructions and mount the front sprocket protection
Tip: You can find information about the correct chain tension in the manual.

Required tools and material:

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