Author Topic: 13T Front Sprocket  (Read 7761 times)

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Offline Motoroost1

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13T Front Sprocket
« on: March 31, 2012, 11:19:07 PM »
I see that there is a 13T front sprocket listed as available for the KX500 .

I would like to go this route but I am concerned about clearance issues between the chain and the engine case .

Has anyone tried a 13T sproket and did it fit correctly ? I have a 2003 KX500 .

Offline Twosmokerfan

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Re: 13T Front Sprocket
« Reply #1 on: April 01, 2012, 01:07:15 AM »
Hey Mate,

I had a 14T when the engine was in the steel KX Chassis, with no problems.

A 15T fits in the KLX Chassis (it is a squeeze between the swingarm and the chain guide, with no problems up the front between the chain and cases) and that bike is set up for riding in the scrub with 14/50 gearing.

I can see no problems with a 13T and clearance between the cases.

I am wondering why you wish to put it on though...... :?

TSF

Offline Foxx4Beaver

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Re: 13T Front Sprocket
« Reply #2 on: April 01, 2012, 01:30:08 AM »
do a search on here,there's alot of threads about front sprocket sizes and clearance issues....and if I remember correctly,the 13T was not a good choice, due to the chain wearing into the case,but I could be wrong.

Foxx
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Offline Polar-Bus

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Re: 13T Front Sprocket
« Reply #3 on: April 01, 2012, 01:41:27 AM »
I see that there is a 13T front sprocket listed as available for the KX500 .

I would like to go this route but I am concerned about clearance issues between the chain and the engine case .

Has anyone tried a 13T sproket and did it fit correctly ? I have a 2003 KX500 .

Do some searching. The quick answer is DON'T do it. If you run a 520 oring chain it wall grind into the case. If you run a cheap 520 non-oring chain, then you will have BARELY enough clearence and you will be ok, but the latter being said, running a cheap 520 non-oring chain on a 60 hp KX500 will cause the chain to snap, and most likely will destroy your engine cases anyway. So bottom line stick with a 14T, and swap rear sprockets to alter your gearing. Many of us prefer 14/49 gearing to make the KX500 a little more "trail friendly"
01' KX500
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'87 GSX-R  750
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'03 CRG KX500 Shifter kart

Offline Motoroost1

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Re: 13T Front Sprocket
« Reply #4 on: April 01, 2012, 09:59:41 AM »
I currently have a 520 X ring chain and run 14 / 49 gears . Because of the low cost , I was considering trying a 13T front sprocket just to see how it would effect the low speed operation of the bike . Even though the engine has a lot of power , I still find that with14/49 gears , the bike has top end speed that I will never really use and low speed operation could be improved a bit .

It's certainly not even remotely worth risking the chain hitting the case so I will not consider a 13T sprocket  an option any longer . That's why I asked the question .  Thanks for the responses .

Offline USMC 500

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Re: 13T Front Sprocket
« Reply #5 on: April 01, 2012, 10:08:32 AM »
Team Green used to run 16/42 gears down in baja.....unless I'm missunderstanding this thread a 13t should fit with room to spare.
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Offline Millertime

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Re: 13T Front Sprocket
« Reply #6 on: April 01, 2012, 11:21:13 AM »
Team Green used to run 16/42 gears down in baja.....unless I'm missunderstanding this thread a 13t should fit with room to spare.

This has me puzzled as well that a 13 tooth front sprocket doesnt fit as it will rub on the case yet it was suggested to run a bigger 14 tooth sprocket?  :?

Offline Polar-Bus

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Re: 13T Front Sprocket
« Reply #7 on: April 01, 2012, 12:38:10 PM »
Team Green used to run 16/42 gears down in baja.....unless I'm missunderstanding this thread a 13t should fit with room to spare.

This has me puzzled as well that a 13 tooth front sprocket doesnt fit as it will rub on the case yet it was suggested to run a bigger 14 tooth sprocket?  :?

You guys are assuming the OD of the chain rubs the case, this is not the issue. The 13T sprocket chain id , will grind the id of the diameter around the boss for the trans output shaft.
01' KX500
'84 GPz1100
'87 GSX-R  750
'06 HD Fatboy
'73 Kawi H1
'03 CRG KX500 Shifter kart

Offline Twosmokerfan

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Re: 13T Front Sprocket
« Reply #8 on: April 01, 2012, 04:08:40 PM »
Ahhh, I see said the blind man..... :-o

Offline USMC 500

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Re: 13T Front Sprocket
« Reply #9 on: April 01, 2012, 05:03:53 PM »
I knew that.....I was just testing you guys thats all..... :-D
I once heard my buddy Bill ask Danny Hamel after a race....
"How can someone who looks like a high school band tuba player go so d**n fast on a bike?!"

Offline Brute

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Re: 13T Front Sprocket
« Reply #10 on: April 02, 2012, 11:26:15 AM »
Local Kawi dealer went out of business so I got sprockets (14-51) and chain for half off. Did not look at it for a week. The chain box has 107 links hand written on the back. Hmmm.
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Offline Foxx4Beaver

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Re: 13T Front Sprocket
« Reply #11 on: April 02, 2012, 11:31:58 AM »
chain for half off. Hmmm.



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Offline Brute

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Re: 13T Front Sprocket
« Reply #12 on: April 06, 2012, 11:16:23 AM »
It gets worse. I must have picked up the wrong box as it is regular roller chain as well. CRAP.
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Offline Hillclimb#42

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Re: 13T Front Sprocket
« Reply #13 on: April 07, 2012, 03:26:04 AM »
I have ran 13- 49 thru 13-45 on my 200, 250, 500 many times, almost all of the time. Understanding that you can get to the same place with a 14 countershaft, its just personal pref. I mean, in general 13-48 is very close to 14-51. Thanks to Kawasaki sticking with the same sprockets for so many years, ( and Ben from here on kxriders) I have a collection of front and rear sprockets to play with.  Worth mentioning, some countershaft sprockets are machined differently. IMO, there is no clearance issues until you want a 12. Now, you may, or probably will, get more wear on the cases from dirt, mud, sticks and rocks passing thru the smaller area there, but I do not believe the chain rubs, o-ring or not. There are some high end chains that are definately wider and still a 520 chain. You may have noticed masterlinks from one chain do not work in other chains. A wider chain can rub subframes, wear-out chain guides, and possibly rub the case, but again I think its about your choices of brands and sticking with the stuff that works for you. Also, a non-oring chain has plenty of tensil strength for the k5, but will not last as long as non o-ring chain.
« Last Edit: April 07, 2012, 04:04:15 AM by Hillclimb#42 »

Offline CR480R

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Re: 13T Front Sprocket
« Reply #14 on: April 07, 2012, 12:49:23 PM »
d.i.d makes a thin x-ring.  I believe its meant for applications like crf450 that have clearance issue.. may help for those who need to use the small spockets.