Taotao 250 D sprocket change
#1
04-10-2008, 11:39 AM
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Taotao 250 D sprocket change
I got my sprocket and chain changed yesterday afternoon from the 15 tooth front to a 13 tooth front with a new 428H KMC chain and let me tell you it is a completely different ATV. Stock the Taotao 250 D comes with 15 front and 40 rear for 2.67 gear ratio (very high) and will stall in first gear on a hill if your not careful due to the mis-gearing from the factory.
Now with 13 tooth front and 40 rear and the new heavy duty KMC 428H chain it has enough low end power to climb any hill I tried, and will launch in first gear on a hill without stalling. It is actually fun to ride now and has lots of torque in first and reverse, actually spins the tires a little taking off. Gear ratio now with 13/40 is 3.08 and is about what the Vbike V4S has stock, and what the Taotao 250 D should of had from the factory. With the high gearing it was putting undue stress on the clutch and engine, and would lead to pre-mature clutch failure.
I can not stress enough how much of a piece of crap the old chinese chain was, I was always tightening the chain after every ride, it just kept stretching and seemed to never stop. The new KMC 428H chain worked great and transfers the power very well, it is also visually a much heavier chain and weighs considerably more than the factory no-name chinese chain. After an hour of heavy duty hill climbing and crossing ditches the chain is still just as tight as when I originally put it on.
I did have a 12 and 14 tooth to try but decided the 13 tooth was dead on what I wanted at 3.08 gear ratio, but I did note the 12 tooth sprocket would require different mounting bolts like round allen heads otherwise the stock bolts would hit the chain and would simply not bolt up. So the smallest I would go without mods would be a 13 tooth front with the heavy duty 428H chain to transfer the power and help eliminate constant chain maintenance.
Slydog
Now with 13 tooth front and 40 rear and the new heavy duty KMC 428H chain it has enough low end power to climb any hill I tried, and will launch in first gear on a hill without stalling. It is actually fun to ride now and has lots of torque in first and reverse, actually spins the tires a little taking off. Gear ratio now with 13/40 is 3.08 and is about what the Vbike V4S has stock, and what the Taotao 250 D should of had from the factory. With the high gearing it was putting undue stress on the clutch and engine, and would lead to pre-mature clutch failure.
I can not stress enough how much of a piece of crap the old chinese chain was, I was always tightening the chain after every ride, it just kept stretching and seemed to never stop. The new KMC 428H chain worked great and transfers the power very well, it is also visually a much heavier chain and weighs considerably more than the factory no-name chinese chain. After an hour of heavy duty hill climbing and crossing ditches the chain is still just as tight as when I originally put it on.
I did have a 12 and 14 tooth to try but decided the 13 tooth was dead on what I wanted at 3.08 gear ratio, but I did note the 12 tooth sprocket would require different mounting bolts like round allen heads otherwise the stock bolts would hit the chain and would simply not bolt up. So the smallest I would go without mods would be a 13 tooth front with the heavy duty 428H chain to transfer the power and help eliminate constant chain maintenance.
Slydog
#2
04-10-2008, 01:18 PM
Taotao 250 D sprocket change
Well i still havent got my 12 tooth hopefully it will get here today and im also going to buy a new chain cause your right the chinese chain in junk and the links are all messed up already and have only had it 4 months. Although i never really had to adjust it but its still junk. I bought an RK 428 Chain.
Well sounds good and glad your happy with the change. What kind of riding do you do is it rocky terrain or sandy? I have sandy terrain so thats why i felt i should go with the 12 tooth but well have to see when i install it. Is your sprocket a JTF 259 as well? i guess ill have to see if i have to use different screws.
Do you know how exactly i can adjust back shock cause it s a bit stiff.
Thanks in Advance
Well sounds good and glad your happy with the change. What kind of riding do you do is it rocky terrain or sandy? I have sandy terrain so thats why i felt i should go with the 12 tooth but well have to see when i install it. Is your sprocket a JTF 259 as well? i guess ill have to see if i have to use different screws.
Do you know how exactly i can adjust back shock cause it s a bit stiff.
Thanks in Advance
#3
04-10-2008, 02:21 PM
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Taotao 250 D sprocket change
balanis03,
Yep, the same JTF259 sprocket, and I'm afraid you will have issues with the 12 tooth as it is a tight fit, but then again it can be made to work with new bolts. If you look at my gallery pics and see the one with the hills in the background that is the type of terrain we have, lots of hills and rocks along with ditches and mud, quite the test course for an ATV.
As far as the shocks they should have a pre-load setting via a screw collar or adjustable notches to adjust ride quality. Release spring tension for softer and compress for stiffer suspension.
I would be curious how many link chain you end up needing with your Jetmoto and the 13 tooth front and 42 tooth rear, I ended up using a 118 link chain to get everything adjusted properly.
Slydog
Yep, the same JTF259 sprocket, and I'm afraid you will have issues with the 12 tooth as it is a tight fit, but then again it can be made to work with new bolts. If you look at my gallery pics and see the one with the hills in the background that is the type of terrain we have, lots of hills and rocks along with ditches and mud, quite the test course for an ATV.
As far as the shocks they should have a pre-load setting via a screw collar or adjustable notches to adjust ride quality. Release spring tension for softer and compress for stiffer suspension.
I would be curious how many link chain you end up needing with your Jetmoto and the 13 tooth front and 42 tooth rear, I ended up using a 118 link chain to get everything adjusted properly.
Slydog
#4
04-10-2008, 03:04 PM
Taotao 250 D sprocket change
well i have to see about the screws i wonder if there different since there different models and brands. See here we have real sandy dunes and im also thinking of getting paddles for the rear. So you must take pressure of the collar to adjust spring? cause i see the collar and screw but how would i take pressure off? i believe i have a 118 with the current setup of 14 and 42. So you think they need allen heads screws. Well is it east to remove links off chain. I dont want to buy a chain and make it short and have to go with 13 tooth instead
#5
04-10-2008, 04:44 PM
#6
04-10-2008, 05:06 PM
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Taotao 250 D sprocket change
eisenberg132,
You can get the sprocket and chain for about $40, and as far as installation if your comfortable doing mechanic work it is not that hard, but it can be time consuming getting everything set up right. If you do all your own auto maintenance then you would have no problem doing this.
balanis03,
You will see what I'm talking about when you get it torn down about the clearance issue with the 12 tooth, but below are links to a couple pictures I took of the 12 tooth and the 14 tooth, and pay close attention to the mounting holes and how close they will be to the chain on the 12 in comparison to the 14. The 12 can be made to work, it is just not plug and play as my ATV had 10mm hex bolts that wouldn't clear the chain, thus the need for a different style round bolt of the same thread like an allen head.
http://i262.photobucket.com/al...slydogsrus/12tooth.jpg (JTF259.12)
http://i262.photobucket.com/al...slydogsrus/14tooth.jpg (JTF259.14)
As far as the chain I bought a 120 link and cut it down to 118 and re-joined it with the master link to fit the 13/40 combo sprocket and could of even went down to 116 link with the 12 and 13 tooth front and 40 rear.
Slydog
You can get the sprocket and chain for about $40, and as far as installation if your comfortable doing mechanic work it is not that hard, but it can be time consuming getting everything set up right. If you do all your own auto maintenance then you would have no problem doing this.
balanis03,
You will see what I'm talking about when you get it torn down about the clearance issue with the 12 tooth, but below are links to a couple pictures I took of the 12 tooth and the 14 tooth, and pay close attention to the mounting holes and how close they will be to the chain on the 12 in comparison to the 14. The 12 can be made to work, it is just not plug and play as my ATV had 10mm hex bolts that wouldn't clear the chain, thus the need for a different style round bolt of the same thread like an allen head.
http://i262.photobucket.com/al...slydogsrus/12tooth.jpg (JTF259.12)
http://i262.photobucket.com/al...slydogsrus/14tooth.jpg (JTF259.14)
As far as the chain I bought a 120 link and cut it down to 118 and re-joined it with the master link to fit the 13/40 combo sprocket and could of even went down to 116 link with the 12 and 13 tooth front and 40 rear.
Slydog
#7
04-10-2008, 06:57 PM
Taotao 250 D sprocket change
I see what you mean but thats an easy fix no problem. Just to be on the safe side ill get a 120link chain as well cause i believe i have a 118 from stock. Do remember off hand whats the thread size on the holes of the sprocket? So is it easy to remove and put back links on chain?? What about the shock how do i take pressure off of it? Thanks in advance
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#8
04-10-2008, 09:06 PM
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Taotao 250 D sprocket change
balanis03,
I didn't check the thread size, but it appears to be metric. I would just use a tap and die set to figure out your size or take in the old bolt and sprocket to your local hardware store and see if you can match it up. The 13 tooth worked with the stock 10mm hex bolts but it is touching the chain. I answered your question about the shocks in the above post, but just set the ATV up on stands so no weight is on the suspension and adjust your shocks by turning the adjuster with a set of channel lock pliers for the notch style. Compress for stiffness decompress for softer suspension.
The chain links need to be either cut with a chain cutter or I just use the 4" die grinder and grind off the riveted roller pin on both sides and use a hole punch while you have it held in a bench vise and punch the pin out then just use the master to re-join the chain. Check out the link below on chain install info from sprocket specialist...............
http://www.sprocketspecialists...hainInstallation.aspx
If your going smaller sprocket then if anything you need a smaller chain, I would go with a 118 or 116 link 428H chain, assuming you are sure you currently have a 118 link, I got a 120 link to be on the safe side and knew I could trim to fit, but it is a lot nicer when you have the exact size you need and it just bolts up.
Slydog
I didn't check the thread size, but it appears to be metric. I would just use a tap and die set to figure out your size or take in the old bolt and sprocket to your local hardware store and see if you can match it up. The 13 tooth worked with the stock 10mm hex bolts but it is touching the chain. I answered your question about the shocks in the above post, but just set the ATV up on stands so no weight is on the suspension and adjust your shocks by turning the adjuster with a set of channel lock pliers for the notch style. Compress for stiffness decompress for softer suspension.
The chain links need to be either cut with a chain cutter or I just use the 4" die grinder and grind off the riveted roller pin on both sides and use a hole punch while you have it held in a bench vise and punch the pin out then just use the master to re-join the chain. Check out the link below on chain install info from sprocket specialist...............
http://www.sprocketspecialists...hainInstallation.aspx
If your going smaller sprocket then if anything you need a smaller chain, I would go with a 118 or 116 link 428H chain, assuming you are sure you currently have a 118 link, I got a 120 link to be on the safe side and knew I could trim to fit, but it is a lot nicer when you have the exact size you need and it just bolts up.
Slydog
#9
04-10-2008, 10:14 PM
Taotao 250 D sprocket change
slydogsrus
Thanks for all the info you are really great help. Since im new to all this atv stuff i do ask a lot of ??? but its how you get experience. sometimes i wish i would have got a Jap bike but im learning a lot of stuff from these bikes. And im also a baginner so thats why i got this type of bike to begin with.
I just got the sprocket and i see what you mean about the screw. Another thing is the clamp that bolts on to the sprocket so it dont fall out of place is bigger for the 14 tooth and i need on for the 12 tooth. Do you know what this is called i may need to order online if they dont have it locally. i had no idea if not i would have bought as well.
I actually just counted the links and i came up with 104 links. Dumb ? but master link is also included correct? So how many links did you end up with at the end with the 13 tooth?
Thanks for all the info you are really great help. Since im new to all this atv stuff i do ask a lot of ??? but its how you get experience. sometimes i wish i would have got a Jap bike but im learning a lot of stuff from these bikes. And im also a baginner so thats why i got this type of bike to begin with.
I just got the sprocket and i see what you mean about the screw. Another thing is the clamp that bolts on to the sprocket so it dont fall out of place is bigger for the 14 tooth and i need on for the 12 tooth. Do you know what this is called i may need to order online if they dont have it locally. i had no idea if not i would have bought as well.
I actually just counted the links and i came up with 104 links. Dumb ? but master link is also included correct? So how many links did you end up with at the end with the 13 tooth?
#10
04-10-2008, 11:04 PM
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Taotao 250 D sprocket change
No problem, just glad I can help. I actually didn't count my chain I just knew that most of the 250cc ATV's used 120 link so I knew it was a safe size and could be cut down if needed. I laid the old and new out on the floor and the new one had 2 more links than the old one and I ordered 120 link so the old chain must of been 118 link.
Did you count the inner and outer links ? It is possible your wheelbase is shorter on your Jetmoto than my Taotao 250 D. Use any of the three methods below for counting links.........
1. Count all rollers. The number of rollers equals number of links.
2. Count all pins on one side of chain. The number of pins equals number of links.
3. Starting with the master connecting link (counted as "1"), count all outer side plates on one side of chain. Double that number equals the number of links (e.g., 48 outer side plates equals 96 chain links).
Don't think they sell the plate that goes in front in different sizes, as long as your sure you want the 12 tooth I would just mark it with a sharpe marker on how much to take off and use a bench grinder to cut it to size. Then get you some high grade allen bolts of the right thread and your in business with a 12 tooth front and 42 tooth rear, ready to pull the front wheels off the ground !
Slydog
Did you count the inner and outer links ? It is possible your wheelbase is shorter on your Jetmoto than my Taotao 250 D. Use any of the three methods below for counting links.........
1. Count all rollers. The number of rollers equals number of links.
2. Count all pins on one side of chain. The number of pins equals number of links.
3. Starting with the master connecting link (counted as "1"), count all outer side plates on one side of chain. Double that number equals the number of links (e.g., 48 outer side plates equals 96 chain links).
Don't think they sell the plate that goes in front in different sizes, as long as your sure you want the 12 tooth I would just mark it with a sharpe marker on how much to take off and use a bench grinder to cut it to size. Then get you some high grade allen bolts of the right thread and your in business with a 12 tooth front and 42 tooth rear, ready to pull the front wheels off the ground !
Slydog