I'm using up a chain buffer every other ride. Anyone else going through them this fast. I have tried adjusting the chain loose, tight
and everywhere inbetween. Doesn't seem to matter.[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-disgusted.gif[/img]

 

I've about used up my first one at 60-70 hours.

 

Well Gar, i guess you aren't the only one. Changed my slide today and looks like it should have been done 25 hours ago. I've worn 1.5 mm grooves into my swingarm. OUCH. I wonder about putting a piece of stainless steel sheet under the slide to prevent more damage. I think my chain has been too tight.
At least its easy to replace.
Did you smell ammonia really strong the first time you removed one of the slide bolts? Mine gave a little pop and about choked me with the smell.
Watch your chain slide fellas!

 

Yes, Mine had pressure also. I have tried setting the adjustment loose, tight and inbetween but does not seem to help. I e-mailed Cdale for the fifth time and finally got an answer that said they will have a harder plastic buffer available in several weeks. It will help but I believe there is a design flaw in the swing arm pivot location. The pivot is located slightly up and back from the chain pivot point which would be the center of the countershaft sprocket. Look at any of the new bike's like a KTM, Honda CR or Yamaha YZ and you will see that the front sprocket has virtually no space between it and the swing arm and the swing arm pivot is level with the countershaft. On the Cdale, the pivot point of the swing arm is located to high and back from the center of the
front sprocket. Look closely, it is not off much but enough to cause this problem. So keep a spare buffer on hand.

 

hey i have a tip for you guys if you want to use them. john deere makes a hard plastic for the bottom of their bean heads for their harvest equipment and if you heat it up real good its bendable and let me tell you it takes awhile for something to ware through it and its even good for your chain. just drill some holes in a peice and custom fit it where its suppose to go and your set. just an old tip from my dad, he used it on his old race sleds and motorcycles.

 

How much are these buffer strips anyway?

 

That's nice to know, but what exactly do we need to ask for when we walk into our local John Deere store? Do you have a part number for us? We also need to complain to our dealer and C'dale about this, that is the only way they will come out with a better design and retrofit all of our quads. We should not have to replace these wear strips after 10-20 hours of riding or for some, even shorter periods.

 

Hey guys,I had to change mine every other ride on my fx400.The first
time it hapened it grinded into my swing arm.Well at least my dealer
has been giving me the replacement free every time.I even had them
set the chain slack, so they know it's not me.I to think it's a flaw
in design.I don't know of any simple fix.I was wondering if a
diferent swing arm could fix the problem?

 

Ryanstone,you say you have 60-70hrs on the dale.Did you adjust the
valves yet?

 

Haven't done it yet. My dealer has even discouraged it. Says it is unnecessary with the shim/bucket valve design.(doesn't wan't the job) With the amount of effort required to check clearances, i'm holding off til i see some evidence of necessity or til I can drop by R/S performance in the spring.

I'm Curious. For those who have checked their valves, Did they require adjustment?