This thing chews through chains pretty easily, I'm figuring it out slowly.

The rear sprocket has a LOT of wobble in it, I assume it's time to replace those hub bushings. I've replaced the front and rear sprockets, as well as the chain all at the same time. I'm about 1800 miles later and am in need again seeing as the teeth aren't anything close to a perfect U shape anymore. More like \_|.

I should go to Honda and buy new bushings, but are there any performance polyurethane replacements?

And I should definitely buy a sealed chain this time, right?

 

I haven't heard of aftermarket cush drive bushings. Maybe they are out there? I'd stick with oem though.

A good sealed 530 chain with a quality sprockets should last a while, provided you routinely clean/lube it!

 

I cannot see how the cush bushings would cause side to side play, maybe back and forward movement. If you running a 520 chain drop it, I wouldn't even use a 520 chain on a street with such a heavy bike.

 

It's got play like a car with bad tie rods and ball joints. You can wiggle it all around. I'll be sure to switch to a 530 chain for sure though.

 

???? Why not?

 

There is a bearing in the sprocket carrier that I see would cause premature wear if it is wore out. Also, theres no need to go back to the 530! 520 is plenty for an old bike with not much more than 80hp at the rear wheel, especially since people all the time with big powerful 1000cc bikes switch to the 520, now these big bike weigh 20 to 30 pounds less than our old F2's but they have twice the power. 520 is plenty. The cush drive rubber hardens over the years. New ones wouldnt hurt, but they're not your problem. The cush drive is a dampner between your wheel and transmission. Without it you would beat you transmission to death.

 

Yes a sealed chain is much better. Also use a good lube like Maxima chain wax. I also agree that the cush drives are not the problem. As said before they only soften the load between the rear wheel and tranny. There are three bearing in the rear. One on each side of the wheel and one in the sprocket housing. The on in the sprocket housing, if bad, could let the sprocket wobble.

One more thing, chain tension must not be to tight.