A friend sent me the following mail in the hope that someone out there can help - the golf buggies are 'a single seater golf buggy':-   "We’re having a problem with the chains fitted to our golf buggies – and, as motorbikes have chains too, I thought I would pick your brains (and the vast range of assembled brains that know all things about motorbikes that you have access to J !) Problem is this: I’ve been adjusting and lubricating the chains prior to them going to golf clubs. When they arrive from China there is excessive free play in the chain (I’m adjusting down to around 10mm or so). We delivered 6 buggies last Wednesday (a week ago), all chains adjusted like this. Went back this Wednesday, and all chains were slack, and I have re-tightened. One had reportedly been slipping at times too – so very slack. The buggies have been used fairly heavily, but at most they have done 4 rounds each. Question is, if the chains were good quality, how long should we expect one to last before needing adjustment? The chains are stretching / growing as the links wear – I’ve compared an old and new one today – and the difference is around 5mm on a chain length of 75cm (link internal width around 6mm, with length between link centres around 12mm).  Bit of a ramble I’m afraid. Things bouncing around in my mind are:  ·         Does a chain typically continue to grow throughout its life? (my guess is yes) ·         Does the speed at which our chains are growing seem to suggest they are made of cr4p steel? (my guess is yes again..!) ·         How frequently do you need to adjust a chain on a motorbike (how many miles I suppose)? ( and I guess that’ll depend on all sorts – speed, acceleration, heavy pilly.... :-P) ·         What options are there – do we replace chains with something of better quality, fit some sort of chain tensioner etc. ? Any input gratefully welcomed"                                                                                                                                                                             

They sound like rubbish chains.  My ZX10 has about 170 bhp and the chain has been adjusted only a few times in 16,000 miles.                                                                                                                                                                             

Yes it does sound like poor quality material being used, I suggest they find a supplier for the size of chain it is and try a good make.                                                                                                                                                                              

Sorry, not wanting to sound racist .. but the phrase "When they arrive from China" rings alarm bells.

There is a lot of very cheap metal engineering products coming out of China at the moment and it sounds like these chains are amongst them.

I'd suggest they replace all the chains for good quality items, may be worth contacting a specialist such as B&C Express or similar.

Oh .... and stop buying buggies from China.                                                                                                                                                                             

 OOpss but the phrase "When they arrive from China" rings alarm bells.   Oh dear, Yup agree With Geoff, WB & Lime. Get a decent make chain, not one thats made from elastic. With the limited power the buggy puts out the chain should last for .. .. .. .. well, for ever really.                                                                                                                                                                             

just a thought about the chain wear. Was the adjustment done with no load on the buggy. Cus if the ten mil play seems a little tight to me. This can tighten when the buggy is loaded up, ie two sets of clubs and two golfers. Causing excessive stretching of the chain. But i do agree that maybe a good quality replacement chain would make a difference. Also worth checking the sprockets are a good fit in the chain, as this would wear a chain very quickly indeed. Hope this helps :-)

if the chains are that bad you will probley need to replace the sprockets too
                                                                                                                                                                             

The rule of thumb when checking to see if a chain is worn is try and pull two links from the the rear sprocket and if you can see daylight between the chain and sprocket then the chain is fecked,

quality motorcycle chains seem to stretch during the first few thousand miles of their working life, but in fact they are not stretching, because they are pre stretched in the factory, what is happening is the grease in the links is being squeezed out this happens even if the chain is O or X ring,

what i am thinking is the chains on the buggies will not be pre stretched, so they will be stretching, this combined with losing grease from the links will cause a lot of slack quickly,

they might settle down after a few tensions ,  or they might snap if the metal used in their manufacture is recycled tractors pitchforks etc,

if your friend wants to replace the chains there are plenty of online firms that supply cut to length chains, remember thought these will not be pre stretched ( see above ) so these will also go slack quickly, but I doubt they will snap,

here is a example of what your friend will be looking for

 http://www.bearingboys.co.uk/Simplex_Chains-1612-c

         

whats been said already esp chinese, .... chains always stretch in the first 1000 miles, but not 4 rounds of golf!!!!

Buy new chains and sprockets.....put a larger sproket on the rear to wheelie the buggies                                                                                                                                                                              

Thanks guys - your advise and suggested websites, as always, much appreciated                                                                                                                                                                              

why do some golfers wear two pairs of socks , ,,,,,,,,,,,,,because they might get a hole in one .....................  the old ones are the best hey                                                                                                                                                                               

Could understand it if one had stretched but all of them?  Sounds like a chain reaction.

Just to avoid a big run on the golf jokes!
                                                                                                                                                                             

Yes Chinese chains stretch almost daily!   Change sprocket and chain - problem fixed