Motorcycle sprocket material?

[Carl Johansson]

Aluminum?  Anodized aluminum?, Steel?  Steels obviously the cheapest and probably would wear the best - -  aluminum I can get more size options -  what does the salt do to em?  If it were your bike - what would you go with?

Carl " 280 bucks for a pair of front brake rotors?  this aint no corvette -  who the heck do they think they are?
Johansson

[Dean Los Angeles]

I use Polecat Sprockets.
http://www.arnsdesign.com/polecatSprockets/index.php
They have or will make just about anything steel or aluminum.
Steel is heavy and rusts, and keeps rusting. Wear? This is Bonneville, total life maybe 150 miles?
Aluminum is lighter, will take as much power as the salt will let you. Aluminum corrodes, but nothing like steel in contact with salt. Aluminum "rusts" the instant you cut it. Aluminium, when exposed to the atmosphere, forms a passive oxide layer, which provides moderate protection against corrosion.
Aluminum is anodized both to increase corrosion resistance and to allow dyeing.
While pure aluminum creates a natural oxidation layer its alloys are more prone to corrosion and are therefore annodized for corrosion resistance.
Aluminum oxide is very hard. Corundum abrasive is aluminum oxide. For that fact so are sapphires and rubies! Titanium and iron give it the blue color, chromium for red.

[bbb]

whats it going on and how much hp?

[Carl Johansson]

whats it going on and how much hp?

Good question -  350- cc motorcycle -  70 HP

[Stainless1]

Call Sproket Specialists, get aluminum, it will work for years of Bonneville racing....

[Sumner]

Call Sprocket Specialists, get aluminum, it will work for years of Bonneville racing....

I used them also and they were good to work with and made me up an aluminum rear sprocket in short order that I finished machining for the center mount HERE  and HERE.

Here is their web address:

http://www.sprocketspecialists.com/

I also needed to make an idler sprocket out of a steel sprocket and they put me on to Randy at Advance Precision in Oregon .  He made up a steel sprocket for me and did not case hardened it.  Then he sent it to me and I machined it for the bearing to make it into an idler sprocket HERE  and HERE. I sent it back to him and he then case hardened it and sent it back.  Again in very short order and at a very reasonable price.  He doesn't have a web site, but you can reach him at:

1-888-347-7262 or 541-347-7762 --87906 Bill Creek Lane-- Gandon, OR 97411

I would recommend both of these sources.

c ya,

Sum

[Carl Johansson]

Thanks guys -  looks like sprocket specialists may be just the ticket.  I haven't found a good supplier since Spacely Sprockets dissapeared into thin air!.

Carl " I can't believe it either -  a Jetsons reference on the landspeed forum" Johansson

[ironwigwam]

I use Sprocket Specialist as well, They have every size and tooth you need in aluminum. You can always replace them after thney wear out. Steel has too much weight for 90 seconds   Rick

[Seldom Seen Slim]

And here I thought weight was good -- although I use aluminum or steel -- whatever's available.  Steel costs less, if I remember right, and wear and rust aren't a problem.  I clean the system after runs and the event.

And since I've got lead in the back area of the bike for ballast -- improves traction, you've heard this before -- what's an extra pound (steel vs. Al)?  Yeah, I know, sprung vs. unsprung -- but still, I'm not running Laguna Seca, so no big deal.  If the extra weight of steel reduces the ability of the rear wheel to spin up quickly -- hey, that's a good thing, not a bad thing.  I've got at least ninety seconds -- take my time, don't spin that back wheel.

I vote steel unless they only make that tooth count in Aluminum, but it doesn't really matter that much.

[Stainless1]

I vote for the least expensive one with all things being equal.  As a Bonneville Racer, the guys at Spacely Sprocket Specialists give you a discount if you tell them you are racing and wear their sticker.  I send them a picture and results in email after the races.
 

[Loose Goose-Terry#1]

  I use both stock "steel" sprockets and Sproket Specialists "aluminum". There is NO difference in performance on the salt that I have been able to tell.  Go with the least expensive. The secret to sporcket life is: Clean them with Hot water & viniger and when you think they are clean enough, clean them some more and then put a good coating of WD-40 on them, then after that, lube them generously with oil. Take care of your sprockets, either steel or alum, and they will work for years of Bonneville racing.
  Oh, by the way, throw the chain away. It won't be any good after an event on the salt (providing you clean your chain before you leave the salt each night)

[1212FBGS]

I use PBI in oregon. I had a bunch (stack of 6) of sprocket specialties busa sprockets here once and they were in a stack i looked at them and you could see the hobbing was way off we spent about an hour trying to line them up like a rubic cube and never found the combination. if you want concentric round skrockets that wont cause your chain to whip call PBI
kent

[JackD]

Pesznecker Brothers Inc. in Clackamas as I recall.
Weirdest name I ever saw for  sprocket company but with the best products you will ever find.

[1212FBGS]

yep PBI

[Freud]

There is no Gandon, Oregun.
  97411 is Bandon, OR.
Probably just a typo.