Author Topic: Is it just a noisy chain (Read 4592 times)

amboman · « **on:** July 23, 2005, 07:23:26 AM »

Can any one offer an opinion. I have been used to riding shaft drive bikes and wonder if it is normal to have a slight noise coming from the area of the front sprocket. Hard to describe the noise but it sounds a bit like a mechanical clunk mainly when pulling up to traffic lights. I wonder if it is just the chain taking up the slack or maybe relaxing as the tension comes off.

Any advice and opinion would be greatfully received.

aussiebandit · « **Reply #1 on:** July 23, 2005, 08:34:17 AM »

does the noise happen on the down change of gears or heavy braking?

mike · « **Reply #2 on:** July 23, 2005, 01:58:59 PM »

If your chains slapping against anything, it's too slack IMHO. Adjust it to the Suzuki manual specs.

I rode a 85 Honda V65 Sabre (shaft drive) for several years in college, and if memory serves---> the shaft was kinda clunky down-shifting compared to a chain drive, but the chain makes more noise just going down the road.

Other than that I dunno... Without a better reference to what shaft bike you had, or confirming chain/sprockets are in good shape and adjusted right; it's hard to say....

ray nielsen · « **Reply #3 on:** July 23, 2005, 05:47:26 PM »

Often the front or countershaft sprocket wears more then the rear, mostly due to size and somewhat due to the smaller radius it forces the chain into.

There are some good pictures of a worn sprocket on this site, maybe under Mechanical or Technical -- have a look and compare.

ray nielsen · « **Reply #4 on:** July 23, 2005, 05:51:11 PM »

The pictures are under the PERFORANCE/FINAL DRIVE section of this site.

amboman · « **Reply #5 on:** July 24, 2005, 03:19:17 AM »

Hey thanks for your reply guys. It seems that I am a little picky according to my local mechanic. The noise mainly occurs at low speed in first and second gear. Most of the time I hear the noise when manouvering in slow traffic. My mechanic says that the noise I can hear is normal mechanical noise from the chain meshing on the front sprocket. He has checked my adjustments and given that the bike still has less than 500 miles on the clock the chain and sprockets are still as new. Guess I am going to have to get used to it.

BTW: Last ride was a 2005 750 Shadow. Really nice quite shaft drive. Not enough grunt though. The B12 certainly takes care of that.

chippi · « **Reply #6 on:** July 25, 2005, 02:18:12 PM »

Remember to keep the chain lubed up!! I spent some time chasing a load clunking noise in the drive system for a couple of days. Tightening and loosening the chain until I realized I wasn't getting real dirty will messing with the chain.

with further inspection I noticed the chain would catch the top of the rear spocket (and start to come down with it) while turning the tire, making a "CLUNK" as it poped off the spocket (still on track).

Cleaned the chain REAL good couple of days before and forgot to lube it after

Spray chain noise gone.

amboman · « **Reply #7 on:** July 26, 2005, 12:55:52 AM »

Thanks for help its been great. Also found time to read up on automatic oilers. You guys have covered the subject in great detail. Will look at budget and options for the summer season.