Author Topic: replaced chain and sprockets, now I'm really paranoid. (Read 3237 times)

req · « **on:** March 12, 2006, 03:37:08 AM »

Hey folks,

Hopefully I can explain this...it's moderately complex.

So I finally got around to changing my stock chain today, as it was starting to pull away from the rear sprocket pretty dramatically. Replaced sprockets with new at the same time. Everything seemed to go okay until the final re-assembly; the torque link (I believe it's called; the support bar for the rear calipers) just isn't in line with the caliper. It was about 1/4" outboard (to the right) of where it ought to be, to connect to the caliper and have it be properly in line with the rear disc. I disassembled and reassembled the rear wheel components again but was unable to get it properly lined up. The offset was small enough that I then, assuming I'd just missed something, went ahead and muscled the caliper over the rear disc. Everything seems fine; there *is* a lot of drag on the rear wheel from the caliper though, and I'm assuming the torque arm is pushing the caliper outwards a bit.

First and most important: is this normal? Is the torque link supposed to be straight in line with the caliper, or does it generally offest to one side or the other?

Second, if this is a problem, does anyone have any idea what's wrong? Has anyone else experienced this before? What should I do?

Third, how much drag on the rear wheel from the brake is common? If I spin the wheel with my hand, it'll rotate about a half-turn before stopping, and there's a clear sound of friction between the caliper and the rear disc. With the motor running, though, even in neutral the wheel turns with the bike up on its center stand.

Finally, if I take it apart tomorrow, put it back together, and the torque link is still offset, is this a "OMG DO NOT RIDE THIS BIKE, TAKE IT TO A MECHANIC?" type of problem?

Thanks. Hope I was clear enough that some of you can provide advice. Right now I'm extremely worried.

~Req

Cruisecontrol · « **Reply #1 on:** March 12, 2006, 04:46:26 AM »

The spacer/mounting bracket for the brake caliper has to be the correct way round.

Try removing the wheel again and turning it around the other way. That may do the trick.

Arkan Eller · « **Reply #2 on:** March 12, 2006, 05:45:59 AM »

Quote from: "Cruisecontrol"

The spacer/mounting bracket for the brake caliper has to be the correct way round.

Try removing the wheel again and turning it around the other way. That may do the trick.

I've done the same thing. Taking the whole wheel out and some of the spacers etc. fell out. I didn't put them back in the right order (if that makes sense) and the torque arm didn't line up with the caliper.

Red01 · « **Reply #3 on:** March 12, 2006, 10:05:49 AM »

The torque link should line up without preloading it like you did!

I'm with Arkan here, I think you've got your wheel spacers in the wrong order.
You're chain alignment may be off because of this, too.

req · « **Reply #4 on:** March 12, 2006, 02:23:05 PM »

I didn't think it was something as simple as putting a spacer in backwards...

This morning I removed the rear wheel, checked everything out, and re-installed. Same problem, it's still offset by just about the same amount. Looked closely and it's possible, though I can't be sure, that the problem is in the swingarm; to my totally untrained and unaided eye, it appears that it may be out of true. Have a look at these pics and tell me if this is normal? The pictures are superhuge, I apologise, but I want to give a clear view of the situation...

http://www.hivemonkey.com/blog/archives/swingarm-1.jpg
http://www.hivemonkey.com/blog/archives/swingarm-2.jpg
http://www.hivemonkey.com/blog/archives/swingarm-3.jpg
http://www.hivemonkey.com/blog/archives/swingarm-4.jpg

There are two shots of the left side, and two of the right. On both sides of the swingarm there is what looks like a dent on the inside edge of the arm itself. I've no way (that I know of offhand) to check whether the arm is actually true, but the presence of these dents makes me suspect something.

Or are those supposed to be there? Instincts say no, but I haven't been able to find a clear pic of the naked swingarm from behind to compare against.

If this thing really is jacked, the options are either that I did it while removing the chain (seems unlikely, given the direction of the stress on the swingarm, but you never know) or that the previous owner did it somehow, didn't tell me, my mechanic buddy and I didn't notice them when examining the bike, and I've been riding on it for six months...

Anyway. Thanks for any insight you might have.

Red01 · « **Reply #5 on:** March 12, 2006, 03:41:38 PM »

To be honest, I've never really examined the swingarm there before and my bike's not in the same place as I am at the moment, so I can go look... but given the uniformity of the dents and they match on both sides, I'm thinking those are normal and are there because that's where the arm bends.

When you took it apart, did the torque link spring out when you disconnected it? If not, then there's got to be a fault in your reassembly technique.

If you've got the spacers right, be sure the wheel is straight... and don't go by the marks on the swingarm for chain adjustment... they are frequently off.

Cruisecontrol · « **Reply #6 on:** March 12, 2006, 06:30:14 PM »

I just checked my '03 1200 and it definitely does not have those dents.

I can remove my rear wheel and take a few shots if you like, but I am not sure how much help that would be.

req · « **Reply #7 on:** March 13, 2006, 03:28:22 PM »

Quote

When you took it apart, did the torque link spring out when you disconnected it? If not, then there's got to be a fault in your reassembly technique.

If you've got the spacers right, be sure the wheel is straight... and don't go by the marks on the swingarm for chain adjustment... they are frequently off.

I wish I didn't have to say this, but I really don't remember how much force it took to get the torque arm off the caliper. This was my first time taking the rear wheel off and I was probably concentrating on too many things at once.

Quote

I just checked my '03 1200 and it definitely does not have those dents.

I can remove my rear wheel and take a few shots if you like, but I am not sure how much help that would be.

I wouldn't worry about that, it's a lot of work for ya. I am going to the dealer tomorrow to pick up some tires as well; if they happen to have a Bandit swingarm in stock, I'm gonna ask to see it and see if those indentations are there as well.

pmackie · « **Reply #8 on:** March 14, 2006, 12:51:47 AM »

It appears to me that we are looking at a 2G 600? The 600 steel swingarm has those dimples on the inside of the swingarm.

Your swingarm is fine, looks just like mine. You could have a bent torque arm though?

The arm should fit back into the caliper without any undue torque. Check your spacers again. But if you have a spacer in wrong, you should have a harder time getting the whole assembly back between the axle spacing without forcing it, and potentially you may not have the chain lined up correctly. One option to make sure you don't have a bent torque arm is to connect the arm to the caliper, and see if it lines up nicely between the axle.

You will get some brake drag even if things are in correctly, but not much. If you rear wheel spins on the centre stand with the bike in nuetral, then you don't have much drag.