Loose sprocket cover

[Jamieg285]

Riding home today and my clutch suddenly went from a couple of mm play in the lever to almost all travel.  When I got home and investigated I found 1 (lower) bolt missing and 3 others loose and almost out too, allowing the cover to flex out when pulling the clutch in.  I've tightened them all back up and will get a replacement for the missing one, but I am concerned as to why this has happened all of a sudden. 

Has anyone had this before, or is this a rare occurrence?

BTW the bolts were last touched when I changed the chain - about 11K miles ago.

[darrsi]

That ain't normal at all, is bike left out for people to tamper with?

[Jules-C]

It does happen occasionally.  Its only when the last couple of bolts really loosen you notice it and then its only a few gear changes away from becoming undriveable.  But once you find out what the problem is its a simple fix

[darrsi]

It does happen occasionally.  Its only when the last couple of bolts really loosen you notice it and then its only a few gear changes away from becoming undriveable.  But once you find out what the problem is its a simple fix

What are you talking about???
No it does not happen occasionally at all?
If everything is done up correctly to start with it should never happen.
And find out what problem?
The problem is that the bolts are loose!!!

[Flak]

Riding home today and my clutch suddenly went from a couple of mm play in the lever to almost all travel.  When I got home and investigated I found 1 (lower) bolt missing and 3 others loose and almost out too, allowing the cover to flex out when pulling the clutch in.  I've tightened them all back up and will get a replacement for the missing one, but I am concerned as to why this has happened all of a sudden. 

Has anyone had this before, or is this a rare occurrence?

BTW the bolts were last touched when I changed the chain - about 11K miles ago.

Coincidentally, this happened to my 600 just last week. Was riding home and the biting point was getting nearer and nearer the handlebar, made it home OK though.

On examination, the cover was visibly moving when the lever was pulled. The bottom two allen bolts were missing and the whole cover was flexing on the top bolts. The cover was last off a couple of years ago for a change of chain and sprockets. It is unlikely that the bike has been tampered with as it is usually garaged and given where I was coming from.

Just vibrated loose is my best guess.

[anutz]

when i took my sprocket cover on and off i peeled off the gasket that was breaking down so i figured it would be useless...
 
I noticed after a few rides the bolts needed nipping up so i keep an eye on it at the moment....

[darrsi]

when i took my sprocket cover on and off i peeled off the gasket that was breaking down so i figured it would be useless...
 
I noticed after a few rides the bolts needed nipping up so i keep an eye on it at the moment....

Hmmm, interesting, i believe it was Deefer who suggested the gasket was to separate the 2 metal surfaces of the sprocket housing.


Could this be the answer as to why there's a gasket there in the first place, to dull any vibration, perhaps ???


Rather than nipping up, they should be torqued evenly anyway, which could possibly be a reason for loosening?


Saying that, i have no gasket, and i do torque the bolts, but have never once had any such issues?

[darrsi]

Is the cable lubed up and working freely as well, i'd imagine unwanted friction could cause more pulling force on the sprocket cover housing maybe causing enough momentum to work bolts free after time.
Still shouldn't happen if all evenly torqued up properly though! 

[fazersharp]

Are they perhaps aftermarket stainless/ anodized  bolts - maybe with the thread slightly off and so not actually biting p and gripping properly

[His Dudeness]

I'd say it's either aliens or they probably weren't done up properly

[anutz]

its got to be aliens.....i am sure one snapped my exhaust studs....
 

[sinto]

its got to be aliens.....i am sure one snapped my exhaust studs....

[fazersharp]

CAUGHT THE BASTARDS !!!

[anutz]

 

[darrsi]

Made me a bit paranoid, so I checked mine this morning, they ain't going nowhere, the same as my sump plug. 

[Jamieg285]

At least I'm not the only one.

The gasket is missing on mine, so it may be that.

I think I'll put a bit of thread lock on for now.

[Jamieg285]

UPDATE - having tightented the cover back up and gone out for a ride, it looks like the bolts may have been working loose for quite a while.  The clutch cable is tight, with no slack at all at the lever, and all the action happening within the 1st couple of mm.  It wasn't like that when I adjusted it, so the cover must have been loose then.

I've got to back the adjustment off a bit now. 

[darrsi]

Adjust from the bottom end first, then the top.

[Jamieg285]

Adjust from the bottom end first, then the top.

No need for that this time.  Just backed off the top one a turn and a bit and it's fine.