Chain/Gear noise

[stevibhoy]

Hey guys!
First thread on the forum. Recently bought a low mileage '98 and, as it's my first chain-driven bike, a bit worried about the kinda grindy chain or gear noise when applying power. Chain clean and lubed. Slack within norms. Rear axle alignment perfect. Any clues? As I said, I'm not sure if ALL chain-drive bikes are THIS noisy - but I'm pretty sure they're not...

[His Dudeness]

Hey! How old is the chain and how many miles on it? Have you taken the front sprocket cover off? The first thing to check on the Fazer is that the front sprocket nut is still attached as they have a tendency to come loose and fall off due to not having enough threads. It's one of the few faults that Fazers have. So take the front sprocket cover off and have a look. If the nut is still there and tight check the depth of it. There's a upgraded nut which I think is 12mm deep whereas the old one is 9mm (could be wrong on those sizes). If you've got the smaller nut then you should think about replacing it with the larger one.

Next check every individual link in the chain. They can dry out and become stiff or sieze. You can often hear this as a clunck clunck sound and feel it in the foot pegs. Next thing to check is the tension, it should be 30-40mm at the tightest point when both wheels are on the ground.

[stevibhoy]

Yessir, have checked the chain tension and it is within 30 - 40mm. Will try take a look at the front sprocket nut.
As far as I can see, all the links look lubed, clean and articulating freely.
Cheers.

[midden]

I get it too, front sprocket mod done, I think it is a lube issue and happens more when labouring 

[Millietant]

Were the sprockets and chain all changed together ?


If not, that's another likely cause of the noise -as chains stretch, they wear the sprocket, replacing just the chain means that the the chain rollers won't sit properly in the sprocket teeth, leading to an increase in noise from the chain drive system.

[Jamieg285]

Check for chain 'stretch'.  You need to measure the length of 10 links and compare against the value that it should be (in the Haynes manual, link somewhere on this site).


Mine too was clean, lubed and adjusted, but was too stretched and made some terrible noises.  Fitted a new chain(and sprockets) and the noise went away.

[stevibhoy]

Many thanks everyone. Looks like a fresh chain and sprockets. Anyone like anything specific in that dept?

[Ebme Geek]

Looks like a fresh chain and sprockets. Anyone like anything specific in that dept?

Going through this dilemma myself at the moment  :rolleyes

Trying to hit the balance between cost and quality
DID x-ring seems to be pretty accepted as on the quality side of the scale
so considering this one

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Yamaha-FZS600-...0#shpCntId

Dont know what others think of JT chains, seem to be competing with DID, sprockets have been accepted for some time, but chain is relatively new

EK SRX series chains ???

But I draw the line with Dong - hua, sounds like thowing up dick, foc that, seriiously, going back to 'o' ring rather than 'x' and seems too cheap

[Ebme Geek]

This JT one is tempting aswell, anybody got any experience of their chains, I know their sprockets are well known

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/X-Ring-Chain-a...1#shpCntId

[Millietant]

Never been tempted to go cheap on chains - but there again, I've always got great life out of chains (plenty of cleaning and oiling helps) so always felt it worthwhile paying the extra £10 or £20 for the better chain available - usually gone with DID.