Chain rattle on Bandit

[patrickpruett]

I have now moved on to a Bandit 600, but I am having trouble finding help with it. You guys seem to know a lot so I am dropping a thread here. I bought the bike knowing the chain had some problems, but I am beginning to think its more than the chain.

At first it just seemed lose and I have not attempted to tighten it yet, but as I had it on the center stand and put it into gear, it almost seems as if the chain is jumping around. I don't know if that just screams loose chain, but I thought maybe it wan't just the chain but the inner sprocket going bad.

What could make the chain jump around? It makes a very noticeable noise when moving and when spinning the wheel. At first I thought it was just hitting the swing arm in the middle of the chain path, but the jumping realy concerns me. I am taking it to a shop on Monday, but I kind of wanted to know what I was in for or if you guys think I could manage it.

Also, the alan bolts for the adjustment of the chain on the swingarms seems to be stripped, any way around that? Thanks for your help.

PP

[DoD#i]

First off, running the bike in gear on the centerstand is highly dubious, at best - the suspension is fully extended, and there's no load on the drive, so things can be weird.

Stripped adjuster bolts (that's Allen, BTW) = buy parts and replace the damaged parts. Some idiot tried to adjust the chain without loosening the axle bolt/nut.

If the chain was this well cared for, probably better check both sprockets for wear, and contemplate replacing both sprockets and the chain as well as the adjuster parts.

[The Buddha]

Well you didn't waste any time ... I'll give you that.
Yea chains can wear unevenly, they can kink (a section does not flex at all) and sprokets can lose teeth or wear so bad they cause the chain to skip ...
Stripped allens are likelt a result of a clueless clown turning them to adjust the chain without loosening the axle. So you may have simply bought a bike from a moron.
Now Bandit's have a tendency to lose transmissions. The old katana motor ... first you lose 2nd then third, then prolly the problem stops, cos you cant ride it any more.
Also check if your countershaft splies are nice and good and not rounded off. If they are rounded you may be slipping there.
Cool.
Buddha.

[LOUiE]

Well you didn't waste any time ... I'll give you that.
Yea chains can wear unevenly, they can kink (a section does not flex at all) and sprokets can lose teeth or wear so bad they cause the chain to skip ...
Stripped allens are likelt a result of a clueless clown turning them to adjust the chain without loosening the axle. So you may have simply bought a bike from a moron.
Now Bandit's have a tendency to lose transmissions. The old katana motor ... first you lose 2nd then third, then prolly the problem stops, cos you cant ride it any more.
Also check if your countershaft splies are nice and good and not rounded off. If they are rounded you may be slipping there.
Cool.
Buddha.

some people like to dive it to the DIFFICULT STUFF first 

I prefer the easy stuff first...

Check the chain slack, chains dont always wear evenly... so put it on the center stand and check, then rotate the rear wheel and check again.  From there I'd just tighten the chain (by 'playing' with the adjuster bolts on the back of the swing arm).  And see if the chain was still bouncing around...  if it is, then I'd check the more difficult stuff like Buddha here loves to do

[The Buddha]

Louie ... just covering all possibilities. I said wore uneven, kinked etc etc ... and ofcourse my favorite ... the adjuster bolts getting stripped 
Cool.
Buddha.

[LOUiE]

Louie ... just covering all possibilities. I said wore uneven, kinked etc etc ... and ofcourse my favorite ... the adjuster bolts getting stripped 
Cool.
Buddha.

i know.. just yanking your CHAIN   *cough*

[Kasumi]

Also note the chain should be adjusted with the bike on the ground NOT no the centrestand. Alternativly if you have a padock stand that picks the bike up from the swingarm or axle bolt then thats ok too.

If you adjust the chain with the bike on the centrestand its false as thats not the natural position of the swingarm, due to no weight being on it.