sprocket cover gunk and clean up .. now a new problem

[Janx101]

following a post by GS500F2004 the other day i thought it was high time i actually looked under my sprocket cover to see whats what ...

i know that the after shots are not pristine cleanup!!... it was just before a ride and i wanted to get going... then when i had bolted everything back up .. it stormed for an hour!! 

before and after of cover




before and after of case





ex supermarket meat trays make good free disposable catch trays!



and i think this is just a random widget picked up from the road somewhere?... but just in case.... anyone think its part of the bike? .. it was in amongst the microgravel under the cover .. legal microgravel i believe! 

[Zookmang]

Nah bro that's illegal gravel. Dispose of the evidence pronto!

[Big Rich]

I don't think that's anything to worry about Janx. A screw that small (just guessing unless you have oven mitt sized hands) would be from around the instrument cluster.....or maybe a tank emblem or something. Very unusual to find it with your semi legal gravel.

[Janx101]

Well ... Most oven mitts are a snug fit!  ... But yeah it's small! .. I just know I've seen a screw and plastic base thingy like that before.... But with no actual idea what it's from ... Bit like the 'what is this' thread ... Lol

Thinking thinking .... (Goes away for a few mins to check something) ... Yeah it's about the same size as a screw to secure a 9v battery cover/lid in a kids toy or smoke alarm... 'Around the house' kinda stuff ... From out on the road though? ... I've never been riding and run over the local kiddies little remote control cars or outside toys though ... 

... A least not on this bike!! 

[Janx101]

.. sigh ... i knew i shouldnt have cleaned it!!! .. no good deed goes unpunished!! ... now i have a 'scuttle shake' ... riding .. 3rd or 4th and about 60-80 km/h (35-50 mph kinda) .. in between on throttle and off throttle... theres a new vibration ..

it doesnt vary  with turning or weaving... no variation if i keep throttle steady but brake with front .. slight harmonic variation with throttle steady and back brake though...

so i dont think its front wheel bearings or brakes... maybe back bearings or brakes.. but it still goes away under power or active decellaration ? .. so maybe?

is this more likely the chain telling me 'help'?!

the vibration 'feels' like ... dragging your fingers along standard chain link fence at a fast walking pace? kinda thing?

[Big Rich]

That's odd - a vibration shouldn't be related to just removing and cleaning the sprocket cover.

Did you adjust the chain or anything? Might just have to trouble shoot each part of the system- chain tension, rotor warpage, wheel bearing play, etc, etc...... But don't forgot that a shake in the rear end can be caused by a problem up front (and vice versa).

[Janx101]

Yeah I know...probably coincidental ... But .. Hrmmm ...

I'll work on tracking it down ... It doesn't feel like a front end or back end problem per se.... It feels like it's coming straight up the the seat from the guts somewhere?

The braking is smooth on both wheels ... Didn't adjust the chain... It is OEM with just over 19k on it though.. As are sprockets ... The tension as it is ... Is 'ok' ... But wouldn't require a lot of tightening...
Oil level is good ... Rear tyre is slightly squared in centre 2" but is uniform and no dodgy looking edges to the wear ..

The shake/vibration is only apparent when the bike is coasting in gear.... No power on! ... But not slowing down ... If it was a RWD car I would say the universal joint at the diff was on its way out?

I'll put it up on the centre stand and peer and mutter while moving things on the weekend ..  Get the feeling it's gonna be a 'while riding' thing though... 

[peteGS]

Good work on the cleanup Janxy! Doesn't have to be spotless, but the less crud you let build up on your clutch pushrod the better chance you have of not destroying the oil seal.

I'd give that chain a real good clean with kero and a good lube and see what that does. Maybe the photos are distorting things but that chain doesn't look real happy lube-wise to me... check for stiff links etc. too.

[adidasguy]

Did you remove the sprocket and reverse it when you put it back on? Difference in teeth wear could cause that kind of vibration as the chain is coasting over the sprocket.

[Janx101]

... ummm .. no.... i didnt reverse it ... actually i didnt remove the sprocket ... i just scratched around behind it with a little rag soaked in degreaser on a wire  .. then sprayed degreaser ... then hosed ... then pushed a dry cloth around into the crannies with a screwdriver .. bolted the cover back on... light spray of chain lube and off i went!

the slightly cruddy look is .. white wax type chain lube .. some silkolene race chain lube .. some road dust .. and probably the start of surface rust (it was raining for near 2 weeks mostly) ..

the OEM chain being continuous is shitting me... i'd much rather remove the thing entirely from the bike and let it sit in a kero bath .. then scrub around it with a toothbrush or something...

or replace the chain and sprockets anyway .. but that needs $$ 

the chain is due for its bi-annual de-crud .. and completely fresh lube ... the little amount i have been able to ride this year means even bi-annual de-crud may be overkill!! ...  .. but i do maintain the lube levels every ride or 2

[ohgood]

Yeah I know...probably coincidental ... But .. Hrmmm ...

I'll work on tracking it down ... It doesn't feel like a front end or back end problem per se.... It feels like it's coming straight up the the seat from the guts somewhere?

The braking is smooth on both wheels ... Didn't adjust the chain... It is OEM with just over 19k on it though.. As are sprockets ... The tension as it is ... Is 'ok' ... But wouldn't require a lot of tightening...
Oil level is good ... Rear tyre is slightly squared in centre 2" but is uniform and no dodgy looking edges to the wear ..

The shake/vibration is only apparent when the bike is coasting in gear.... No power on! ... But not slowing down ... If it was a RWD car I would say the universal joint at the diff was on its way out?

I'll put it up on the centre stand and peer and mutter while moving things on the weekend ..  Get the feeling it's gonna be a 'while riding' thing though... 

time for a new chain and cogs


inspect while doing it. enjoy 20000 more miles of fun

[sledge]

Looks like the red dust of death starting to show on the sprocket splines.......get some grease on there PDQ or your vibration problem will only get worse.....MUCH worse!! 

[yamahonkawazuki]

Looks like the red dust of death starting to show on the sprocket splines.......get some grease on there PDQ or your vibration problem will only get worse.....MUCH worse!! 

I agree.  love it up like  a whore on a busy night. btw that piece resembles a cable stay. err what id use on th epig or motohuffy. run cable thru, tighten screw etc. locks cable to a particular length.