What is this sound?

[1034am]

This noise occurs when I roll the bike around (not running) in neutral or w/the clutch in.
Clutch and chain are adjusted as per shop manual.
Can anyone identify this and tell me if its something I need to be worried bout? Thx.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XzdfQQ095h8&feature=youtu.be

[jdoorn14]

Just confirming, chain was adjusted while on side stand or on center stand?

Also, have you double-checked that the chain alignment is true? Almost sounds to me like the chain is catching the outside of one of the sprockets.

[Malfruen]

Just confirming, chain was adjusted while on side stand or on center stand?

Also, have you double-checked that the chain alignment is true? Almost sounds to me like the chain is catching the outside of one of the sprockets.

Seconded. Check the chain alignment and triple check the play.

[1034am]

There's no center stand, so I did first on side stand, then had somebody sit on bike and rechecked. Shop manual recommends 20-30mm of movement. Seems tight.
I'll check the alignment.
Thanks!

[jdoorn14]

Cool. You also answered my next question about whether you might have an aftermarket slip on with no center stand stop. Without the stop, the center stand could rub against the chain. BUT, since there's no center stand, that can't be it.

[1034am]

Would a Katana rear wheel/tire make a difference? I thought it was a direct swap (w/some modification of the caliper bar.)

[fetor56]

Your asking a question but in fairness not giving the necessary facts.....no centre stand,Katana wheel/tyre.........anything else?

[1034am]

Sorry! Bike is stock, except: katana rear wheel/tire, katana rear shock, no center stand. Chain slack is around 30mm of play. Clutch lever is loose, about 2 centimeters of play. Wheel seems to be centered in frame, w/equal amount of space between frame arms and tire. Bike was bought used w/about 12,000 miles. Sound seems to be emanating from the clutch area.
I haven't taken the clutch cover off, which I assume is the best way to determine a mis-aligned chain.
Thoughts?

[Suzuki Stevo]

I haven't taken the clutch cover off, which I assume is the best way to determine a mis-aligned chain.
Thoughts?

If your bike had zero graduation markers on both sides of the axle you can align the chain this way...remove the chain guard, looking down from the top to somewhere around the forward edge of the rear sprocket, look down between two link plates on a top link to a link on the bottom, now add the forward most tooth of the rear sprocket into that picture, the tooth should be in the middle of the link plates on top and the link plates on the bottom link, if not adjust one side or the other and get the forward tooth in the middle of the top and bottom links, regardless of what the graduations next to the axle say.

(Imagine ramming a piece of drill rod thru a link on top to a link on the bottom and then the forward tooth on the front of the sprocket touches the drill rod dead center)

It's kind of a gun sight method, once I get everything aligned, I then move the adjusters back the same amount with a wrench (i.e. 1/16, 1/8, 1/4 of a turn) and never look at the graduations again when I adjust the chain for wear.   

[emanuel_v19]

Funny. When i bought my bike the same noise occurred right after i pulled in my backyard. Was afraid it was a major issue but i adjusted the chain on the center stand and the noise went away. I plan on buying a chain/sprocket kit anyway when i save up some cash!

[jdoorn14]

Funny. When i bought my bike the same noise occurred right after i pulled in my backyard. Was afraid it was a major issue but i adjusted the chain on the center stand and the noise went away. I plan on buying a chain/sprocket kit anyway when i save up some cash!

According to the owner's manual, the proper chain adjustment will take place with the bike on the side stand.  Otherwise you will likely have a chain that is too tight when you sit on it.

[Suzuki Stevo]

According to the owner's manual, the proper chain adjustment will take place with the bike on the side stand.  Otherwise you will likely have a chain that is too tight when you sit on it.

Pure BS, regardless of what the owners manual says. You can do a "proper" chain adjust on the center stand, I prefer it over the side stand because it takes out all of the variables that using the side stand may impose by compressing or not compressing the suspension. Regardless of what method you use, you need to double check the tension with the suspension compressed to the mid point in it's travel, the tightest point. I clean and lube my chains on the center stand, then having to put my bike on the side stand to adjust the chain is beyond silly, as long as you understand what you are trying to achieve...adjusting the slack in a chain. I check all of my bikes with chains on the side stand once against the center stand/lift measurement, in 45 years and 22 bikes with chains, the difference is almost non existent if any, so I use the center stand. I check my oil on the center stand also, some here can't understand why I haven't blown up every engine and ruined every chain I touch with such blatantly "improper" maintenance techniques     

[jdoorn14]

I tend to believe what I read in the owner's manual.  But each to their own.

[Suzuki Stevo]

I tend to believe what I read in the owner's manual.  But each to their own.

Measure your chain slack on the side stand, then measure it on the center stand, report back here and tell me what the difference is, if you have a difference you may may want to look into why the weight of the bike on the side stand is able to compress the rear suspension, because that is the only way you will get a different measurement from side to center stand     

[1034am]

Thanks for all the help. Much appreciated.(I learned the bike looks way cooler w/o a chain guard!)
The measure (on side stand) is off by 1/16". It's really close.
Is it possibly due to chain stretch? Didn't check for that. I have a new chain, but was intimidated by trying to undo a link pin.
I'll try and readjust the alignment and see if that fixes it. (Thanks for the detailed description Stevo on the sight lines.) and get out my center stand jic. (Its one of those shop types)

Oh yeah, manual says 20-30 mm of chain play. Better recommendations???

[jdoorn14]

From center stand (no weight on rear swingarm) to side stand (weight on swingarm) there is in fact an additional stretch on the chain due to the fact that the swingarm rotates a bit toward the rear when you set it down from the center stand. It may only cause chain slack to go out of spec if you tighten to the minimum play while on center stand, but there is a difference. Simple geometry and physics support this. Believe it or not, your choice.

1034am - before you commit to riding without a chain guard, please read the sticky thread regarding this. The chain guard is a safety feature, regardless how much cleaner the bike looks without it.

[Suzuki Stevo]

It may only cause chain slack to go out of spec if you tighten to the minimum play while on center stand, but there is a difference. Simple geometry and physics support this. Believe it or not, your choice.

I thoroughly understand this, have for decades, my point is...if you truly understand what you are trying to accomplish, you can use the center stand to adjust your chain.

EDIT:   This>>  "if you tighten to the minimum play while on center stand"  Ohhhh..so you do get it, maybe you could not use the bottom end of the spec? So you understand what your up against but can't compensate in the least to make any process other than what the owners manual says work?

Don't take anything I say personally, the discussion of of side stand vs center stand has been going on for a long time, many years before you were born.  The above statements have always been my response and always will be my response whenever somebody claims...  "you have to use the side stand to adjust your chain"  All I do is go to the loose side and check it mid travel, once my WR250R is gone I probably will never own a bike with a chain again, I have already gone 100% EFI.

[1034am]

So whats the preferred chain slack amount??

[Suzuki Stevo]

So whats the preferred chain slack amount??

I would stay away from 20mm even using the side stand, shooting for the middle is always safe, I had a KZ1000 that shifted better with the chain on the mid to loose side, so I always go with looser than tighter, always check it mid travel with whatever setting you decide on 

[sledge]

I can and indeed do, adjust chains both on the side stand and the centre stand and I do it by eye. I simply do what is the most convenient at the time

Guess what?.....no one has ever died, the sun still rises every morning, the oceans have never dried up and perhaps more importantly my chains and sprockets have never suddenly worn out the next day. In fact I have never noticed any significant difference arising as a result of not following convention. Dig a bit deeper and you may even find the chain manufactures advices goes against bike manufacturers advice........so how critical does it have to be?

Some things have to be done by the book, but I don't and never have subscribed to the belief that chain adjustment is one of them. And if we are going to start quoting geometry as an excuse we need to remember the swing arm and sprocket don't pivot/rotate about the same axis and therefore must consider the long terms effects the weight of the rider has on suspension positioning and consequently chain tension while the bike is in use.