Put in a new front sprocket.  When I changed my chain about 1,000 miles ago I noticed a fair amount of side to side play on the front sprocket so I figured lets change it.  Put in the new one and about the same amount of play.  Looks like it could use some type of spacer washer.

The front sprocket had over 20,000 miles on it and just started to show visible wear.

Some years, the sprocket had a "shoulder" on it.  You sure they gave you the right one for your bike?

It has a shoulder.  It's a Suzuki OEM part.  The amount of "spacer" needed is very small.  It's about 1/2  the thickness of the clip that holds the sprocket on the shaft.  I'm going to see if I can get something if not I'll make something out of a tin can.

Have you checked the rear wheel/front wheel alignment?  Just guessing, maybe it's off   :dunno:

I don't know about the GS, but on my Bandit 400 slight play in the front sprocket is normal. I think that suzuki purposley designed it that way to account for any deflection the chain may have.

Free Play in the sprocket is a bad thing, definitely get that taken care of.  I had the same thing when I switched down to a smaller front sprocket, I figured that everything was cool.  Bike was fine for 500 miles, then boom, sprocket came free, ripped off a 1 x 1 inch section of my engine casing and sent the chain flying.  Could have been a lot worse, but it was a very violent break.... get that nipped in the bud before it does some real damage.

Need more opinions.  Where is GSJack when you need him?
The amount of play is minimal.  I think a 1 mm spacer should do it.  Anything else will be too thick.

Sprockets on older GStwins are secured by a large nut, so, obviously, free-play is not required.  

Free-play = movement = friction = wear, I would think.  Shim away!

Some free play in the sprocket is a good thing.  Put the sprocket on the shaft with snap ring in place and without the chain.  You will see there is enough radial clearace to allow the sprocket to chicken a bit to help chain alighnment and a bit of lateral free play is necessary also to permit this alignment.  The 1mm of freeplay you have sounds good to me.

Personally, I have been using the sprocket w/o the hub on my 97 that now has 80k miles on it since I replaced it with the 2nd chain replacement and each chain since.  Put on new chain at 15-20k mile intervals which works out to each spring for me.  Have not had any shaft wear due to using the sprocket w/o hub yet.

Just made 1st chain replacement on the 02 GS at 22k miles and put on the same sprocket w/o hub.  I've not had any problem with them, but noticed they have a new sprocket # for the Sprocket Specialist sprocket for the newer models now.  Probably has the hub now.

I wouldn't shim your sprocket with hub if it were mine.  Always make sure you put the snap ring on with the sharp corners out and rounded corners inward.  Holds best that way.

Quote from: GisserSprockets on older GStwins are secured by a large nut, so, obviously, free-play is not required.  

Free-play = movement = friction = wear, I would think.  Shim away!

Just took a quick look at the parts fiche for the 89 GS500E, first year, and they show same snap ring setup as later models.   :dunno:

Thanks GSJack.
The part about helping with the alignment make sense to me.
Mike

Quote from: gsJack

Quote from: GisserSprockets on older GStwins are secured by a large nut, so, obviously, free-play is not required.  

Free-play = movement = friction = wear, I would think.  Shim away!

Just took a quick look at the parts fiche for the 89 GS500E, first year, and they show same snap ring setup as later models.   :dunno:

Heh,  I'm talking GS450.  I did say "old," didn't I?  In fact, all of  my Suzuki's have the small sprocket secured tightly with a large nut.  I deduce that the reason the GS500 uses a cheapo clip is to save room because the sprocket had to be moved outward for the chain to clear the 130mm rear tire (GS450 is 90mm) and Suzuki didn't want to redesign the sprocket cover.  There *have* been several instances of GS500 owners reporting that their sprocket shaft had worn out; this is unheard of on bikes which have the sprocket torqued down firmly.  Shimming may not make much difference either way.