Drive train snatch

El Pirata · 11-28-2007, 06:40 AM

My bike has now got 6000 miles on the clock and has started to get very "snatchy". Chain tension is good, a small amount of backlash in the cush drive at the back wheel, ( probably to be expected ), but at the gearbox sprocket quite a lot of play, about one twelth of a turn looking at the flats on the retaining nut. How does this compare with your bikes guys and gals ?

Badbob · 11-28-2007, 07:33 PM

Measure your chain as per the service manual. It should not be worn out but just to be sure I'd check it.

Look real close at your sprocket teeth. If they are badly worn it might do this.

Another thing I would check is how much chain slack there is at different points. It should be pretty close to the same all the way around.

You might also check that the chain and both sprockets are aligned. I don't know if this will cause this problem but it might. Some of the bikes have alignment marks that are incorrect.

All of these things I have had some personal experience with. There might be something else that would cause this.

Does the sprocket move on the shaft? I don't think it is supposed to do that.

Water Warrior 2 · 11-30-2007, 09:31 PM

El Pirata, you have me a little confused with your post. Are you getting a twelfth of a turn(30 degress) on the countershaft sprocket by taking up the slack in the chain ?? OR are you getting that 30 degress on the sprocket taking up slack in the tranny ?? OR a combo of both ?? The owners manual calls for 5~15 mm. slack in the chain. If you have more that might be a source of the problem.

El Pirata · 12-03-2007, 08:59 AM

Sorry if my original description of the problem was a bit confusing. Essentially, if I put the bike in first gear, without the motor running and gently move the bike backwards and forwards a lot of backlash can be seen at the gearbox sprocket. Nothing to do with any chain maladjustment. Done very carefully movement of the piston through the drive train can be avoided so the play must be the sprocket attachment to the countershaft, or somewhere in the drive train prior to that point. I am not really asking for a solution to this but would like to know how this compares to your bikes before I go back to the dealer and make a warranty claim, if indeed there is a problem. Thanks for your help guys.

**jonathan180iq** · 12-03-2007, 02:07 PM

I get what I consider excessive "roll" when the bike is in first gear and not cranked.

Is that what you are talking about?
That phantom break in the gearing where the bike can roll forward when in gear?

It's always been there for me. If we are talking about the same thing, I've had this phantom roll on all of my bikes. The Gz has it the worst though.

El Pirata · 12-05-2007, 05:56 AM

Hi Jonathan, thats exactly what I am describing, maybe it is something we have to live with on these bikes.

**jonathan180iq** · 12-05-2007, 03:15 PM

When I park the bike, I just mkae sure to roll it all the way to the end of what I described as the "phantom roll". Once you hit the stop, flop the kickstand out. That way, you'll know that the bike can't roll anymore. This is especailly helpful is you park on a hill.

11-28-2007, 06:40 AM	#1
El Pirata Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Costa del Sol, Spain Posts: 9	Drive train snatch My bike has now got 6000 miles on the clock and has started to get very "snatchy". Chain tension is good, a small amount of backlash in the cush drive at the back wheel, ( probably to be expected ), but at the gearbox sprocket quite a lot of play, about one twelth of a turn looking at the flats on the retaining nut. How does this compare with your bikes guys and gals ? __________________ Ride safe and keep the shiny side up. Login or Register to Remove Ads
	0

11-28-2007, 07:33 PM	#2
Badbob Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Tallahassee FL Posts: 945	Measure your chain as per the service manual. It should not be worn out but just to be sure I'd check it. Look real close at your sprocket teeth. If they are badly worn it might do this. Another thing I would check is how much chain slack there is at different points. It should be pretty close to the same all the way around. You might also check that the chain and both sprockets are aligned. I don't know if this will cause this problem but it might. Some of the bikes have alignment marks that are incorrect. All of these things I have had some personal experience with. There might be something else that would cause this. Does the sprocket move on the shaft? I don't think it is supposed to do that. __________________ My GZ250 Blog Facebook Pinterest Google+ Tumblr YouTube Lumber Jocks
	0

11-30-2007, 09:31 PM	#3
Water Warrior 2 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Squamish B.C Canada Posts: 11,409	El Pirata, you have me a little confused with your post. Are you getting a twelfth of a turn(30 degress) on the countershaft sprocket by taking up the slack in the chain ?? OR are you getting that 30 degress on the sprocket taking up slack in the tranny ?? OR a combo of both ?? The owners manual calls for 5~15 mm. slack in the chain. If you have more that might be a source of the problem. Login or Register to Remove Ads
	0

12-03-2007, 08:59 AM	#4
El Pirata Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Costa del Sol, Spain Posts: 9	Drive train snatch Sorry if my original description of the problem was a bit confusing. Essentially, if I put the bike in first gear, without the motor running and gently move the bike backwards and forwards a lot of backlash can be seen at the gearbox sprocket. Nothing to do with any chain maladjustment. Done very carefully movement of the piston through the drive train can be avoided so the play must be the sprocket attachment to the countershaft, or somewhere in the drive train prior to that point. I am not really asking for a solution to this but would like to know how this compares to your bikes before I go back to the dealer and make a warranty claim, if indeed there is a problem. Thanks for your help guys. __________________ Ride safe and keep the shiny side up.
	0

12-03-2007, 02:07 PM	#5
jonathan180iq Super Moderator Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Dalton, GA Posts: 3,996	I get what I consider excessive "roll" when the bike is in first gear and not cranked. Is that what you are talking about? That phantom break in the gearing where the bike can roll forward when in gear? It's always been there for me. If we are talking about the same thing, I've had this phantom roll on all of my bikes. The Gz has it the worst though. Login or Register to Remove Ads
	0

12-05-2007, 05:56 AM	#6
El Pirata Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Costa del Sol, Spain Posts: 9	Hi Jonathan, thats exactly what I am describing, maybe it is something we have to live with on these bikes. __________________ Ride safe and keep the shiny side up.
	0

12-05-2007, 03:15 PM	#7
jonathan180iq Super Moderator Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Dalton, GA Posts: 3,996	When I park the bike, I just mkae sure to roll it all the way to the end of what I described as the "phantom roll". Once you hit the stop, flop the kickstand out. That way, you'll know that the bike can't roll anymore. This is especailly helpful is you park on a hill.
	0