Chain rubbing against guard!

[Griffyn]

Chain guard rubbing...

I finally got around to cleaning up the chain guard that whitttom sold me a while back and found that it doesn't fit. I took it down the driveway and then back up again when I heard the weird rubbing sounds.

Disassembly revealed feint marks on the chain rivits and this scratch on the chain guard bracket.


Remembering back to the yob I got the bike from, he claimed that a 'cheap chinese chain off ebay' broke on him which caused the chain guard to get mangled, turn signals to get removed and several skin grafts for his arms and torso where the hot motor sat on him after the bike fell over.

Setting aside for the moment that he no doubt got what he deserved in the exchange, what are the chances that I have the wrong size chain/sprockets and his inability to order the correct parts is what caused his problem in the first place?

Anyone got any tips for me as to how I can fix it so that I have a chain guard again?

[tkent02]

Show us a picture of how the chain comes out of the sprocket cover.

More likely he screwed something up than a cheap chain just up and failed.

Wrong spacer or something like that. Show us a pic of the rear sprocket too. Are the front an rear sprockets aligned?

[chuck hahn]

Put a washer between it and the swing arm and space it away from the chain.

[tkent02]

Put a washer between it and the swing arm and space it away from the chain.

I would rather find out why the chain is in the wrong place than move the chain guard over with a band aid.

[tatu]

Maybe the chaingaurd bracket is a bit bent and needs a tweak to put it straight?

[chuck hahn]

The backer plate could just be bent in a tad too. But yeah everyone should check the sprockets alignments too. If all the axle spacers are there and in the correct places then "SHOULD" be pretty close. I always roll the wheel and watch as the teeth engage the links for binding or side hitting. Then put the sprocket cover on if satisfied.

[Griffyn]

A spacer wouldn't help, if anything I'd need to cut away a piece of the chain guard to get the plate CLOSER to the swing arm and away from the chain.

Looking closer though, i noticed that the chain is VERY close to the rear shock as well. I am strongly suspecting a sprocket alignment issue, like washers put on the insides of the sprockets instead of the outsides or something. That would be very typical of this kid's work.

Can someone help me locate an exploded parts diagram(s) (1980 GS750L) with all the spacers in the right places? That way I can go through part by part and make sure it's right.

Shock and chain:


Chain leaving sprocket cover:


A peek inside the sprocket cover:

[harley10]

Wow that's very close to shock !!

[yank]

What a nasty mess,i would start by giving it a good cleaning.

[Guest]

Looks like a good time for a 530 conversion kit and a serious cleaning.

[tkent02]

I don't have a 750 engine here to look at, but it looks like the chain comes out too far to the outside, like a washer was put on before the sprocket or something. Maybe one of those offset dprockets with the spacer built into it. Should only be the sprocket, then the thin lock washer you bend up, then the nut.

Actually I just looked, your model shows a small washer before the sprocket, the sprocket with the steel plate on the outside of it, then what looks like a locknut. Not showing any bendable lock washer. I wonder if he put the sprocket inside out so the plate is acting as a spacer? Here's a pic if you can see it:

http://www.partsoutlaw.com/OEMpartfi...001/5602830015

[Griffyn]

It is very possible that something got put together inside out.


Also, the sprocket cover is full of foam which is collecting all that nasty. I don't remember that from my 550, but I've never owned one of these bikes from new.

Maybe I should just buy a new side cover since this one is cracked (the same earlier incident)... You don't think the foam is supposed to be a fix for the cracked cover???

[tatu]

No, the foam is standard to deaden noise.

[Griffyn]

Looks like a good time for a 530 conversion kit and a serious cleaning.

I'm wanting to agree, but it would be a shame to toss an almost new chain and sprocket set if it can be made to work properly.

[Rob S.]

Hijack

Anybody need an original Z1 (1973) chain guard? Plastic, in rough shape. From an actual widow-maker!

Show us a pic of your Z1, and it's yours. I'll pay shipping.