primert chain

[ard]

Correct, when you were doing the clutch last summer, you must have noticed the clutch basket has gear teeth on the perimeter. These mesh with a gear on the crankshaft that's behind the ignition.

I think HD and Victory are the only manufacturers using primary chains. The Japanese haven't ever used them that I can remember.

If that drive chain replacement doesn't work to cure the noise, time to pull the clutch cover.

And another thing, it's easier to tell where a noise is coming from when you're the passenger.

Well, I pulled the clutch cover, I pulled the pressure plate (The one with bunch of bolts in the middle) That had some play, I don't know it that is normal, I pulled out the center nut, check the clutch bearing it felt tight against the center, I had another clutch basket outer and inner, out of a GS1000 G, other then the friction discs, the spacer and the center clutch bearing, I replaced the inner and outer basket, but before I do that I checked the shaft, and visually and forcefully Inspected everything in the clutch area, I did not find anything suspicious, I put everything together, started the bike...You know what; the new components I put made more noise like it is described in many threads, clutch rattle, I'll wait for the replacement chain and sprocket, once I replace those, I'll know the reason for the noise, I hope it is the worn out chain. Thank you all for giving me all the info about the great GS to get it going. I have few other bikes, but I should tell you this is my favorite, for few reasons; the most important one is, this is the only bike my wife would like to be the passenger on, I also like the sitting position of this bike, weather I am in traffic in the city, or sight seeing, it allows you to enjoy seeing what is around you


Ardo.

[madjack57754]

I didn't catch all of this thread, but did anybody explain the relationship of the rivets to the clutch death rattle that I'm seeing described here? Rivets that are half sheared off will make the described noise, and most of the time you can not see nor feel them by just moving the basket by hand. If they shear the consequences to your engine can be fatal.
FYI Yamaha XS series had primary chains

[ard]

I didn't catch all of this thread, but did anybody explain the relationship of the rivets to the clutch death rattle that I'm seeing described here? Rivets that are half sheared off will make the described noise, and most of the time you can not see nor feel them by just moving the basket by hand. If they shear the consequences to your engine can be fatal.
FYI Yamaha XS series had primary chains

where would the rivetts be? are those the big black spots on the outer basket?

ard

[rphillips]

Yes, the 3 spots are the rivet heads, visible from the insideof the basket & the outside of the backing plate. The ones I've seen mess up, pulled thru the backing plate, but probably some have broke also. Beefing up a stock basket usually consists of a stronger, thicker backing plate, stronger springs, & probably stronger rivets.

[madjack57754]

Good description! When you hear about a suzuki blowing up a clutch basket, thats usually what happens. The rivets simply can't withstand the twisting force and shear through. The stock helical gear cause excessive twist and can generally weaken the rivets. racers switch to billet baskets with stronger rivets and have strait cut gears put on the crank and basket

[ard]

Yes, the 3 spots are the rivet heads, visible from the insideof the basket & the outside of the backing plate. The ones I've seen mess up, pulled thru the backing plate, but probably some have broke also. Beefing up a stock basket usually consists of a stronger, thicker backing plate, stronger springs, & probably stronger rivets.

After reading your thread, I got kind of concerned, so I went to the bike, pulled the clutch out, pulled the discs out, undo the center nut, checked the rivetts they looked very strong and tacked, so I dont think my case is broken or sheared rivettes, however, I was checking parts giagram at alpha sports, they were showing a shim in different thicknesses, I wonder if I should try that. anyone has experience doing this?

ard