Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

Chain not consistently tracking straight

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

    Chain not consistently tracking straight

    I’ve got a bit of a head scratcher going. I replaced the worn chain and sprockets on my ‘78 GS750. I noticed that the chain isn’t consistently tracking straight. It tracks straight on one portion of the chain run and at the other portion looks like a slithering snake when turning the wheel by hand. It’s not a dramatic side to side but it’s still concerning. I’ve tried manhandling the rear wheel to see if I’ve got bad bearings in the wheel itself but it felt solid. The carrier has a teeny tiny bit of movement when grabbing the sprocket at 12 and 6 o’clock. Would I be correct in assuming that either the carrier bearing or Cush drive is bad? I did look at my Cush drive while the rear wheel was off the bike and I didn’t see anything obviously wrong with it.
    1978 Suzuki GS750

    Past bikes owned:
    1978 Suzuki GS750E, 1979 Suzuki GS750E, 1980 Suzuki GS850, 1977 Suzuki GS550, 1969 Honda CB350, 1976 Harley Davidson SS175, 1979 Motobecane 50V, 1978 Puch Maxi, 1977 Puch Newport, 1980 Tomos Bullet, 1978 Motobecane 50VLA, 1978 AMF Roadmaster

    #2
    Have you tried marking the chain and rear sprocket to see if it's chain or wheel position doing it?
    97 R1100R
    Previous
    80 GS850G, 79 Z400B, 85 R100RT, 80 Z650D, 76 CB200

    Comment


      #3
      Also might want to check swing arm bearings.
      2002 bmw r1150gs 1978 gs1000E skunk les pew 1979 gs1000L dragbike
      82 gs1100L probably the next project
      1980 gs1000G the ugly 1978 gs750E need any parts?
      https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=m_m2oYJkx1A
      1978 gs1000E skunk #2 RLAP

      Comment


        #4
        My carrier has had movement since new.
        Remove chain and check for side play in links may be a dud.
        Is it the super happy singing playful tiger brand direct from China inc?
        1983 GS 550 LD
        2009 BMW K1300s

        Comment


          #5
          I would think it's just the way the cush drive is seated...
          1980 GS1000G - Sold
          1978 GS1000E - Finished!
          1980 GS550E - Fixed & given to a friend
          1983 GS750ES Special - Sold
          2009 KLR 650 - Sold - gone to TX!
          1982 GS1100G - Rebuilt and finished. - Sold
          2009 TE610 - Dual Sporting around dreaming of Dakar.....

          www.parasiticsanalytics.com

          TWINPOT BRAKE UPGRADE LINKY: http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum...e-on-78-Skunk/

          Comment


            #6
            Originally posted by Cipher View Post
            My carrier has had movement since new.
            Remove chain and check for side play in links may be a dud.
            Is it the super happy singing playful tiger brand direct from China inc?
            yup it’s made of chinesium (another case of not obeying the mantra of “buy nice or buy twice”). I replaced it with my old chain and now the chain run tracks straight through out the run. While I was on the ground, I did notice that the rear sprocket is angled a bit with the top of the sprocket is closer to the wheel and the bottom of the sprocket closer to the left side of the swingarm. Ugh.
            1978 Suzuki GS750

            Past bikes owned:
            1978 Suzuki GS750E, 1979 Suzuki GS750E, 1980 Suzuki GS850, 1977 Suzuki GS550, 1969 Honda CB350, 1976 Harley Davidson SS175, 1979 Motobecane 50V, 1978 Puch Maxi, 1977 Puch Newport, 1980 Tomos Bullet, 1978 Motobecane 50VLA, 1978 AMF Roadmaster

            Comment


              #7
              Ok so I pulled the wheel off. The bearings seem ok and seem pretty smooth. The cush drive doesn’t seem bad either. I don’t have anyway to measure the runout on the axle so I’m kind of at a loss.
              1978 Suzuki GS750

              Past bikes owned:
              1978 Suzuki GS750E, 1979 Suzuki GS750E, 1980 Suzuki GS850, 1977 Suzuki GS550, 1969 Honda CB350, 1976 Harley Davidson SS175, 1979 Motobecane 50V, 1978 Puch Maxi, 1977 Puch Newport, 1980 Tomos Bullet, 1978 Motobecane 50VLA, 1978 AMF Roadmaster

              Comment


                #8
                Originally posted by mattd1205 View Post
                Ok so I pulled the wheel off. The bearings seem ok and seem pretty smooth. The cush drive doesn’t seem bad either. I don’t have anyway to measure the runout on the axle so I’m kind of at a loss.
                Just roll it on a flat surface.
                It doesn't rotate and is highly unlikely bent so is not going to be your isuue. I remember Londonboards had something similar happen to him. I can't remember what he did in the end but his started when the chain came off and jammed in the swing arm and sprocket. That did distort it a bit. We changed the sproket, and carrier but last i heard it was still a problem.
                sigpic

                Don't say can't, as anything is possible with time and effort, but, if you don't have time things get tougher and require more effort.

                Comment

                Working...
                X