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GS1100L vs. GS1100E Engine Sprocket Installation

  • Thread starter Thread starter Tom MLC
  • Start date Start date
T

Tom MLC

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Suffering a maintenance issue on the way home from a rally is never fun. I had been riding on a chain which was "stretched" beyond it's limit all weekend. A poor decision to begin with, I know. But I hoped I could squeeze a final 1,000 miles out of it. All things considered, this GS1100L was happy to attend the SoCal rally.

P3210030.jpg


Well I nursed that chain all weekend, while listening to it rattle against the chain guard. While on the way home Sunday night, I pulled into Santa Maria for gas. This time I am hearing and feeling a sickening rattle from around the transmission area. I'm suspecting that the front sprocket nut has worked itself loose. At least, I hope so. If it's anything worse, I don't think I can deal with it. I'm still 220 miles from home!

Well it's late. Almost dark. So I decide to get a room for the night and check it out in the morning with better light. Sure enough, that front sprocket is pretty loose. Now here's the technical issue.

I'm expecting to find the front sprocket on the GS1100L to be the same as my GS1100E. I'm surprised to find no large washer with the "ears" bent over the nut to hold it in place. On this L there is a bolt & retaining washer screwed into the drive shaft, which prevents the nut from turning off completely. But there is enough space for that nut to loosen almost a full turn. What's up with that?

Here's what some of my research reveals. The sprocket is the same part number on both the L & E models. The factory service manual specifically directs the philips head screws to be facing IN on the L model. Whereas, on the E model they are facing OUT.

Here's a few illustrations of the L sprocket installation. You'll see there is no bendable washer.

Lsprocket1.jpg

Lsprocket2.jpg


Here's a book view of the E installation. Philips head screws and the bent washer clearly visible.

Esprocket.jpg


So why would Suzuki deliberately REVERSE the sprocket on the same motor? And why would there be so much room for the sprocket nut to loosen on the drive shaft?

Further research finds that all part numbers are the same between models EXCEPT the sprocket nut. The L model nut is NLA. The E model nut is still available.

Now for speculation. Can I install the new sprocket, when I receive it along with the new chain, using the E model instructions? I would mount it with the philips head screws facing out, and with the bendable retaining washer to keep that nut from turning.

Any thoughts fellas? Besides doing a chain conversion...that thought is already in my mind. Let's just pretend I gonna keep it stock, for now.
 
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my only non-educated guess would be for chain clearance reasons
 
The sprocket can be split into three pieces with those three phillip screws. The sprocket and two dampeners. Lose the outer dampener and keep the inner and order the E nut and lock washer. This is what I did after walking ten miles the last time it fell off. No more I said!
 
Thank you Bill. I knew you would post. Your fix sounds right to me, but the question is why the deliberate difference? I'm just curious to know why this was necessary in the first place.
 
Perhaps they thought those "soft" cruiser riders needed a bit of extra dampening...? :lol:
 
Tom MLC said:
Thank you Bill. I knew you would post. Your fix sounds right to me, but the question is why the deliberate difference? I'm just curious to know why this was necessary in the first place.
Click to expand...
Chalk that one up with the 80 petcock.
Dan, you missed the dragrace in the dessert.
 
It's ok... I would have lost against most of the bikes there anyway! :lol:
 
Back on the subject...

I'm beginning to piece together a theory. It looks like the sprocket as it is installed on the E slides OVER the spacer on the motor side. When reversed on the L, the sprocket rests against the end of the spacer (and a large washer). This would position the sprocket on the L further from the engine casing. Is the 16" wheel on the L wider than the 17" wheel on the E? If so, then the engine sprocket would need to be farther out.

I'm gonna take some measurements this weekend.


Bill, you run the 17" wheel. Is your sprocket alignment okay?
 
Tom MLC said:
Back on the subject...

I'm beginning to piece together a theory. It looks like the sprocket as it is installed on the E slides OVER the spacer on the motor side. When reversed on the L, the sprocket rests against the end of the spacer (and a large washer). This would position the sprocket on the L further from the engine casing. Is the 16" wheel on the L wider than the 17" wheel on the E? If so, then the engine sprocket would need to be farther out.

I'm gonna take some measurements this weekend.


Bill, you run the 17" wheel. Is your sprocket alignment okay?
Click to expand...
The spacing doesn't change until after the sprocket hub. The spacer in the hub is shorter and I had to shim the brake caliper bracket at the axle.
 
Hi Dan,

I'm glad all went well at the San Diego rally - I missed you guys.
Hope to see you and the gang soon this summer. See you in
Dongguan sometimne soon.

Ken
 
I know, I know what you said but.... Just convert the chain. Easy as pie. get rid of all that stock nonsense, get the spacer and the new sprockets and chain and an E lock tab. Money =D
 
Well I'm learnig something here.

I measured the width of the E model 17" wheel & the L model 16" wheel. Measuring points were from the inner surface of the brake rotor to the CL of the sprocket. I find that the 16" wheel is more than .5cm wider. Now that may not seem like a lot. But it is rather significant.

Sprocket alignment is pretty critical. And a .5cm can result in premature wear and shortened chain life. I would never have given it much thought if not for this situation. Bill, I wonder if your sprockets are truely in alignment?

In order to ensure proper alignment Suzuki engineers designed this reversable front sprocket with different faces on each side. For the installation on the L model the sprocket rests flush with the inner spacer plus a flat washer. On the E model the oposite side of the sprocket slides OVER the spacer. This places the sprocket slightly closer to the engine case. How much would you want to bet this difference is .5cm? I haven't measured yet, but I'm pretty sure of what it will be.

Still I'm surprised at the poor design to prevent the L model sprocket nut from loosening. I'll feel better when I can install that bendable washer over the nut. A much better solution.
 
I used the same sprocket hub and outside spacer as with the 16" tire. This would not change the chain alignment.
 
Tom MLC said:
Well I'm learnig something here.

I measured the width of the E model 17" wheel & the L model 16" wheel. Measuring points were from the inner surface of the brake rotor to the CL of the sprocket. I find that the 16" wheel is more than .5cm wider. Now that may not seem like a lot. But it is rather significant.

Sprocket alignment is pretty critical. And a .5cm can result in premature wear and shortened chain life. I would never have given it much thought if not for this situation. Bill, I wonder if your sprockets are truely in alignment?

In order to ensure proper alignment Suzuki engineers designed this reversable front sprocket with different faces on each side. For the installation on the L model the sprocket rests flush with the inner spacer plus a flat washer. On the E model the oposite side of the sprocket slides OVER the spacer. This places the sprocket slightly closer to the engine case. How much would you want to bet this difference is .5cm? I haven't measured yet, but I'm pretty sure of what it will be.
Click to expand...

Well I finally got around to repairing the chain on this bike. It's been a low priority for me. Now I would like to make this bike my daily runner. So I'm back at it.

Somewhere along the way I decided to do the chain conversion. So I have on hand a new 530 chain, and the front and rear sprockets. Also the 6mm spacer required for the front sprocket. And yes, the bendable washer and lock nut for the E model installation.

Before I removed the stock front sprocket, I measured the distance from the outer face to an arbitrary point on the engine case. I measure 2.64cm. As I said earlier, the stock sprocket has a different face on each side. For the E model this sprocket is reversed, and it fits OVER the stock spacer on the shaft. This places the sprocket closer to the engine case. Wanna guess how much? The difference is .55cm. No surprise.

So for a proper installation of the 530 chain conversion on the L model bike, THE 6MM SPACER MUST BE PLACED ON THE INSIDE. Measuring with the 530 sprocket and the spacer on the inside gets me at 2.62cm.

BTW. For anyone interested, I will post a picture of both faces of the stock sprocket. Just as soon as my camera battery is charged!
 
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