digest number 404 - trip to washington

[short_the_calls]

Was able to pick up an A14 locally for a pretty good price, so I did. 8900 miles. Pretty good condition overall...some 'trail rash'. Owner said it would need a chain soon. Test ride was ok, a little 'click' from the chain when getting underway and after applying power after the upshift from 1st to 2nd. Noticed chain was VERY loose. Didn't hear any 'click' at higher speeds...wind noise. Got the bike home, took care of paperwork. Checked fasteners, readjusted control levers, filled 'er up and went for a little ride. Engine seems strong...a little better than my (completely stock) A11. Suspension not quite as good. So far so good. Next day changed oil and filter, and adjusted the very loose chain to spec.....2" play midway between sprockets. Noticed stock rear (43) sprocket showing wear. Now for another little ride. Wrong! As I started down the driveway....a rather loud 'snap' where the 'click' had been before. A couple more during the u-turn in the driveway. Cut power. Now pushing bike in neutral and continue to hear the 'snap'. Up on lift was able to isolate the noise to a particular area of the chain as it came around to about the 12 o'clock position of the rear sprocket. One revolution of the chain = one 'snap'. No obvious (to me) damage except the wear on the sprocket....teeth are showing some 'curvature'. Rechecked the chain tension, it was fine. Rolled the bike around in neutral a little bit more...same noise, same place (marked it). Spoke to a local atv repairman that I know who said (without seeing/hearing the bike) that it sounded like the rear sprocket. I'm not so sure of that because one chain rev = one 'snap'. So here's a few questions from a 'wanna-be do-it yerself wrench'............ First....what the heck is makin' that snapping noise? Would the VERY loose chain mask the problem during test-drive? How do you know when the chain and/or the sprocket are worn OUT?....Unseviceable/Unsafe? Would a bad bearing make any noise like this? (or grind like that ol' leBaron) :~) Will a new sprocket, counter-sprocket, and chain get this bike back on the road? Can I readjust the chain back to 'very loose' and ride this thing around whilst awaiting parts from Fred? Any tips. techniques, gotcha's I need to know about in swapping out chain/sprockets? (Be my 1st time!). What am I missing?...........................go easy................... Thanks guys. Scott Payson, AZ A14 A11 V65

[monahanwb]

--- In DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com, "short_the_calls" wrote:

> Up on lift was able to isolate the noise to a particular area of

the

> chain as it came around to about the 12 o'clock position of the

rear

> sprocket. One revolution of the chain = one 'snap'. No obvious > (to me) damage except the wear on the sprocket....teeth are showing > some 'curvature'. Rechecked the chain tension, it was fine. > > First....what the heck is makin' that snapping noise?

the snapper.

[Devon Jarvis]

short_the_calls wrote:

>... >Owner said it would need a chain soon. > >Test ride was ok, a little 'click' from the chain >

....

> adjusted the very loose chain >to spec.....2" play midway between sprockets. >

......

>a rather loud 'snap' where >the 'click' had been before. >

Sounds like you set the chain a bit too tight, particularly if the chain and sprockets are already worn. The chain probably has a few tight links, and they're hitting the hooked teeth on the sprockets when they come around. I set mine so with the rear suspension topped out, I can push up on the chain with my thumb and it will just barely touch the back edge of the rubber chainglide on the bottom of the swingarm. The proper wear test is pulling the chain off the back of the sprocket, if you can see more than 1/2 the height of the teeth it's time for the whole mess to be replaced. In practice, with street bikes I have used a set until I lost teeth off a sprocket, or broke rollers on the chain. I don't do this with the KLR because I don't want to get stranded miles from a road. Devon A15

[kcuf_oohay_666]

you will need a new chain and front and rear sprocket. The chain and sprocket have so much play that for every turn the tip of the sprocket is hitting one of the rollers on the chain than snapping back into place. look at the tips of your rear sprocket. look around the front and rear sprockets. you may see silver or redish brown dust. this is your chain nad sprocket eating each other up. I had the same problem with my bike, my chain lasted to 27,000 with proper lubeing. your cahin and sprocket may last another 500 to 1000 miles the way it is. I got my replacment chain and sprocket from www.denniskirk.com chain #11-9981-106 $45.99 - Parts unlimited 520SO O-ring chain, 106 links xtra link #11-9984 $3.99 - incase you lose or damage the original one sunsstar front sprocket # 80-707-15 $26.99 sunsstar rear sprocket # 80-727-43S $45.99 Removing the stock chain is a pain in the butt. (I think) You wiil need to remove part of the rear frame where it bolts close to the front sprocket. Or use a dremel grinder to cut the chain in half (like I did). I tried to use a hacksaw but the plates are fairly hard and take forever to cut through. You will need a C=clamp to aid you in installing the clip. when you get your new chain on, lube it with 90w gear oil whenever it looks dry. water is what ruins a cahin. driving 50 miles in the rain can clean all the oil off a freshly lubed chain.

[Murray Dochstader]

Andy: You can take Hwy 20 all the way to Seattle. This will be the highlight of the trip! (Actually, there are no bad secondary roads in the Pacific Northwest). Murray Dochstader (from the north side of the border).