shaft drive and countersteering nklr

[crawdad185]

I changed out the rear tire on '97 650 today. It had an IRC on it, and I replaced it with a Avon Gripster. When I put everything back together again and ran it around the yard a little bit, I noticed I've now got a strange noise coming from the rear tire area. It's almost like a scraping noise, or like something is rubbing on something as the wheel rotates. It's definitely speed related, as it gets faster, the faster I go. I tried leaning over as much as possible as I was coasting to try and pin point the noise, but wasn't successful. This was my first time changing out a tire on a motorcycle, and first time trying to adjust the chain tension. I followed the Clymer's in putting everything back together and adjusting the chain. I set the chain at about 2 1/8 inches of slack, although it seems to me to be real loose. I guess it tightens up as I put my weight on it. I know noises and such are hard to diagnose over the net, but if anyone can tell me things to check, something that I may be overlooking, etc., I sure would appreciate it. Thanks in advance for any and all help. Ron

[Keith Saltzer]

--- In DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com, "crawdad185" wrote:

> I changed out the rear tire on '97 650 today. It had an IRC on it, > and I replaced it with a Avon Gripster. When I put everything back > together again and ran it around the yard a little bit, I noticed > I've now got a strange noise coming from the rear tire area. It's > almost like a scraping noise, or like something is rubbing on > something as the wheel rotates. It's definitely speed related, as

it

> gets faster, the faster I go. I tried leaning over as much as > possible as I was coasting to try and pin point the noise, but

wasn't

> successful. This was my first time changing out a tire on a > motorcycle, and first time trying to adjust the chain tension. I > followed the Clymer's in putting everything back together and > adjusting the chain. I set the chain at about 2 1/8 inches of

slack,

> although it seems to me to be real loose. I guess it tightens up

as

> I put my weight on it. I know noises and such are hard to diagnose > over the net, but if anyone can tell me things to check, something > that I may be overlooking, etc., I sure would appreciate it.

Thanks

> in advance for any and all help. Ron

There are 3 spacers on the rear wheel of a KLR 650. I have heard about a few people losing 1 of them, usually the smallest one that is behind one of the outside spacers. Changing my rear tire a few months ago, I too drop this little sucker out, but found it before putting everything back together. If that is the problem, you need to stop riding it, and fix it. About your chain, yes, when you sit on the bike, the chain will stretch until the center of your axle bolt is level and in line with your swingarm pivot bolt. This is why when your off the bike, and it's leaned over on the kick stand, it looks kinda loose. There's no weight pushing it down. That's a good thing. Too tight of a chain can and will screw things up later on. And those things can be really expensive. Of course, too loose ain't good either, but it's the lesser of the two evils. MrMoose

[Stan]

Your rear wheel is not rubbing against the swingarm, right? Could it be your brake pads dragging? It's ok for them to make a little noise, but they shouldn't rub so much as to make the rotor hot. Ride around a bit, slow down with the front, and touch the rear rotor. Rear wheel alignment is crucial. The hash marks on the swingarm are worthless. I use a steel rod that clamps to the rear sprocket, and then I sight down the rod and make sure it lines up with the front sprocket. A more elaborate but more precise method is the so-called string method. Here is one link, but I use the method as Rob describes it in the second link. The string goes around both tires. http://www.yamahafz1oa.com/sportryderswheelalignmentmethod.shtml Here's a link to Rob Tuluie's explanation. Rob is a well known builder / racer / engineer dude. He is the man. http://www.l5pscootertrash.com/new/tips/wheel_alignment.htm -S crawdad185 wrote:

>I changed out the rear tire on '97 650 today. It had an IRC on it, >and I replaced it with a Avon Gripster. When I put everything back >together again and ran it around the yard a little bit, I noticed >I've now got a strange noise coming from the rear tire area. It's >almost like a scraping noise, or like something is rubbing on >something as the wheel rotates. It's definitely speed related, as it >gets faster, the faster I go. I tried leaning over as much as >possible as I was coasting to try and pin point the noise, but wasn't >successful. This was my first time changing out a tire on a >motorcycle, and first time trying to adjust the chain tension. I >followed the Clymer's in putting everything back together and >adjusting the chain. I set the chain at about 2 1/8 inches of slack, >although it seems to me to be real loose. I guess it tightens up as >I put my weight on it. I know noises and such are hard to diagnose >over the net, but if anyone can tell me things to check, something >that I may be overlooking, etc., I sure would appreciate it. Thanks >in advance for any and all help. Ron > > >List sponsored by Dual Sport News at www.dualsportnews.com. List FAQ courtesy of Chris Krok at: www.bigcee.com/klr650faq.html >Unsubscribe by sending a blank message to: >DSN_klr650-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com . > > > >Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ > > > >

[crawdad185]

Hope I'm not double posting here. Don't think the last one went through. No, it's not rubbing the swingarm. I checked that. It's possible it is the brake pads, however it sounds like it's coming more from the left side than the right, though it's hard to tell. I'm also certain that I didn't leave out any spacers, but I'll go back and check again to be sure. I'll do the string alignment to make it precise, but a rough sighting down the sprockets with a long ruler against the rear sprocket indicates wheels are in pretty close alignment. I think I'll also take the chain guards off also just to make sure it's not rubbing anywhere on that. Thanks for your ideas. I welcome any others. ron

--- In DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com, Stan wrote: > Your rear wheel is not rubbing against the swingarm, right? > > Could it be your brake pads dragging? It's ok for them to make a little > noise, but they shouldn't rub so much as to make the rotor hot. Ride > around a bit, slow down with the front, and touch the rear rotor. > > Rear wheel alignment is crucial. The hash marks on the swingarm are > worthless. I use a steel rod that clamps to the rear sprocket, and then > I sight down the rod and make sure it lines up with the front sprocket. > A more elaborate but more precise method is the so-called string method. > > Here is one link, but I use the method as Rob describes it in the second > link. The string goes around both tires. > > http://www.yamahafz1oa.com/sportryderswheelalignmentmethod.shtml > > Here's a link to Rob Tuluie's explanation. Rob is a well known builder > / racer / engineer dude. He is the man. > > http://www.l5pscootertrash.com/new/tips/wheel_alignment.htm > > -S > > > > crawdad185 wrote: > > >I changed out the rear tire on '97 650 today. It had an IRC on it, > >and I replaced it with a Avon Gripster. When I put everything back > >together again and ran it around the yard a little bit, I noticed > >I've now got a strange noise coming from the rear tire area. It's > >almost like a scraping noise, or like something is rubbing on > >something as the wheel rotates. It's definitely speed related, as it > >gets faster, the faster I go. I tried leaning over as much as > >possible as I was coasting to try and pin point the noise, but wasn't > >successful. This was my first time changing out a tire on a > >motorcycle, and first time trying to adjust the chain tension. I > >followed the Clymer's in putting everything back together and > >adjusting the chain. I set the chain at about 2 1/8 inches of slack, > >although it seems to me to be real loose. I guess it tightens up as > >I put my weight on it. I know noises and such are hard to diagnose > >over the net, but if anyone can tell me things to check, something > >that I may be overlooking, etc., I sure would appreciate it. Thanks > >in advance for any and all help. Ron > > > > > >List sponsored by Dual Sport News at www.dualsportnews.com. List FAQ courtesy of Chris Krok at: www.bigcee.com/klr650faq.html > >Unsubscribe by sending a blank message to: > >DSN_klr650-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com . > > > > > > > >Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ > > > > > > > >

[Stu]

When the shop forgot to put the spacer back in after changing a flat for me on mid-tour, the grinding sound I heard was caused by my sprocket carrier bolts against the inside of the swingarm, on the chain side. Look there. If there is any scoring, you forgot the small spacer on the left side of the rear axle. Also, check and make sure your rear brake shoes aren't in a bind. That's pretty common, too. Good luck CA Stu

> crawdad185 wrote: > > >I changed out the rear tire on '97 650 today. It had an IRC on

it,

> >and I replaced it with a Avon Gripster. When I put everything

back

> >together again and ran it around the yard a little bit, I noticed > >I've now got a strange noise coming from the rear tire area. It's > >almost like a scraping noise, or like something is rubbing on > >something as the wheel rotates. It's definitely speed related, as

it

> >gets faster, the faster I go. I tried leaning over as much as > >possible as I was coasting to try and pin point the noise, but

wasn't

> >successful. This was my first time changing out a tire on a > >motorcycle, and first time trying to adjust the chain tension. I > >followed the Clymer's in putting everything back together and > >adjusting the chain. I set the chain at about 2 1/8 inches of

slack,

> >although it seems to me to be real loose. I guess it tightens up

as

> >I put my weight on it. I know noises and such are hard to

diagnose

> >over the net, but if anyone can tell me things to check, something > >that I may be overlooking, etc., I sure would appreciate it.

Thanks

> >in advance for any and all help. Ron

[crawdad185]

Well, that gives me plenty to check tomorrow. Mud guards could be a factor. I recall it looked as though the old tire had been rubbing the inner mud guard. Could have gotten worse with the new tire. Tomorrow I'm going to remove the chain guard and mud guards and see if the scraping is still there. If it is, I'll go to the rear brake and check the pads again. From there, I'll completely take the tire off and start again. Mike, you could jump on your bike and run on over here to GA. It's only, what, 2000 miles. You could check my bike out and be back in no time. Ha! I'll post again when I check everything out tomorrow. Thanks a lot. Ron

--- In DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com, "Stu" wrote: > When the shop forgot to put the spacer back in after changing a flat > for me on mid-tour, the grinding sound I heard was caused by my > sprocket carrier bolts against the inside of the swingarm, on the > chain side. Look there. If there is any scoring, you forgot the small > spacer on the left side of the rear axle. > > Also, check and make sure your rear brake shoes aren't in a bind. > That's pretty common, too. > > Good luck > > CA Stu > > > crawdad185 wrote: > > > > >I changed out the rear tire on '97 650 today. It had an IRC on > it, > > >and I replaced it with a Avon Gripster. When I put everything > back > > >together again and ran it around the yard a little bit, I noticed > > >I've now got a strange noise coming from the rear tire area. It's > > >almost like a scraping noise, or like something is rubbing on > > >something as the wheel rotates. It's definitely speed related, as > it > > >gets faster, the faster I go. I tried leaning over as much as > > >possible as I was coasting to try and pin point the noise, but > wasn't > > >successful. This was my first time changing out a tire on a > > >motorcycle, and first time trying to adjust the chain tension. I > > >followed the Clymer's in putting everything back together and > > >adjusting the chain. I set the chain at about 2 1/8 inches of > slack, > > >although it seems to me to be real loose. I guess it tightens up > as > > >I put my weight on it. I know noises and such are hard to > diagnose > > >over the net, but if anyone can tell me things to check, something > > >that I may be overlooking, etc., I sure would appreciate it. > Thanks > > >in advance for any and all help. Ron

[Stan]

Just remember that you've got two issues here: sprocket alignment and wheel alignment. It could be that the sprockets are aligned but the wheels are not, or vice versa. Does the noise manifest itself when you spin the rear by hand? With the engine? You can try to pop the rear caliper off (without disconnecting from the brake line - just zip tie it where it can't get sucked into the wheel) and seeing if that changes the sound. Just don't apply the rear brake when the caliper is off, or you'll have a tough time forcing the pistons back in. See Rob's articles at Motorcycle Online for a better description of the alignment processes. -S crawdad185 wrote:

>Hope I'm not double posting here. Don't think the last one went >through. No, it's not rubbing the swingarm. I checked that. It's >possible it is the brake pads, however it sounds like it's coming >more from the left side than the right, though it's hard to tell. >I'm also certain that I didn't leave out any spacers, but I'll go >back and check again to be sure. I'll do the string alignment to >make it precise, but a rough sighting down the sprockets with a long >ruler against the rear sprocket indicates wheels are in pretty close >alignment. I think I'll also take the chain guards off also just to >make sure it's not rubbing anywhere on that. Thanks for your ideas. >I welcome any others. ron > >--- In DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com, Stan wrote: > > >>Your rear wheel is not rubbing against the swingarm, right? >> >>Could it be your brake pads dragging? It's ok for them to make a >> >> >little > > >>noise, but they shouldn't rub so much as to make the rotor hot. >> >> >Ride > > >>around a bit, slow down with the front, and touch the rear rotor. >> >>Rear wheel alignment is crucial. The hash marks on the swingarm >> >> >are > > >>worthless. I use a steel rod that clamps to the rear sprocket, and >> >> >then > > >>I sight down the rod and make sure it lines up with the front >> >> >sprocket. > > >>A more elaborate but more precise method is the so-called string >> >> >method. > > >>Here is one link, but I use the method as Rob describes it in the >> >> >second > > >>link. The string goes around both tires. >> >>http://www.yamahafz1oa.com/sportryderswheelalignmentmethod.shtml >> >>Here's a link to Rob Tuluie's explanation. Rob is a well known >> >> >builder > > >>/ racer / engineer dude. He is the man. >> >>http://www.l5pscootertrash.com/new/tips/wheel_alignment.htm >> >>-S >> >> >> >>crawdad185 wrote: >> >> >> >>>I changed out the rear tire on '97 650 today. It had an IRC on >>> >>> >it, > > >>>and I replaced it with a Avon Gripster. When I put everything >>> >>> >back > > >>>together again and ran it around the yard a little bit, I noticed >>>I've now got a strange noise coming from the rear tire area. It's >>>almost like a scraping noise, or like something is rubbing on >>>something as the wheel rotates. It's definitely speed related, as >>> >>> >it > > >>>gets faster, the faster I go. I tried leaning over as much as >>>possible as I was coasting to try and pin point the noise, but >>> >>> >wasn't > > >>>successful. This was my first time changing out a tire on a >>>motorcycle, and first time trying to adjust the chain tension. I >>>followed the Clymer's in putting everything back together and >>>adjusting the chain. I set the chain at about 2 1/8 inches of >>> >>> >slack, > > >>>although it seems to me to be real loose. I guess it tightens up >>> >>> >as > > >>>I put my weight on it. I know noises and such are hard to >>> >>> >diagnose > > >>>over the net, but if anyone can tell me things to check, something >>>that I may be overlooking, etc., I sure would appreciate it. >>> >>> >Thanks > > >>>in advance for any and all help. Ron >>> >>> >>>List sponsored by Dual Sport News at www.dualsportnews.com. List >>> >>> >FAQ courtesy of Chris Krok at: www.bigcee.com/klr650faq.html > > >>>Unsubscribe by sending a blank message to: >>>DSN_klr650-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com . >>> >>> >>> >>>Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to >>> >>> >http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ > > >>> >>> >>> >>> > > >List sponsored by Dual Sport News at www.dualsportnews.com. List FAQ courtesy of Chris Krok at: www.bigcee.com/klr650faq.html >Unsubscribe by sending a blank message to: >DSN_klr650-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com . > > > >Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ > > > >

[monahanwb]

--- In DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com, Stan wrote:

> Just remember that you've got two issues here: sprocket alignment

and

> wheel alignment. It could be that the sprockets are aligned but

the

> wheels are not, or vice versa.

I've never heard of that one, but this fellow definitely ought to take the wheel off and make sure the sprocket carrier spacer is in there.......it's one of those things that you need to learn as habit, on the KLR and quite a few other bikes.....

[Stan]

Right. I am not saying that all of a sudden the original poster's sprocket alignment is off as a result of mounting a new tire. Rather, that in principle the issues are separate. So let's say you picked up a random used streetbike you wanted to turn into a racer, you'd go through all these separate measurments in the course of prepping the bike for the track. Sometimes things are screwed up from the factory, so checking sprocket alignment as well as wheel alignment is a good idea, since it's so easy and the benefit of discovering a problem quite high. Significant sprocket misalignment (usually due to rear wheel misalignment, but can be due to frame/swingarm damage) will kill the chain and sprockets very quickly. This lesson I learned the hard way back in the day, and now I hope to share the benefit of the experience. I wish more bikes came with VFR-like eccentric adjusters - rear wheel alignment problem solved once and for all. -S monahanwb wrote:

>--- In DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com, Stan wrote: > > >>Just remember that you've got two issues here: sprocket alignment >> >> >and > > >>wheel alignment. It could be that the sprockets are aligned but >> >> >the > > >>wheels are not, or vice versa. >> >> > >I've never heard of that one, but this fellow definitely ought to >take the wheel off and make sure the sprocket carrier spacer is in >there.......it's one of those things that you need to learn as habit, >on the KLR and quite a few other bikes..... > > >List sponsored by Dual Sport News at www.dualsportnews.com. List FAQ courtesy of Chris Krok at: www.bigcee.com/klr650faq.html >Unsubscribe by sending a blank message to: >DSN_klr650-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com . > > > >Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ > > > >

[Judson D. Jones]

--- In DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com, Stan wrote:

> Your rear wheel is not rubbing against the swingarm, right? > > Could it be your brake pads dragging? It's ok for them to make a

little

> noise, but they shouldn't rub so much as to make the rotor hot.

Ride

> around a bit, slow down with the front, and touch the rear rotor. > > Rear wheel alignment is crucial. The hash marks on the swingarm

are

> worthless. I use a steel rod that clamps to the rear sprocket, and

then

> I sight down the rod and make sure it lines up with the front

sprocket.

> A more elaborate but more precise method is the so-called string

method.

> > Here is one link, but I use the method as Rob describes it in the

second

> link. The string goes around both tires. > > http://www.yamahafz1oa.com/sportryderswheelalignmentmethod.shtml > > Here's a link to Rob Tuluie's explanation. Rob is a well known

builder

> / racer / engineer dude. He is the man. > > http://www.l5pscootertrash.com/new/tips/wheel_alignment.htm

What size is your tire? I have no experience with Gripsters on a KLR, but a 5.10 k270 will rub on the muffler. I hear Rob Tuluie has been offered a job as R&D chief for the Benetton Renault F1 team. The man definitely knows how to develop a race bike.