hmm, nonexistant sprocket spacer??

[Guest]

hey to the gs gurus and community out there! I'm changing out my chain and sprockets on my 79 GS550E and the Clymer manual calls for a spacer for the front sprocket (I'm not sure which side of the sprocket it should be on). It very specifically 'reminds' me to be sure to include it, buuuuuuut.

I can find no mention of a spacer on any parts fiche, factory service manual or on my bike .

Thus, anyone with experience with the 550's and sprocket changes: do they have a spacer that must be removed and replaced during a sprocket change? I'm dying to know!

Thanks again to the vast pools of knowledge patrolling these forums!

[Nessism]

Why are you using a crappy Clymer manual when you can download a real Suzuki service manual for free from Basscliff's website?

http://members.dslextreme.com/users/bikecliff/

I don't see any spacers in the parts fishe nor in the FSM other than what's pressed onto the transmission shaft.

[derickson104]

Beautiful! I wasn't finding any myself, not outside the crankcase anyway. I err on the side of the actual, factory Suzuki manuals but when I find conflicts or possible omissions I come here: don't play games, just ask! Thanks Nessism

[Nessism]

Look at Figure 2-96 in the FSM. Seems definitive.

[cowboyup3371]

The only "spacer" I know of is the lock washer tab thing that sits between the nut and the sprocket. Did you put that back on and fold up a tab or two against the nut?

[derickson104]

Absolutely cowboy, the lock washer is in place with the tabs bent to prevent the nut from turning. It constitutes the closest thing to a spacer I've found, and that's not saying much as it is definitely not a spacer, lol. The drive shaft exits the crankcase and then it's the retainer, sprocket, lock washer (bent over), and the nut.

At this point I have to assume the clymer manual made an error: either swapped with a different model or whatever, but the "spacer" appears to have sneaked itself into the protocol somehow!

[Sandy]

On the GS1000 the factory sprocket is wider in the spline area than the rest of the sprocket and the after market sprockets are the same thickness throughout requiring a 6mm spacer on the outside of the sprocket. The 550 looks like it has a 530 chain and sprocket but I don't know if it has the same issue as the 1000 with the 630 chain. Maybe this is where there is some confusion. The parts fiche for the 1000 also does not show a spacer as it is obviously part of the sprocket and only needs to be added when an aftermarket sprocket is used. The Sun 630 sprockets have the needed spacing actually cast into the sprockets so no extra spacer is required.