Chain not consistently tracking straight

[mattd1205]

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.

[Brendan W]

Have you tried marking the chain and rear sprocket to see if it's chain or wheel position doing it?

[Eli69]

Also might want to check swing arm bearings.

[Cipher]

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?

[salty_monk]

I would think it's just the way the cush drive is seated...

[mattd1205]

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.

[mattd1205]

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.

[tatu]

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.