chain noise

[jimcor]

Well, got her all apart. Man was the inside of the front sprocker cover yucky! Found several interesting items in the grease. The end of a battery rubber band, a small washer and several pieces of what looked like half circles of metal. Could this be part of the chain? 8O I will have to order the new sprockets. I found out that the measurement of 21 pins in the Clymers manual may not be useful. :? According to the measurement my chain was still well within tolerance at 12.75". If that is so why is my adjustment maxed out? Thanks for all of your wonderful help. I couldn't make it without this site.

Kevin, it might be because the PO changed the sprocket to a lesser number of teeth on the rear. This was something many owners did, especially on the '80 550L, which was geared very low. This, of course, caused the engine to be at high revs at freeway speeds. So guys who didn't like to ride a screamer dropped the rear sprocket teeth from 51 to about 48. If they didn't use a new chain or break and remove 2 or 3 links, that could be why you are maxed out.

Take a good look at both of your sprockets, find the numbers stamped on them. If you are happy with the gearing this is what you want to order. But, if you tell a dealer you want original or stock cogs you're going to get 15f/51r, for which you'll need a chain 110 links long.

My '80 550L is geared to ride the highways. I use a 16f/48r setup with a 108 link chain.

[RacingJake]

Here's a pic of my 78 550 sprocket and as you can tell it's alittle worn. I bought this bike used back in 1980 and did alot of racing on the back roads of Maricopa County Arizona when I was station at Luke. Road that bike from LA to Vegas to Tampa Bay then back out to Texas too. That bike goes back a long way and I still remember all the girls, beer and the cops... now those were the days :twisted:

[jimcor]

[quote="RacingJake"]Here's a pic of my 78 550 sprocket and as you can tell it's alittle worn. I bought this bike used back in 1980 and did alot of racing on the back roads of Maricopa County Arizona when I was station at Luke. Road that bike from LA to Vegas to Tampa Bay then back out to Texas too. That bike goes back a long way and I still remember all the girls, beer and the cops... now those were the days :twisted:

Got your money's worth out of that sprocket! Out of the whole Bike!

[Jethro]

Wow, a 14 tooth cog. Must have been a wheelie monster!

[gspaul]

Do your sprockets have the standard number of teeth?

[RacingJake]

I think stock was 15-50, I was running 14-50.

She is fast and with that 6 speed tranny freeway flying was great. With two people on that bike she'd still do 115mph.

Back in the 70's I'd rode a GT750 or my H2, both are long gone by now. I said I'd never ride anything smaller than a 750 until I took that 550 for a spin. Still got it in the backyard just needs a little TLC.

[airportcop]

Stock is 15/51 and that is what I have. After looking at the sprockets again I can see some wear on the front one especially. Can't wait to try out the new parts when they come in. Thanks.

[Jethro]

rportcop Posted: Fri Aug 05, 2005 6:37 pm Post subject:

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Stock is 15/51 and that is what I have. After looking at the sprockets again I can see some wear on the front one especially. Can't wait to try out the new parts when they come in. Thanks.

This is definitely gonna solve your problem. Just to get you more pumped up, if you had a lot of vibration before, this very well may end that as well.

I found this decent article about chain alignment and such. I have trashed a brand new set of sprockets and chain by trusting the adjustment marks on the swingarm adjusters- so don't trust 'em. Check it out:

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/tech/chainadjustment.php