primert chain

[ard]

Hi all, I have cluncking noise on my 1150e, it comes from the clutch, and transmission area, louder when I am slowing down before stop, and gets louder as it gets hotter, I did search, I could not find anything, I went to a bike shop told him about the problem, he said it is your primary chain, he said don't worry just ride it, well I thought I ask the group, should I ride as is, or is there a way to fix this problem, the search that I did showed nothing in the archives, any suggestions?

ard

[Big T]

1. Never, ever take your bike to that guy again - he knows nothing about your motorcycle that will be of any use to you
2. GS's do not have primary chains, so there is nothing to replace.
3. Your bike is at least 20 years old, the clutch basket might just be loose. Get a clutch cover gasket, pull the cover next time you change the oil, pull the inner clutch hub and see if that big nut is loose. If it is , tighten it.

If the sound is like rolling a coffee can full of gravel, it may be the clutch hub itself. You can get that reworked by APE or other specialty places

If it is really loud, take it off the road and fix it yourself. Do you have a repair manual?

[Tarbash 27]

make sure your drive chain is well lubed because they do get loud and make noise when there dry.

[ard]

Primary chain

Hi Big T. thank you for your response, last summer I replaced the clutch discs and spacer, I measured the springs, they were within tolerance, the noise is worst as I am coming to a stop as I down shift once I stop, the noise almost disappears, I have a Hines manual. what do they do to the clutch drum, do you mean the basket? how can I fix it? any info about this problem I'll appreciate highly.

ard

[ard]

primary chain

make sure your drive chain is well lubed because they do get loud and make noise when there dry.

The drive chain is beyond service life, I ordered a 530 conversion kit, however when the bike is on it's center stand and running, I could see the drive chain has some links that are not as smooth any more, however the noise almost disappears on center stand, when I ride it is a diffrent story, I hear it coming from transmission, and clutch area.

ard

[rphillips]

In my opinion, the drive chain won't make as much noise on the center stand, as it will when driving the bike down the road. It will also sound worse when slowing down. I would try to get the new drive chain & sprockets on asap, & hope that takes care of the noise. The first chain I ever wore out was in 1979. I rode 858 mi. from Norene TN. to Tologa OK. in one day. I'd never had to oil a chain more than once a day, but I'd never ridden that far before in a day. By the way it sounded, I thought the transmission was about to fall out on the road. Happy to find a new chain & sprockets, all was as good as new. Good luck.

[ard]

In my opinion, the drive chain won't make as much noise on the center stand, as it will when driving the bike down the road. It will also sound worse when slowing down. I would try to get the new drive chain & sprockets on asap, & hope that takes care of the noise. The first chain I ever wore out was in 1979. I rode 858 mi. from Norene TN. to Tologa OK. in one day. I'd never had to oil a chain more than once a day, but I'd never ridden that far before in a day. By the way it sounded, I thought the transmission was about to fall out on the road. Happy to find a new chain & sprockets, all was as good as new. Good luck.

well I should have the kit hopefully tomorrow, I get to it as soon as I get my hands on the kit, I hope that would take care of it Thank you for your response, and have a Merry Christmas you all.

ard

[Road_Clam]

Hi all, I have cluncking noise on my 1150e, it comes from the clutch, and transmission area, louder when I am slowing down before stop, and gets louder as it gets hotter, I did search, I could not find anything, I went to a bike shop told him about the problem, he said it is your primary chain, he said don't worry just ride it, well I thought I ask the group, should I ride as is, or is there a way to fix this problem, the search that I did showed nothing in the archives, any suggestions?

ard

Your chain is junk. When a chain develops a "stretched" section you will commonly hear the clunking. The reason it sounds worse hot is because you chain expands as it heats up, and develops even more slop. You also probably have some vibration. My chain is junk also, and it's getting replaced this winter.

[koolaid_kid]

What? Our bikes don't have primary chains? :shock:

[ard]

1. Never, ever take your bike to that guy again - he knows nothing about your motorcycle that will be of any use to you
2. GS's do not have primary chains, so there is nothing to replace.
3. Your bike is at least 20 years old, the clutch basket might just be loose. Get a clutch cover gasket, pull the cover next time you change the oil, pull the inner clutch hub and see if that big nut is loose. If it is , tighten it.

If the sound is like rolling a coffee can full of gravel, it may be the clutch hub itself. You can get that reworked by APE or other specialty places

If it is really loud, take it off the road and fix it yourself. Do you have a repair manual?

Big T, how is the power tranferred from the engine to the transmission, I am trying to find out what replaces the primary chain on our bikes. are there other manufacturers that has eliminated the primary chain? or is it something common to have.

ard

[rphillips]

Helical cut gears instead of a chain. Nothing new.

[bwringer]

And get this -- in these here newfangled GS engines, the transmission is actually part of the engine. Built right in. Daaaaaaaang! :shock:


Seriously, don't EVER go back to that mechanic again. Unless, of course, you just walked up and asked him about a funny noise, and he had no idea what kind of bike you were talking about. He might have just assumed Hardley-Ableson somehow.

[Big T]

Helical cut gears instead of a chain. Nothing new.

Correct, when you were doing the clutch last summer, you must have noticed the clutch basket has gear teeth on the perimeter. These mesh with a gear on the crankshaft that's behind the ignition.

I think HD and Victory are the only manufacturers using primary chains. The Japanese haven't ever used them that I can remember.

If that drive chain replacement doesn't work to cure the noise, time to pull the clutch cover.

And another thing, it's easier to tell where a noise is coming from when you're the passenger.

[Kaiser Sosei]

Honda used primary chains, at least in the CB750's.

[rphillips]

Yeah, my "83" Honda CB1100 F also has a primary chain.