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Suffering a maintenance issue on the way home from a rally is never fun. I had been riding on a chain which was "stretched" beyond it's limit all weekend. A poor decision to begin with, I know. But I hoped I could squeeze a final 1,000 miles out of it. All things considered, this GS1100L was happy to attend the SoCal rally.
Well I nursed that chain all weekend, while listening to it rattle against the chain guard. While on the way home Sunday night, I pulled into Santa Maria for gas. This time I am hearing and feeling a sickening rattle from around the transmission area. I'm suspecting that the front sprocket nut has worked itself loose. At least, I hope so. If it's anything worse, I don't think I can deal with it. I'm still 220 miles from home!
Well it's late. Almost dark. So I decide to get a room for the night and check it out in the morning with better light. Sure enough, that front sprocket is pretty loose. Now here's the technical issue.
I'm expecting to find the front sprocket on the GS1100L to be the same as my GS1100E. I'm surprised to find no large washer with the "ears" bent over the nut to hold it in place. On this L there is a bolt & retaining washer screwed into the drive shaft, which prevents the nut from turning off completely. But there is enough space for that nut to loosen almost a full turn. What's up with that?
Here's what some of my research reveals. The sprocket is the same part number on both the L & E models. The factory service manual specifically directs the philips head screws to be facing IN on the L model. Whereas, on the E model they are facing OUT.
Here's a few illustrations of the L sprocket installation. You'll see there is no bendable washer.
Here's a book view of the E installation. Philips head screws and the bent washer clearly visible.
So why would Suzuki deliberately REVERSE the sprocket on the same motor? And why would there be so much room for the sprocket nut to loosen on the drive shaft?
Further research finds that all part numbers are the same between models EXCEPT the sprocket nut. The L model nut is NLA. The E model nut is still available.
Now for speculation. Can I install the new sprocket, when I receive it along with the new chain, using the E model instructions? I would mount it with the philips head screws facing out, and with the bendable retaining washer to keep that nut from turning.
Any thoughts fellas? Besides doing a chain conversion...that thought is already in my mind. Let's just pretend I gonna keep it stock, for now.
Well I nursed that chain all weekend, while listening to it rattle against the chain guard. While on the way home Sunday night, I pulled into Santa Maria for gas. This time I am hearing and feeling a sickening rattle from around the transmission area. I'm suspecting that the front sprocket nut has worked itself loose. At least, I hope so. If it's anything worse, I don't think I can deal with it. I'm still 220 miles from home!
Well it's late. Almost dark. So I decide to get a room for the night and check it out in the morning with better light. Sure enough, that front sprocket is pretty loose. Now here's the technical issue.
I'm expecting to find the front sprocket on the GS1100L to be the same as my GS1100E. I'm surprised to find no large washer with the "ears" bent over the nut to hold it in place. On this L there is a bolt & retaining washer screwed into the drive shaft, which prevents the nut from turning off completely. But there is enough space for that nut to loosen almost a full turn. What's up with that?
Here's what some of my research reveals. The sprocket is the same part number on both the L & E models. The factory service manual specifically directs the philips head screws to be facing IN on the L model. Whereas, on the E model they are facing OUT.
Here's a few illustrations of the L sprocket installation. You'll see there is no bendable washer.
Here's a book view of the E installation. Philips head screws and the bent washer clearly visible.
So why would Suzuki deliberately REVERSE the sprocket on the same motor? And why would there be so much room for the sprocket nut to loosen on the drive shaft?
Further research finds that all part numbers are the same between models EXCEPT the sprocket nut. The L model nut is NLA. The E model nut is still available.
Now for speculation. Can I install the new sprocket, when I receive it along with the new chain, using the E model instructions? I would mount it with the philips head screws facing out, and with the bendable retaining washer to keep that nut from turning.
Any thoughts fellas? Besides doing a chain conversion...that thought is already in my mind. Let's just pretend I gonna keep it stock, for now.
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