clutch let go and chain fell off at same time

[newgsman]

have an 84 GS550E, was turning on to an on ramp went to shift into 4th and clutch lever "let go" and freely moved to the handle bar and chain came off the rear sproket at the same time! the clutch lever has no tension but is connected to the cable at the handle bar, it appears to still go into the tranny, i think somthing let go internally, but not sure. i will tear into it and try to repair,, what do you guys think?

[chef1366]

If you have a clutch push rod you probably bent it. It's under the sprocket cover.

[chiphead]

I think chef might be onto something here. Check it out.
The BIG question is why did the chain come off the rear sprocket and bend the push rod?

[mcycle-nut]

OR the cluctch cable just happened to break just at the same time the chain came off. Weirder things have happened...
Take off the sprocket cover and have a boo.

[newgsman]

hey thanks guys. turned out the chain was too loose and when it fell off it knocked the clutch cable off, and did not bend the rod! so all good there. but how much play should i have to the chain? thanks again

[reddirtrider]

hey thanks guys. turned out the chain was too loose and when it fell off it knocked the clutch cable off, and did not bend the rod! so all good there. but how much play should i have to the chain? thanks again

About an inch and a half of play. The GS750ES manual says 1.2-1.6 inches.

I adjust my dirt bike chains loaded with a rider, but on my street bikes I adjust them unloaded.

Check your chain periodically, especially if it's old and replace it if it reaches the service limit.

[newgsman]

About an inch and a half of play. The GS750ES manual says 1.2-1.6 inches.

I adjust my dirt bike chains loaded with a rider, but on my street bikes I adjust them unloaded.

Check your chain periodically, especially if it's old and replace it if it reaches the service limit.

a quick question. i was adjusting the chain and before i started i noticed it was off a notch on the adjusters like they had the wheel cocked a little. so when i put the chain back on i adjusted it the same on each side. when i turned the rear wheel by hand it got to a point during rotation where the chain wanted to bind, almost like it wanted to jump the rear sproket, but get past that point and itspins free again. what is going on there?

[jomomsophat]

bent wheel ?

it sounds like your wheel / axel / sprocket is bent.
or the front sprocket / transmition shaft is bent.
but from what you said it sounds like the wheel
does it bind at the same place in the wheel ?

[chuck hahn]

just a thought here.. I have 2 GS750s and get a slight click and impingment when the master link rolls over the back sprocket. Everything is adjusted properly and i even replaced the rear sproclet less that 2000 miles ago..dont know why it does it but its not a performance or safety issuea as far as i am conderned..still goes 100 and no prblems. one is a 77 and the other is a 78..

[newgsman]

it sounds like your wheel / axel / sprocket is bent.
or the front sprocket / transmition shaft is bent.
but from what you said it sounds like the wheel
does it bind at the same place in the wheel ?

yeah, it seems to bind at the same point everytime, and rear sproket and tire seem to track straight, at least by eye

[Spyderman]

a quick question. i was adjusting the chain and before i started i noticed it was off a notch on the adjusters like they had the wheel cocked a little. so when i put the chain back on i adjusted it the same on each side. when i turned the rear wheel by hand it got to a point during rotation where the chain wanted to bind, almost like it wanted to jump the rear sproket, but get past that point and itspins free again. what is going on there?

most likely the chain has developed a tight spot and is worn out it sounds like it's time for a new chain and sprockets
if you tension it to be the right tension at the tight spot then it will most likely be too loose and come off again so replace it and the sprockets before riding it again because you won't be so lucky the next time and it will bend your clutch push-rod and then your out for a while before you get it sorted out provided you can get a new push-rod there not all that easy to come by

[chuck hahn]

roll it slowly and as the master link comes around pay atention as to if it sort of just catches a bit and go around a few times and note where it happens and if it sounds the same each time..

[newgsman]

most likely the chain has developed a tight spot and is worn out it sounds like it's time for a new chain and sprockets
if you tension it to be the right tension at the tight spot then it will most likely be too loose and come off again so replace it and the sprockets before riding it again because you won't be so lucky the next time and it will bend your clutch push-rod and then your out for a while before you get it sorted out provided you can get a new push-rod there not all that easy to come by

that was my thought also, thanks for the second opinion. the chain is worn, pretty sloppy, ijust wonder why the wheel was off by 1 notch on the wheel adjuster

[chuck hahn]

I think i would concur with spyderman here.. best bet would to be rerplace the chain and sprocket out of hand whether they looks straight by eye or not.. that way you will form sure save a lot of heartache if it does bend the clutch rod.. and dont forget about that clutch cable..you did say it got slapped by the chain.. replace it immediately too

[chuck hahn]

you gotta torque that axle bolt real good too...and did you have a proper size cotter key in it???