Uh-Oh, think I broke my bike in Columbus, OH. Help!!!

[Guy]

Is it possible you've spun the generator rotor on the crank?

[Poot]

damn...for $1000, that wasnt to badd of a deal at all!!

Clymers manuals are the best I find, as my friend who bought a haynes manual, found it a slit bit more confusing.


Make sure, of all things as well, that you keep your chain well lubricated with good chain lube....dont go for the cheap stuff....

Although I've got a shaftie, they sell a lot of PJ1 brand spray at the suzuki stores I go to..

[Redman]

Oh, yeah, by looks of your photos, chain really needs adjusting, like others have said.
Also, you should get familiar with lubing the chain, and inspecting the sprockets. If you dont keep the chain lubed it will wear out faster and need adjustment more often, and wear out the sprockets too, and take up all the adjustment, and chain and sprockets need to be replaced.

In addition to possibly taking care of the klunking noise, adjusting the chain will take the drive train slack out of it, make the transition from from on to off the throttle smother.

$1000 dont sound bad for that bike.

Welcome to GSR.

[Anonymous]

Adjust and lube - definetly - yea, definetly. 8)

[crc1214]

Big Dog!!!

This is Chad, the guy you contacted about the 78 550 I had for sale in Columbus.

Man, I have all the tools and know-how to walk you right through this process. Even have cotter-pins for your axle nut. And a torque-wrench to boot. Could probably even spare some of my chain lube if you don't have some already.

You have my work e-mail, or just get back to me on this post.

If you can wait till this weekend, I can even drive up to your place or meet somewhere CLOSE to your place to do it. I say CLOSE because your chain is WAY to loose to be driving a significant distance. But who knows..... you could be right in my backyard........ I'm just east of Blacklick on Waggoner Rd.

Anyhow....... we'll get it done in about 30 minutes. We'll also check the length on the chain to see if it needs replaced.

If so........ I'll lead you to "the shrine" - The Rice Paddy - A salvage shop specializing in vintage Japanese street bikes - right near campus!!!!!

Let me know.

Chad
Columbus, OH 1978 GS550E

[Anonymous]

Hi Chad! Glad you found this post! I emailed your yahoo account!

[Anonymous]

Let us know what the noise was please.

Noises are hard to isolate. Please let us know what you found. I personally thinks it's the chain binding but I could be wrong. Mine was kind of clunky from sitting for so many years (even though it was garaged) but some chain wax (lube) smoothed it out. (Maybe it was just me that was clunky with gear changes?)

Also I get lots of my riding gear, i.e., leather, helmets, etc. at Iron Pony up at corner of Rt 161 and Cleveland Ave in Columbus OH. Sometimes you have to look real hard in their store to find their clearance stuff that is just what you need. That's how I found my full-face AFX helmet - hidden with halfs and 3/4's of the same style! They're moving to Westerville Rd soon where the old K-mart was which will give them lots of store space. I've never seen a place with so much clearance motorcycle goodies. No OEM stuff though.

By all means get the safety gear. I look like I'm going into battle when I ride but if I ever have to slide down the pavement, I won't lose so much skin or any TEETH. I put all my stuff on just to ride to Wendy's to get lunch about 2 miles away because you just never know what's going to happen.




Tim in Columbus OH
(near Cooke Rd & I-71)