need to get my chain back on

[Guest]

Anyone have any tips for getting chain back on front sprocket on a 80 gs450l without a major tear down? Thanks

[GateKeeper]

are you putting on a solid chain or a chain that has a rivet or c-clip link ?

if it's a linked chain then link it to the old chain and pull it through, attach your link and your good to go...

if the old chain is a solid, just grind off one of the links so you have a spot to attach the new chain.

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[kylemanley1]

It's a chain with a master link. I took the link off and ripped it out of there to clean it cause it was so dirty. Didn't think about how I was gonna get it back on unfortunately

[Agemax]

take the front sprocket cover off, makes access a whole lot easier........

[GateKeeper]

OOOOOPPPPSSSSS....

you can try and use some wire to poke in and around the sprocket, and then attach one end to the chain and pull it through ? have bike in neutral to allow the sprocket to turn...

is there not just a cover over that area that you can take off, sorry not familiar with the bike ? on my 750 I can take the clutch cover off and see the sprocket with no issues...

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[kylemanley1]

Haha that's kinda what I'm thinking of trying with a wire or something. Might be able to take the side cover off. I'm still so new to this stuff though I'm a little scared to dig further than I should....just yet. Repair manual recommends taking off swing arm to get to it, I don't really see how that would help but I'm no expert. Thanks for all the input man!

[GateKeeper]

swing arm removal is necessary if there is no master link, if it's a solid chain you cannot get it off without the removal of the swing arm or cutting off one of the links, same goes for getting it back on....

your chain comes apart so you are OK....

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[kylemanley1]

Ahhah ok I see. Thanks for bearing with me, this stuff is all very new to me. It's my first bike and only had it a couple weeks but it's been damn fun learning and tinkering

[loud et]

Haha that's kinda what I'm thinking of trying with a wire or something. Might be able to take the side cover off. I'm still so new to this stuff though I'm a little scared to dig further than I should....just yet. Repair manual recommends taking off swing arm to get to it, I don't really see how that would help but I'm no expert. Thanks for all the input man!

the manual says to drop the swing arm because the old chains had no master link they were one piece continuous chains.
you have a master link so you can just feed the chain around.
you should take the sprocket cover off for two reasons 1 you can take off your shifter linkage and clean and re grease it so it operates smoothly and 2 you can clean all that crud out from behind the sprocket coverand clean the shifter shaft and the hole it goes through in the cover and grease that.
All the little maintenance steps lead up to a smooth operating machine.
Hey, while you have the cover off you can polish the snot out of it !
Good luck

[Crankthat]

Since you are new to bikes.
It is ok to use the old chain if it is still in good order.
Make sure you buy a new master link specifically for the chain you are putting back on.

[kylemanley1]

Chains back on!! thanks guys\

thanks for the help guys. got the chain back on by taking the side cover off like you guys mentioned. Got to ride it around my back yard for a little bit. Didnt even get out of 1st gear but was grinning from ear to ear lol. It's running pretty rough right now. it only runs with the choke all the way down (which im still not sure is open or closed). it starts at a nice low idle for a few seconds then it jumps up to between 3-4000 rpm and if i try to move the choke it starts popping in the muffler. also its got bluish smoke coming out the exhaust. i plan on taking the carbs off and cleaning them. but any other thoughts on what could be the cause of the high idle or anything else would be great thanks!

[chuck hahn]

Gatekeeper..you dont put a solid chain on AFTER you put it together. They come with a "master link" of sorts. You string the chain, put in the link, and use the peening tool to peen over the ends of the pins..thus its now a solid master linkless chain.

If your buying the chain already made up, then yes youll need to remove the swing arm etc etc..

[Ton1959]

I Always put a solid chain on without a link. This way you clean and lubricate those swingarm bearings on time.