What the actual fuck. Swingarm eaten by chain tensioner.

[Benson_JV]

My chain tensioner has torn back my swingarm as in the picture below. Went along the motorway at about 80 and I thought I smelt burning, so I pulled over as I thought it may have been the new indicator I fitted, it had 3 cables wheras the old one only had 2 so thought I may have fitted it wrong. As soon as I crossed the hardshoulder line I heard a fairly loud 'click' and when I stopped I was greeted by the sight of the chain tensioner at an odd angle grinding against my sprocket and the swingarm torn back like so!

Buying a new swingarm but in the mean time, will this be safe to ride? Also, what the fuck caused it? I had the back wheel out earlier to replace the cush drive but damn I'm not that bloody bad at mechanics.

https://img202.imageshack.us/img202/949/1000709ny.jpg
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Willson - "If you go out on that CBR600 in the winter, you're going to do more miles on your side than on your wheels."
Riding: CBR600FW Driving: Audi A6
Previous Bikes: '96 Bandit 600, '96 GPz305

[P.]

I'd attempt to fabricate a new end bit out of a large thicker piece of metal.. I wouldnt ride that, and im riding with forks leaking like a bitch, a tight as a nuns crack chain and a horrendous ticking noise

[Ed Case]

It looks like you missed out a spacer on the drive side of the axle Benson, have a look around on the floor near where you took the wheel out .

[Benson_JV]

The floor I did it on is 35 miles away
Do you reckon thats the cause or was that just an observation?
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Willson - "If you go out on that CBR600 in the winter, you're going to do more miles on your side than on your wheels."
Riding: CBR600FW Driving: Audi A6
Previous Bikes: '96 Bandit 600, '96 GPz305

[mattsprattuk]

most likely you didn't tighten the spindle enough, then tried some elaborate clutch work.
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Blue_SV650S wrote: it was a sh1te wheelie, but it proves that he can get it up in 3rd and can do angles. In summery, mattsprattuk is a gobby little sh1tebag, dopehead tw4t, but sadly for all of us, he probably isn't THAT full of sh1te!!
Kickstart wrote: Hi I tend to agree with Matt. All the best Keith

[Kickstart]

Hi

Shouldn't really be any great stress on it, so I would be worried about why it happened.

I would check the inside of the arms of the swinging arm. Suspect one has pretty much worn away stopping the spindle clamping the wheel in place.

All the best

Keith
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Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[stinkwheel]

The spindle also doesn't appear to be all the way through. There are normally a few threads sticking out past the nut.

There is often a spacer on the inside of the sprocket carrier (between the sprocket carrier and the wheel). These are easily lost/misplaced/dropped.

I'd get it all apart and see what's missing. There may be additional damage to the sprocket carrier and wheel.

No I would not ride it, not even to the end of the road.
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I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[Benson_JV]

Damn. That's just about the shittest bit of news I could get right now.

Matt; I didn't do anything too elaborate with the clutch, at the time it happened I hadn't touched the clutch for about 30 miles...

I'm 95% sure I put everything back together properly, but eitherway I'll take it apart at some point and compare against the manual. Have ordered another swingarm. Really can't be fucking doing this, I need the bike for work and I was planning on moving out this month so monies so fucking tight.
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Willson - "If you go out on that CBR600 in the winter, you're going to do more miles on your side than on your wheels."
Riding: CBR600FW Driving: Audi A6
Previous Bikes: '96 Bandit 600, '96 GPz305

[garth]

I had this happen to me on the back straight of snetterton on my monster. I'd picked up a puncture so had to get the tyre changed, the bike shop that did it but the spacer that goes next to the sprocket in backwards. This meant they couldn't tighten the spindle up properly.

BAM, shattered tensioner plate, missed my whole day on track.
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You ain't a has been if you never was

[Benson_JV]

[Benson_JV]

So I've bought a new swing arm. Do I need to buy new bearings or anything?

EDIT: Any idea where to find a chain tensioner from? Ebay/google doesn't have anything
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Willson - "If you go out on that CBR600 in the winter, you're going to do more miles on your side than on your wheels."
Riding: CBR600FW Driving: Audi A6
Previous Bikes: '96 Bandit 600, '96 GPz305

[neil.]

https://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1999-HONDA-CBR-600-CBR600-FW-CHAIN-TESIONERS-/140512799142?pt=UK_Motorcycle_Parts&hash=item20b73729a6#ht_1695wt_907

Is that it?

If in doubt, replace all the bearings, they will be cheap, but you could be in big trouble if they fail! You could try and check the existing one - twiddle your finger around in the inner race, does it spin smoothly? Is there any play/movement/roughness?

[Benson_JV]

Thanks for the help neil. Those are the chain tensioners, it says FW but then 1999 Reckon they'll work?
I'll get to work on the bearings and i'll have a look. It looks like it's going to be at least 2 weeks til this gets fixed. Moving out next week

EDIT: https://www.wemoto.com/bikes/Honda/CBR_600_FV_FW/97-98/picture/Rear_Wheel_Bearing_Kit_with_Dust_Seals/
Is that all I need?
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Willson - "If you go out on that CBR600 in the winter, you're going to do more miles on your side than on your wheels."
Riding: CBR600FW Driving: Audi A6
Previous Bikes: '96 Bandit 600, '96 GPz305

[mysterious_rider]

the bearings should have a number on. It's just a case of going on ebay or asking your local bearing shop using this number.

That damage looks absolutely mental. You must be pretty bad at mechanics for that to happen! I've done some ultimate bodges in the past, including riding a trike with the exhaust ratched strapped to the head (no head bolts) but that's pretty amazing!

Good luck with sorting it out though mate.

[stinkwheel]

[Benson_JV]

[mysterious_rider]

It's all a part of learning. You haven't hurt yourself and you haven't completely destroyed your bike so it's all good!

Still, it would be great if you could tell us how that managed to happen, personally I'd fix it myself. How else you gonna learn? Just take it easy round the block till you know it's fine.

If you missed out a spacer, wouldn't it be the sprocket bolts that would mash up the swinger?

Could you get a bigger pic of it?

[Kickstart]

Hi

I would expect a missing spacer to either have the locating studs for the sprocket immediatly chew up the swinging arm (outer spacer) or do it after a few miles (spacer between the sprocket carrier and the wheel).

Personal guess, swinging arm spindle a bit lose (which could happen from a missing washer, worn swinging arm or the first stages of the sprocket carrier bearing collapsing if the inner spacer was missing).

All the best

Keith
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Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[Benson_JV]

I dunno how it happened

I took my wheel off to replace the cush drive and put it back on. 30 miles later and that!

Here's a bigger picture.

https://img831.imageshack.us/img831/5595/1000710g.jpg

https://img713.imageshack.us/img713/7858/1000711.jpg
____________________
Willson - "If you go out on that CBR600 in the winter, you're going to do more miles on your side than on your wheels."
Riding: CBR600FW Driving: Audi A6
Previous Bikes: '96 Bandit 600, '96 GPz305

[mysterious_rider]

Looks like a bad design on the adjuster IMO. Shouldn't that style normally have a cap that covers the whole rear swingarm piece? Rather than just a bit of it?
Can't really see a cap.


Anywho it probably happened because the axle wasn't done up tight enough. Or it came loose, I usually threadlock mine to be safe.

[Acemastr]

[Benson_JV]

There was a cap! Don't worry I just took it off.
I had to take it off on the side of the motorway to get home as it was grinding against my sprocket.
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Willson - "If you go out on that CBR600 in the winter, you're going to do more miles on your side than on your wheels."
Riding: CBR600FW Driving: Audi A6
Previous Bikes: '96 Bandit 600, '96 GPz305

[Howling Terror]

On the subject of chain tensioners....

Some adjusters back out of their own accord.
I torqued mine to spec after a normal chain adjustment. 2k later i needed the back wheel out..Adjuster plate was loose.
Like many...i now threadlock mine.(might wire them)

No need for threadlock on my other bike. They always stay put.
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[totalllama82]

Odd, that actually looks like the spindle hasn't been fully tightened making the chain adjuster 'stop' the rear wheel from moving forward under acceleration....
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[Benson_JV]