New chain and sprockets - new noise?

[dsaunders]

Hi

I recently had my chain and sprockets changed on my honda cb500 to DID x ring chain and sprockets. This was done at 29k miles.

It was done by a very reputable garage that I know lotss of people who use and have heard good things about.

The only thins is since the change (less than 100miles ago) I have noticed a new noise.

The noise only happens when I accelerate and the bike is in gear. If I accelerate and the clutch is in the noise does not happen. As soon as I let the clutch out and I am using the throttle it happens again. If i am not using the throttle, it does not happen either.

It's quite hard to explain the noise but it is mostly noticeable around 20-40mph and sounds like a clicking/whirring noise. Very hard to explain. It doesn't sound like when the chain was knackered though as that sounded like a very loud click every time the chain reached the tight spot on the front sprocket. And I could also hear that noise when the bike was just rolling without the engine running.

I have been told a new chain can take a while to "break in" but I really don't know. I have been riding just over 2 years and it is my first new chain and sprockets. I don't want to look into things too much but now I have noticed it, it is interfering with my enjoyment of riding.

The mechanic in the garage said I can bring it back after a couple of weeks to get the chain tension looked at again as it is expected to become slightly slacker a bit quicker the first time. As it is new and once power gets into the back wheel it will stretch it out etc. Which makes sense to me.

Many thanks

David
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[Rogerborg]

Sound unseen, your chain is too tight. Spanner monkeys luuuuurve them some over-tight chain.

Stop putting your safety in the paws of someone who could not possibly care less, and check the slack in your chain, on your bike, yourself.
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[NJD]

Unless there was some prior agreement, in writing, regarding warrenty prior to paying for the chain cost and labour charges then that re-visit will cost you.

If it is an over-tightened chain -- and as borg says the sound has not been seen by BCF -- then you'll want to play attention to it sooner rather than later before you damage the internals of the bike.

Chain adjustment is fairly easy and for a first timer, as I found out no so long ago, the most time consuming part is making sure everything is in line post doing the job.

Check the slack as per the manual and adjust if needed.

Use a big combination spanner (ring at one end and open at the other) to tighten the axle (do look at torque setting on manual to get an idea); I use a Halfords Pro one that cost, IIRC, a tenner and after a couple of turns it's as tight as it needs to be (varies depending on how much was loosened).

Measure from the back of the axle plate to the end of the swingarm on either side to ensure wheel is aligned.

Adjust chain side first and then repeat on non-chain side afterwards. Do small adjustments on chain side and other side and loosen or tighten as needed.

You'll be amazed how easy a small movement of the adjuster nut makes. If you look at the chain as you turn the adjuster nut with a spanner on the chain side you'll see it go up (to tighten) or down (to loosen). I adjusted mine and it took like the smallest adjustment in the world and made all the difference.

Or you can take it back, since it was shop fitted, and come to a deal about the noise. I doubt they'd accept responsibility for any serious damage without being proded by someone who knows a bit more than yourself at the moment.

As Borg says start doing your own work. Get to learn the bike better and save monies in the process.
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[tom_e]

Did it have oem sprockets on before? A lot of manufacturers have a rubber strip around the front sprocket which helps keep the noise of the chain clattering round it down. Unless you specially hunt one down aftermarket sprockets don't.

[MCN]

Chains don't 'bed in' much. And not so much that you need to re-touch the adjustment.

They only need a check to make sure all the shit is still there and secure.

And possibly a slather of chain oil. (Or Acidic/polluted/exhausted used engine oil some swear by. )

As said, learn the ropes/chains and do it your self.

It is one of the rules of harmony after all.
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Disclaimer: The comments above may be predicted text and not necessarily the opinion of MCN.

[dsaunders]

Hello,

Thank you for the replies.

Luckily I have done chain tension before as over the last 2 years I have adjusted a few times so am familiar with this process.

I will need to make sure I measure the slack accurately. And not just lift it up and down and think "seems alright" because when I had a quick look it did actually seem ok to me. So I will have a proper look tomorrow and measure it up accurately.

I'm not sure to be honest if the chain and sprockets were changed before but the bike has been in the family. My dad had it before me, and he sold it to me on 19k. I've done around 7k on it in 2 years. And I know when he owned it the chains and sprockets were not changed. Also before he had it, it was someone elses in the family. And we got a lot of paperwork with the bike and theres no receipts for chains/sprockets and judging by millage on the bike id have to guess no, that they have not been replaced before.

If it isn't due to the chain being too tight, what else could it be?
Also, if the chain is a tad tight, wouldn't the noise get better over time, say the next few weeks once the chain has started to slacken on it's own through use?

Thank you.
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[kgm]

If the noise goes away when you pull in the clutch then it's probably not the chain. Of it's a fast whirring noise could it just be the sound of the injectors?

[MCN]

https://www.cmsnl.com/honda-cb500-1996-t-germany_model1568/partslist/F__1200.html#results

Maybe not your bike but at 29k a new chain and sprockets would get new 'fish drive' rubbers. Item 3 in the diagram.

These reduce the vibration in the transmission.
Cheap to purchase and relatively simple to change.
There are not many parts to go wrong in the chain drive system.

Just an idea.
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Disclaimer: The comments above may be predicted text and not necessarily the opinion of MCN.

[dsaunders]

Hello,

I measured the chain slack at the midpoint of the chain with it on its side stand (as per haynes) and it is measuring at 35mm basically dead middle of the recommended slack 30-40mm.

The chain is a JT525 x1r
The front sprocket is JTF297-15
The rear spricket is JT C49

I thought for some reason they were DID chain and sprockets but clearly not. Are the ones i've had fitted a good make?

Also I have read in the haynes that a tight or kinked chain can damage the transmission output shaft bearing (I don't really know what that is) but could it be that? As I didn't really realise the chain was that worn until I had an advisory on the MOT for chain to slack. And when I adjusted the slack it had a really tight spot in another part of the chain.

Many thanks
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