Here is a new one. I tend to fire the old girl up once a week and ride her through the yard for a bit to keep things moving. Lately I got a rather loud noise from the drive chain. Like every link is rinning over or against something. But only when I put it in gear and let the clutch out. Free rollong in neutral-no noice. Chain and sprockets only 3k old, all is lined up, sprocket solid, tension spot on, chain very well lubed. Slider on swing arm good.
What am I missing?
Cheers
Rob
Drive Chain Noice
Started by
Muppdog
, Feb 27 2025 12:02 am
15 replies to this topic
#1
Muppdog
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Posted 27 February 2025 - 12:02 am
#2
LAURENCEAUX
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Posted 28 February 2025 - 12:33 am
Some sort of end-float on primary drive from box when under stress of driving the wheel. A wild guess, but front and rear sprockets out of alignment can make any chain fret a bit? There will be a truly knowledgeable person on this site to crack this, then we'll all learn something hopefully.
#3
laughin in a windstorm
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just half a litre to go
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Posted 28 February 2025 - 05:48 am
the only time I have experienced chain noise that wasn't down to 'obvious' reasons was when the chain actually had more wear that expected
it's not my time to go, it's not my time to die
the last thing I want is for my family to cry
the last thing I want is for my family to cry
#4
Muppdog
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Posted 01 March 2025 - 10:20 pm
the only time I have experienced chain noise that wasn't down to 'obvious' reasons was when the chain actually had more wear that expected
Not that I can see. And just 3k old. With Scottoiler.
#5
Studley Ramrod
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Monkey Boys Monkey
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Posted 05 March 2025 - 08:12 am
Wonder if the chain protector has worn through on the swingarm ?
Mk2a 2000 in Silver. Top end Refurb @ 41100 miles, Scottoiler, Renthal Road High Bars, Up & Back Bar Risers, Bellypan, DL650 Handguards, Capt. Picard Bar Ends, House of Henty SS Wheel spacers, New Seat Cover Fitted. 58 MPG !! Now owned by chrisbee ! Studley's mk2a Bloggerydoodaah ! Photos of my first MK1 Photos of my MK2a TPLQHCSRSFC No. 1 Fan
#6
Muppdog
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Posted 08 March 2025 - 09:16 am
Wonder if the chain protector has worn through on the swingarm ?
I checked that first. Good beef left on it.
Still doing it. I will give it a long run-out as soon as they stop gritting in N.I. See if anything was just tight and needs to loosen up.
#7
Muppdog
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Posted 21 July 2025 - 11:28 pm
Well, its still there. Getting a bit louder now. And I do not believe anymore that it is the drive chain. It is from higher up. Very audible from both sides. Decided not to ride her until I solved this or got it solved.
Again, it is a clacking sound as if the side of a chain is rubbing on something. What is internal that could make this sound?. Clutch? As it only happens as soon as I let the clutch out? In neutral and pulled in clutch no noise. Frustrating.
Also had a 'failed to proceed'. Will be in another post.
All great fun, isn't it!
Again, it is a clacking sound as if the side of a chain is rubbing on something. What is internal that could make this sound?. Clutch? As it only happens as soon as I let the clutch out? In neutral and pulled in clutch no noise. Frustrating.
Also had a 'failed to proceed'. Will be in another post.
All great fun, isn't it!
#8
fixitsan
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Posted 22 July 2025 - 07:02 am
Well, its still there. Getting a bit louder now. And I do not believe anymore that it is the drive chain. It is from higher up. Very audible from both sides. Decided not to ride her until I solved this or got it solved.
Again, it is a clacking sound as if the side of a chain is rubbing on something. What is internal that could make this sound?. Clutch? As it only happens as soon as I let the clutch out? In neutral and pulled in clutch no noise. Frustrating.
Also had a 'failed to proceed'. Will be in another post.
All great fun, isn't it!
Sounds like it might be the clutch basket area from those symptoms.
Nealry every bike or car I've had does the same thing, when in the neutral position and the clutch depressed it's silent, release the clutch you get noise. Often it's a bearing, in a car it's a thrust bearing usually, but on the bike it's possibly loose plates. ?
It's an easy job to pull the side cover off and have a poke about
Ohlins, PC3, fuel cut defeat, +4deg timing, 17" front wheel.
#9
Muppdog
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Posted 22 July 2025 - 12:11 pm
Thanks. Hoped if I don't think about it it may not be that. Not easy to do where the bike is. No tools or indoor space.
#10
Muppdog
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Posted 13 August 2025 - 06:11 pm
Well,clutch cover off, nothing obvious. Should the center activator thing wobble about?
Plates out, look like new, dead flat, nothing sticking.
All basket parts solid on bearings, nothing worn.
When put in gear the centre hub got about 1/4 turn free spin. Normal?
Apart from that all looks and feels good.
?
Thanks
Rob
Plates out, look like new, dead flat, nothing sticking.
All basket parts solid on bearings, nothing worn.
When put in gear the centre hub got about 1/4 turn free spin. Normal?
Apart from that all looks and feels good.
?
Thanks
Rob
#11
Studley Ramrod
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Posted 01 September 2025 - 09:11 am
Cush drive rubbers worn ?
Mk2a 2000 in Silver. Top end Refurb @ 41100 miles, Scottoiler, Renthal Road High Bars, Up & Back Bar Risers, Bellypan, DL650 Handguards, Capt. Picard Bar Ends, House of Henty SS Wheel spacers, New Seat Cover Fitted. 58 MPG !! Now owned by chrisbee ! Studley's mk2a Bloggerydoodaah ! Photos of my first MK1 Photos of my MK2a TPLQHCSRSFC No. 1 Fan
#12
Muppdog
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Posted 01 September 2025 - 11:33 pm
Would that produce the noise around the front sprocket area?.
Meanwhile I found out that you don't hear the noise if you ride fast enough. So don't expect me to hang around too long.
Going to move her from N.I. to Cornwall beginning October. Will have her MOT'd, serviced and linkeages done, like every two years. If still noisy garage can have a snoop.
Meanwhile I found out that you don't hear the noise if you ride fast enough. So don't expect me to hang around too long.
Going to move her from N.I. to Cornwall beginning October. Will have her MOT'd, serviced and linkeages done, like every two years. If still noisy garage can have a snoop.
#13
Muppdog
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Posted 09 October 2025 - 04:35 pm
Well, mystery solved. It was the drive chain after all. Needed an MOT, passed again, so got the garage to have a look at it. Apparently, the current chain has several tight spots as well as several very loose spots. That causes it to klick over the front sprocket and slap quite violently against everything it runs over and around. Disappointing, as it is only two years old, has done 5k miles and has got a Scotty on it. The sprockets also got more and less worn teeth. Replace all!
The original chain lasted 32k miles! Only replaced two years ago. What make would that be?
The original chain lasted 32k miles! Only replaced two years ago. What make would that be?
#14
Bjørge
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Posted 10 October 2025 - 12:51 am
The original chain lasted 32k miles! Only replaced two years ago. What make would that be?
Well, first of all - the Scottoiler needs to feed oil - which isn't neccessarily the case. Secondly, age and little use harms a chain more than use. That's my experience (on both issues)
Bjørge
#15
Snowbird
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Posted 10 October 2025 - 07:00 am
Possibly over tight when fitted, tdm's need plenty of slack despite mot man telling you it's loose.
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#16
leehenty
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Posted 10 October 2025 - 02:54 pm
50-60mm it's in the book
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