Bike making noise. Chain/Sprocket issue?

So yesterday I was following my friend on the highway for a long while...as I was exiting the highway, I heard an odd noise whenever I got off the throttle. (when engine braking) It was a rythmic mettalic clicking. Going "shhic shhic shhic". At first I thought something was wrong with the motor but I realized it was going with the speed of the wheels....not of the engine.

I then thought it might have been the clutch but the noise happened with the clutch engaged or disengaged.

The noise comes and goes but when it's there you can only really notice it when you get off the throttle. Engine braking seems to make it louder....and it was loud enough for my buddy to have heard it driving beside me.

When I got off the highway I nosed around the bike and noticed my chain was really loose. The odd thing is that exactly one week ago (About 300kms ago) I tightend the chain....and I'm pretty sure (99%) that I tightened all the bolts up pretty good AND lubed up the chain...and the chain was good and tight. Not too tight IMO.

What could have caused the chain to have loosed up so soon? Is there a way to see if the chain is really old? (Might be original. 40,000kms on bike) If the chain is loose what could that rythmic noise be? Could there be something wrong with the sprockets?

Thanks for any help anyone can give.

 

I would bet that your chain has both tight and loose spots depending on where it is rotated when you check it. It is usually good practice to check chain tightness at several places while you rotate the wheel.

If you check it at a tight spot it could look good, but then at another point in the chain there could be a really loose spot.

Good luck to you!

 

I did notice the day I tightened my chain that when I had the bike up on the center stand and turning the rear wheel freely that there was a point where the wheel would be harder to turn then it would be loose again. No matter how hard I'd spin the rear wheel by hand it would at one point stop completely instead of gradually slowing down.
Does that mean I have a tight spot in my chain?

Time for a new chain?

 

So I work pretty late everynight. I got home at around 8:30pm-ish and got to work on the bike. Hard to see working in the driveway but I had a trouble light.

The noise I heard was one of the nuts that hold on the rear sprocket being loose and rubbing against the rear swing arm. I tightened everything and it seems to be fine.

But I went over the chain carefully and there is a Tight Spot for sure.

Is it worth it to get everything done before winter comes?

How bad is it riding with the chain like that with a tight spot in it?

 

Well with a bad chain you run the risk of it snapping, breaking, etc., if its OEM chain w/40K on it then its time for a chain/sprockets change. Very simple job, and very inexpensive compared to the cost of a new leg, or foot, or even an emergency room visit. Your chain will have tight/slack spots in it after some time, and use. I would highly advise putting some new gear on there. While your in there replace the front counter shaft sprocket with one that is down one tooth, and leave the rear one stock # teeth. I did that to my bike, and wow what a difference in acceleration, but not sacrificing alot of top end. Hope that helps sway your mind a little.

 

It may be the factory chain. I have no idea.

Does anyone know where to get a good chain from for my VF500? I don't think they sell aftermarket sprockets do they (for my bike)...with fewer teeth?

Bike Bandit.com has 2 different part numbers listed for the Drive Chain.
Why 2?

 

It is time

Slowbird
Time for new chain and spocket (Uneven wear and tear on the spocket), Check the manual in the forum I am sure there is size for your Chain and spocket. The whole set up run about $160 to $200 depending on the quality.

 

Chain and Sprocket? Just 1 sprocket?

Bike Bandit.com has the chain ALONE listed for $150.

 

I'm in the process of changing my chain and sprockets since my chain is loose and my bike is very jerky and lunging, it also makes a weird metal on metal sound by the drive sprocket. The chain and sprockets I believe are original so they have 45,000 miles on them.

I went to my local Honda dealer and got parts from them for $118 out the door. They got my JT sprockets and a 7,200 108 link RK chain.

 

Yea uh, my chain just broke. You don't want that. Next time you get a chance pull backwards on the rearmost part of the chain (the part that is wrapped around the sprocket). If the chain pulls off the sprocket, there's space in between your links, which you can never fix by adjustments, and you need a new one. I learned the hard way. Spend the money now so you don't have to spend more on a new clutch rod, clutch rod seal, sprocket cover, etc. Not to mention potential hospital bills as was mentioned.

 

Ugh...I'd rather not have that happen. (Though in Canada there are no hospital bills) but I see where yo uare going with that anyway.

I'll try and get the Chaina nd 2 sprockets...just need help with Part#'s and such. Parts guys at my Honda dealership are kinda slow sometimes. Or should I get some aftermartket parts from a Bike shop somewhere?

 

I was just surfing on Old Bike Barn @ Motorycle Parts & Accessories - Find What You Need @ Old Bike Barn and they have a few chains, and a front sprocket. I would just search around, fleabay and such as well. I'm a motorcycle mech. so I just got mine through work. I think it was Western Power Sports is who I ordered mine from, and I know they have an online catalog. Just google their name. Hope this helps, and Slippy you're right if you can pull the chain off the rear sprocket by hand that is just a disaster waiting to happen. I do believe you tighten the chain on the side stand and not on the center stand. Just check in multiple places for tight/loose spots, and find a happy medium, with about an inch slack up and down. Just like the perfect woman, not too tight, but certainly not too loose. LOL:unsure:

 

Chain and Sprockets

Hi, there is also a guy who trades on Ebay in the States under the Identification of 'partsfixation' search ebay members for partsfixation and then search his shop for VF500, full set is $168.00.
As everyone says if your chain and sprockets are starting to wear then replacement would be best as soon as possible, the other thing to note is that the wear rate increases as the chain gets older you will find that when chains are new you may not have to adjust for some time but as they get older the chain will need adjusting virtually everytime you check it.

Best of Luck UK Vic L

 

After reading through many of my shop manuals from various CB-4's and VF's, the method that Honda and Clymer recommend, is that you find the TIGHTEST spot in the chain, and then adjust it from there per amount of slack that is required.

If once your chain is adjusted and some area's of the chain exceed more than 2", then it's time for a set of New sprockets and Chain.

You never want your drive train to have too much tension. It's very harmful!

Cheers,
-Mike

 

Thanks everyone.

I'm gonna try and get a Chain and sprockets set off Ebay...and get it installed sometime soon.