Front Sprocket Re&Re

So I got my 16t front sprocket and got started on it today. I removed the little plate and the thing with the bendy tabs and swapped the old 15t sprocket with the new 16t.

I reinstalled the plate and the thing with the tabs and tightened the bolts with a hand driver but the sprockets was wobbly when I tried moving it with my hand. I then whipped out the ratchet and tightened the bolts more to try and get rid of the wobblyness but I ended up shearing off the head of the bolt.

Is there a trick to installing the front sprocket? Why was it wobbly even after tightening the 2 bolts?

 

you need to get the tab seated in the front groove AND set halfway between splines to get it locked in place.........i think , maybe?

If tightening the bolts stresses ( bends) the tab, it's not set up right.

Aftermarket sprockets don't seem to fit as closely as stock Honda.

 

Well the shaft has a groove set in it to rotate the tab to line up the bolt holes. Then I just bolt up the sprocket to the 2 tabs I guess.

Maybe I'll Try them both and see if there is any fitment difference between the old one and the new one.

 

Not to be a wiseacre but do you have a Factory Manual? It is worth every penny – usually these come up on eBay for around $15 plus shipping.

I know hindsight is 20/20 but I would invest in the manual and also a quality torque wrench.

The torque wrench will prevent you from shearing off bolts and you’ll have the added benefit of knowing that the bolts are properly installed.

Okay, I'm off my soap box now ;-)

 

I've seen that before, but on older 70's and 80's. All I've ever done is put some grease on the splines to help prevent rust and constant metal-to-metal contact. The two bolts are only to hold the retainer plate on. Is the new sprocket thinner than the one you replaced?

FWIW, I might not be correct in my assumption of how it is put together...

 

it looks like the front sprocket doesn't attach to anything but the two plates that go infront of it.

2 Bolts.....2 plates.....that's all I see.

I do have the Honda Technical Manual for the bike......but for some reason there is no section regarding the removal and re installation of the front sprocket (that I could find). There's a brief mention of it in the Engine Removal section but it doesn't go into detail like the rest of the manual covers on other parts. :-??

I do have a torque wrench also but I don't see any mention of the Torque specs anywhere in the manual. :-(

 

There is sometimes a table of General Torque Specs for non-specified fasteners. Those little guys will probably be 40-60 inch/lbs or so (3-5 ft/lbs).

 

Thanks!

 

Standard Torque Values

 

VF500F Drive Sprocket

 

VF500F Parts Drawing - Drive Sprocket / Bolt Torque Spec / Lock Plate Note

 

The retaining ring stops the sprocket from coming off the shaft, but has no effect on how tightly the sprocket fits on the splines. That's left to the clearances when the sprocket was machined. Hawk GTs use a similar retention method (and it failed on my wife's Hawk because we over-tightened the chain, so make sure you keep the chain loose enough). Yes, it will wobble, but think of it as allowing the sprocket to line itself up with the rear sprocket..

 

Thanks IC for the illustrations.

Woody, thanks for the heads up. It was the wobble that was bothering me.


I ordered a new locking plate, flexing plate, and bolts from Honda....1 is back-ordered. Unsure which until I go pick up the parts tomorrow.

 

Glad to hear that things are working out. Were you able to get the sheared bolt out?

 

Yes...it came right out. I started using a drill and it spun the peice of the bolt right out. I got two new bolts and a new locking plate. I'll sand down and clean the old flex plate and try re-assembling it all this weekend.

 

Good deal!

 

It still boggles my mind that the only thing holding the Sprocket is two tiny bolts and two thin plates.

 

Honda has used that method since at least the early 1960's. It seems inadequate, until you consider that the only thing that would side-load the sprocket is a chain misalignment of some kind.

 

There should be no load on the plates, they're just there to keep things aligned. The splines take all the torque. However, if you overtighten the chain, you can load the plates with the chain trying to pull the sprocket off the shaft. We pulled the front sprocket half-off my wife's HawkGT and then shredded all the splines when they were only 1/4-1/2 engaged.

 

Ouch! ^^


Well everything is on and looking good.

Little bit of info for other VF500 owners: 16t front and 41t rear is almost too much for the 108 link chain.
With it properly adjusted it is almost too long.