Play in Driveshaft on F650
 

Hi all,

I'm on the road, in Southern Tanzania, (just put the bike on a motorboat across the Rivuma River a few hours ago) on a long ride, and am experiencing a curious clunking sound coming from the area near my right ankle.

I found that the 32mm nut holding my sprocket on was loose not long ago...much to my dislike...and after tightening it I found that the clunking noise stopped. Then later, it started again, only this time the nut doesn't seem to be loose (at least I can't move it with my fingers this time) and I've noticed there is in-out play in the shaft the sprocket attaches to...

So, what's the clunking? Is there supposed to be play in the shaft (not more than a mm, very similar to the in-out play on the gear shift pedal...)?

I'll be around town fixing broken welds for a day or so.

Help!

Cheers,
Hunter

I suspect the sprocket is moving, the same as before, just the nut isn't as loose. It is supposed to be REALLY tight. A two foot breaker bar, big stomp on the brake pedal, and tighten as tight as you can. On most bikes there is a flat washer under the nut which you can bend over to lock the nut in place, dunno about the F650.

A small amount of endplay is ok.

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Grant Johnson

Seek, and ye shall find.
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One world, Two wheels.
www.HorizonsUnlimited.com

Thanks Grant,

I'll get a wrench and an elephant to step on it today...and if I can find some blue loctite in Mtwara, I'll whack that in there too (would super glue work?).

It's good to know the play is normal, but I'm still fretting about the kalunk kalunk kalunk sound I'm getting pulling up hills at low revs.

More later.

hey hunter

If you cant find loctite try some nail varnish, not ideal, but it works OK. Of course its important to choose a colour that accentuates your eyes...

I leave Mbeya today, dont know where Mtwara is... maybe nearby? I might even see you there. Ive got loctite with me.

Jim

Hmmm, don't like the sound of the kalun kalunk...

COULD be one of several things -

1. the sprocket splines are stripped and under high load it jumps

2. chain and sprockets totally worn out/loose, same thing

3. gearbox/primary system problems

1 and 2 are most likely.

See if you can get together with Jim, should be able to work it out together.



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Grant Johnson

Seek, and ye shall find.
------------------------

One world, Two wheels.
www.HorizonsUnlimited.com

Well, it seems there was a bit of many things at play...

I found a local Vocational Training College (called VETA, for any other travellers going to Mtwara, TZ in the far south East of the country) and while the welders and metal benders were fixing a very badly mangled headlight assembly from a little spill I took, (damn sandy Mozambiquan roads anyhow) I went to the mechanic's shop and tried to loosen the big nut. No doing. It was tight as can be. But, on Jim's advice via email, I checked the rear wheel, and very carefully adjusted the chain...then lubed it.

Presto. No more Kalun Kalunking...for now.

I'll keep monitoring the situation though, because I think I hear something now and then...not kalunk, but something under strain.

The sprockets look good, and the chain isn't bad either...though I don't claim to say I've adjusted the tension correctly...so it could be a combo of all these.

Thanks guys,
Hunter

Hunter,

see an article I wrote years ago on chain adjustment when I was writing for Cycle Canada. It's now listed on the tech pages: http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/tech/

Should give you all you need to know to be sure it's right.

------------------
Grant Johnson

Seek, and ye shall find.
------------------------

One world, Two wheels.
www.HorizonsUnlimited.com

I had a similar experience not long ago on my Dakar. Chain tighteing and lube worked temporarily, but I think it was down to the chain being unevenly stretched. The noise kept coming back after a couple of days. I rode it for a fair distance like that, from Ushuaia northwards, but in the end had chain and both sprockets replaced in Sao Paulo Brazil. As they had lasted me from Los Angeles I was reasonably happy about that. The problem disappeared and has not returned.

Richard

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Richb
http://www.postmaster.co.uk/~richardbeaumont/60684/

Richard,

I've determined you're right. I think the chain has seen the end of it's lifespan. I should have known it wouldn't make it all the way to Nairobi in good shape...but it will make it all the way!

I don't have a choice, so I'm pushing ahead. Slowly as she goes, a little lube every 100km or so...everybody think good thoughts!

Hunter

Glad the noises have gone and hope they will stay gone.
One thing I found in the desert (on XTs this was, not on BMs) was check/adjust your chain tension in the morning when its cold - by the evening it would look alarmingly slack but would tighten up overnight.
I presume its hot in Kenya right now

Chris S

(FWIW, you cant beat an X-ring DID)

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Author of Sahara Overland and the Adventure Motorcycling Handbook, among other things

http://www.sahara-overland.com and http://www.adventure-motorcycling.com

Thanks Chris, everyone,

I made it to Nairobi! Two of the collars that protect the pins on the chain had broken away, and the stretch in the chain was obvious. I found a guy here who repairs older BMWs, and will be replacing my chain with a new one soon. I guess I'll just flip the sprockets though, they both look fairly good.

Now, with the new chain, I'll be proceeding directly into the rocky, sandy, dusty north. This is where I get confused by the number of opinions on chain lube, ranging from using nothing at all, to engine oil, to light 6 in 1, to chain wax. Last time, I tried the no-oil solution, then switched to 6 in 1 when the clunking started...maybe that explains the of the state of the chain.

I'm sure this thread exists somewhere else, I've probably read it...but I haven't found consensus, so I'm just making best guesses as I go.

Hunter

Hello.
Try this link Motorcycle Chains

This should tell you all you need to know, if not more!

Hello
OOPS! That didn't work. Just do a hubb search for chain, your first hit is a good one!

Re sprockets, I don't recommend flipping. If there is any sign of hooking, it's best to replace.

In other words, if the teeth aren't prefectly symmetrical, replace. If the teeth are hooked, the effective tooth-to-tooth distance increases at a point in the rotation of the wheel, greatly increasing the stress on the chain and increasing the wear rate. So a new chain on old worn sprockets lasts e.g. half as long as with new sprockets.

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Grant Johnson

Seek, and ye shall find.
------------------------

One world, Two wheels.
www.HorizonsUnlimited.com

I did a lot of sandy, dusty, rocky roads in West Africa with my 650 (standard version), and experienced lots of problems with my chain. I also tried various options, and the best solution I found was when using no oil or anything for the chain.

jef