Sorry for taking so long to get back to you all. Been busy working on the bike and dodging sand storms. Now it's raining!



Hope you don't mind me admitting that I posted my original help request on 4 different forums. The level of help and really useful advice has been outstanding. It's great to know that so many people care about your wellbeing. Please take this reply as aiming at all of you. Sorry, with is super slow internet connection, I'm unable to reply to you individually.


The posts are at


http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...929#post390382

Advice needed in Mongolia: Transalp output shaft/ sprocket/ retainer problem, Urgent

Show us your TransAlp modifications! - Page 905 - ADVrider

http://www.transalp.de/forum/beitrae...em_urgent/#pid


So I did the following today.


Removed bashplate and checked chassis for damage: None found.


Checked engine mounts: All tight


Checked swingarm for damage: None found.


Rechecked swingarm bearings: Fine


Checked rear wheel bearings: Seemed fine.


Checked sprocket carrierbearing: Some play


Checked chain tension again: Still too tight, so loosened after doing all the work on the bike


Removed front sprocket and checked output shaft: no movement l/r, up/down, nor in/out.


The front sprocket is definitely on the correct way round. It may or may not be an OEM part, the discussion from May this year about it is at T/A Front sprocket question, similar question, but different to others? There is no writing on it.


The sprockets inside and out are pictured below. There is clear wear on the outside front and inside rear. Hence chain out of alignment, as suggested by most people. So if the front sprocket is cool, the problem is with the rear?!...



Rear outside


Rear Inside


Front outside


Front inside



As was also suggested, I put the bike vertically on a stand with the back off the ground, removed retainer, put front sprocket in correct position, started motor and engaged 1st gear: The front sprocket immediately skipped outwards to the end of the shaft, then continued to move left/right way beyond where it should sit.


So removed back wheel. The cushdrive rubbers looked a bit dubious (They will also be replaced next summer before setting off for Siberia)




Replaced carrier bearing and also the other 2 rear wheel bearings (I knew there was a good reason to carry all these heavy spares...). I say replaced, It was Roy the nice Dutch chap in the Landcruiser who did all the work. He's a heavy plant mechanic, so a fat Honda was quite familiar to him:



After cleaning everything, smoothing out the burrs in the central bearing spacer tube and greasing stuff we put everything back together. The 2 outer spacers were in the same position as previously. Longer one on the left/sprocket side, shorter one on the right/brake disk side. Everything seemed to fit much better.


Finally, ran the bike in 1st again, with a looser chain too and the front sprocket stayed where it should! While I was twisting the throttle somebody else standing 3 meter back behind the bike thought the chain was running true too.


I put on my final new retainer (number 4) and will take the bike for a spin out the the giant Chinggis statue tomorrow. Wish me luck! I'm very hopeful things will go well.

If all does work out well then the problem was caused by a slightly loose carrier bearing, a tight chain and possbly sh!te cushdrive rubbers. On the last tyre change in the stoney/dusty/dirty carpark in front of the Russian tyre-wallah's shop I may have been less than subtle too. If not...?

Next summer I'll also bring a complete new C and S set, plus new spare retainers and also a couple of modified retainers as described by East Coast in post number 6 at Advice needed in Mongolia: Transalp output shaft/ sprocket/ retainer problem, Urgent Conveniently I have a 1987 TA at home too, so have a demo model to test it on. Or EC will sell me one of his :-)


I'll advise how I get on following the test ride.


Cheers!

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