Honda-SOHC
SOHC.co.uk Forums => CB350/400 => Topic started by: Bradders on April 21, 2019, 11:21:25 PM
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Evening all. Have just pushed my bike into the garage after riding home from work and have noticed a clunking noise that appears to come from the front sprocket area. When I push it backwards it doesn’t make the noise at all. Any ideas what it might be? ( hope it’s not bad news🙁)
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Chain hitting the swingarm at the front?
Check the free play in the lower run.
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Have checked the free play Clem2112 and seems about right at 20 mm at the tightest point.
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Check the front sprocket plate and bolts. The bolts may be loose. 😯
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Rear sprocket also floats slightly on the rubber dampers, is there excessive play here?
Also look at the front/rear alignment of the sprockets.
Were all three items renewed as a set, a worn sprocket might make more noise on a new chain.
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Check everything out as above, but it may just be a normal sound of the chain on the sprocket, some bikes do.... maybe a bit of chain lube will help
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Thanks for your replies guys. Is the front sprocket easy to access so I can check? I’m not much of a mechanic!
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Remove the gear change linkage (10mm spanner), Remove 4 x screws, pull off cover et voila, there's the sprocket. Check it's not worn.
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Thanks very much. Shall have a look when I get home from work tonight.
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Also check the entire chain length for a stiff or seized link, it makes an awful sound if you have one. I had an "O" ring chain seize a link on my 750F1 many years ago, took ages to finally find what the problem was. Have never used an "O" ring chain since!
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Have just oiled the chain and seems quite a bit better but will check the sprocket tonight. Thanks for your advice.
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Sounds like typical seized/ dry links, check the whole chain to make sure all links are free and use plenty if good quality chain lube. It may even be a bit of grit or gravel causing it to not bend properly around the sprocket.
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Is your chain catching the chainguard?
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Evening. Checked the front and rear sprockets and all seemed fine ( to my untrained eye). Also gave the chain a good oil. Seems quite a bit better, maybe will completely stop the noise when the oil works it’s way in more. Anyway thanks for all your advice.
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Check that the sprocket bolts are not too long and that it is not a o ring or x ring chain ;)
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Ah, Trigger now you’ve confused me. It’s been a long time since I rode bikes so not sure about the different chains. Do you know how long the bolts should be or where I can find out?
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M6 x 12mm
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Evening all. Still have a clunking noise from the front sprocket area. Have taken the chain off to give it a good lube and then rotated the sprocket and the noise stopped. There seems to be a fair amount of play when I wiggle the sprocket. Is that normal?
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Mine"s got a bit of play as well. Don't worry about it.
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Yep, mine is the same, play that is. No clunking noise though.
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As mentioned earlier, while the chain was off did you check EVERY link for stiffness or binding? It only takes one to make quite an alarming noise. The fact the noise isn't happening when the sprocket is rotated without the chain really seems to point to an issue with the chain. With the sprocket cover off, rotate the wheel with the chain on, and do it slowly, when you hear the noise, mark the outside of the chain with chalk or similar where it is in contact with the sprocket. Continue rotating, and if the noise occurs again when the marked part of the chain is on the sprocket, that part of the chain needs careful inspection.
Evening all. Still have a clunking noise from the front sprocket area. Have taken the chain off to give it a good lube and then rotated the sprocket and the noise stopped. There seems to be a fair amount of play when I wiggle the sprocket. Is that normal?
Sent from my X6pro using Tapatalk
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Thanks for your replies. That’s very reassuring about the play in the sprocket. Thanks. I did check the links but I will do them again tomorrow and use hairygit’s method. Am I right in thinking the clip that joins the link should have the open end facing forward? Just watched a YouTube clip with the open end facing backward!
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Thanks for your replies. That’s very reassuring about the play in the sprocket. Thanks. I did check the links but I will do them again tomorrow and use hairygit’s method. Am I right in thinking the clip that joins the link should have the open end facing forward? Just watched a YouTube clip with the open end facing backward!
The closed end must face in the direction of movement of the chain! That is, facing forward on the top chain run. Open end faces backwards.
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Thanks taysidedragon that’s how I had had it. This guy on YouTube had it the other way round.
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Thanks taysidedragon that’s how I had had it. This guy on YouTube had it the other way round.
But you said the YouTube clip had it right!
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Don't believe everything you see on YouTube. Think about it logically.
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Don't believe everything you see on YouTube. Think about it logically.
I don't Mike, but Bradders seems to be contradicting himself. :o
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Sorry taysidedragon, I was confusing myself. I was looking on the bottom chain run and getting confused.
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When I fit a chain I have to think about which direction the split link goes. I point at the chain with my finger. I then rotate the wheel and check if my finger will hit the open end and knock it off (bad) or the closed end (good).
Hope this helps.
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Thanks Mike, that’s a good tip. Im not the most mechanically minded person in the world so tips like that help.
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Sorry taysidedragon, I was confusing myself. I was looking on the bottom chain run and getting confused.
Not a problem. 👍