I have the rear wheel adjusted as evenly as I can using the measurement technique. Rear tire was new less than 1K miles ago. Chain slack measured with the bike off the stand and with me sitting on it. Slackness varies pretty dramatically as the chain makes it's way around the sprockets. I have to suspect wear in the chain/sprockets. Like I said, I know I need them........just wanted some reassurance that should fix the noise problem.
Thanks!
Terry
Leem:
I could write a book about this topic and the things I've learned about chains and sprockets (oh, wait, I'm already doing that...), but here's a few tips to help you understand the 750 (and loops, check this on the 400, too...):
1. Buy prestretched chains. To my knowledge, the only people who actually do a good job of this is Diamond, who also invented this process. Other companies sometimes claim they do it, but one thing you can bank on: if the chain costs less than the rear sprocket, the company did not take the time (or build the equipment necessary) to prestretch the chain. This important process aligns all the internal components (800 parts in a 100-link chain) before you get it.
2.Use Honda's own sprockets on the 750. They are specially designed to cope with this bike's suspension and power train. Several points they show: tapered teeth tips (to cope with the rubber-mounted rear hub), larger-than-SAE base circle (to decelerate the chain gently upon arriving at the sprocket), and hardened steel teeth surfaces (to extend wear). There's more, like accuracy of hole patterns, concentricity, and some others...
3. On SOHC bikes: check the alignment of the rear hub. This can be done by centerstanding the bike in neutral and spinning the rear wheel while you watch from behind. The sprocket may wobble, instead of running true and parallel to the wheel: this means the hub is not fully seated. It is retained in alignment by a rubber O-ring on the brake drum (hard to 'click over it', both on and off), and the rubber blocks and aluminum fingers probably need some cleaning up and a little silicone spray to get them to slip together again after all these years. That's the only way I know of to get them to properly realign and stay that way: occasional disassembly, cleaning, and silicone lube. The hi-PSI car washes get that soap inside, and this causes problems over time. Cleaning works.
For the record: my favorite chain is Diamond's Powersport series, non O-ring. I've received as much as 40,000 miles from these chains, and at about $80 apiece, worth every cent in smoothness, quiet, and even wear over time.
