Free Play

[dwc]

Hi to all,

Just finished adjusting the chain on the strom and noticed that the rear sprocket has a little play from side to side. All is tight and torqued as should be.

Is this normal. I have never noticed before.

Or is there something more sinister going on.

Regards DWC

[Steve33]

You'll need to explain what you mean by "side-to-side"

looking from side of bike:

A> Rotation play (worn cush drive rubbers)
B> Linear play (worn mounting bolt holes)

Looking from rear of the bike:

C> sprocket wobble (bearing issues?)

I noticed mine had too much "A" so replaced the cush drive rubbers.

[dwc]

Hmmmmmm!!

I'm tempted to choose sprocket wobble as you call it. The funny thing is that I checked the bearings a while ago and could discern no untoward noises or movement from them, as a result I greased up and put everything back together.

Thanks  DWC

[Big Al wi the Vee]

I had a bit of play when I recently adjusted my chain.  Instead of replacing the cush drive rubbers I just packed them with some inner cycle tube pieces cut to fit.  I now have no play whatsoever and get about 100 miles to the gallon... well, not really

[theshed]

I have also packed mine out with old inner tube rubber in the past a good cheap solution to worn cush drive rubbers

[73bm73]

look at this:
viewtopic.php?f=50&t=13820&view=unread#p119289

[dwc]

Morning,

Some interesting ideas.

I like the cush rubber idea, I've always got inner tube laying around, I use them for bungees on the bike.

The spacer idea is also worth a look as I've notived the gear change is getting very clunky, but that might be the clutch needing adjustment. However I thought the spacer issue was more prevalent in the V-Strom. Would it be suitable for the Wee- Strom?

DWC

[greywolf]

Except for the wheel hub and brake rotor diameter on later Wees to accept an ABS sensor ring and the sprocket size, The Wees and Vees are the same at the rear drive. The only difference in the cush hub is the greater power of the Vee wears the cush rubbers out faster. The Wee's front sprocket is in line with the rear and the lower power does not require any change.

[dwc]

Thank you Greywolf.

A question about the innertube idea. How did you pack out the cush rubbers?

Regards DWC

[greywolf]

The cush rubbers on my K7 lasted until 50,000 miles before the wore to the point the sprocket carrier would come out by its own weight. At that point, I replaced them. Those experiencing faster wear can use pieces of inner tube or strips of aluminum depending on the degree of wear to save money.

[dwc]

Morning,

Don't wish to appear thick.In which way were the cush rubbers packed out? Did you place inner tube under or on the sides of the rubbers.

Regards DWC

[Steve33]

I'm guessing on the sides, to make the rubber blocks fatter, as they will only wear on the sides.

[Big Al wi the Vee]

I placed one cut piece on the left side of each section..

[dwc]

Morning,

Thank you all for your contributions. Bike maintenance on Monday or Tuesday.

Regards DWC

[jimbo8098]

Yes , a little bit of play is OK. I would say if it is more than 2 or 3 cm you best check the cush drive. They are located under the sprocket. On my old bike , you could get to the cush by taking off the wheel then simply pulling off the sprocket as far as I can remember.

Basically , the is a little bit of play there because the chain flexes as you are running down the street. There is no set place the sprocket will be. The cush drive means that the chain's flexing dosen't affect the running of your bike and the chain dosen't snap off.

[greywolf]

The cush rubbers absorb shock from road irregularities to make life easier on the drive. If worn, the force of the chain cocks the sprocket carrier in the hub, effectively wobbling the carrier to hub interface. While the position of the sprocket and carrier looks constant from the perspective of an external observer, there is movement from the perspective of the hub. It's a good idea to replace or shim the cush rubbers if the sprocket carrier falls out of the hub from its own weight when the wheel is removed from the bike. Otherwise, chain and sprocket life will be reduced.

Replacing the carrier to hub spacer on the Vee with one 2mm shorter and adding 2mm to the external spacer will keep the sprocket and carrier from cocking. Some people swear by the modification while others swear at it as there is some controversy as to whether it aligns the sprockets better or mis-aligns them. The Wee and Glee don't eat cush rubbers like the Vee does.

[dwc]

Having read all the posts I revisited the offending article and rechecked it. I'm glad to say that the movement was no way as much as described by Jimbo. Probably mm's at most. I'm happy to leave alone at the moment, and monitor.

DWC

[dwc]

Good Morning All,

I have finally got around to looking at the cush drive rubbers and have packed them as described in previous threads.

I've noticed a difference already during the ride to work. Better gear change, less strange noises, just feels a lot taughter, if that can ever be said about the Strom.

Thanks for the suggestions.

Regards DWC

[TravellingStrom]

It is the first time I read this thread, and noticed that my Cush rubbers are worn

I have inner tube rubber to pack them out but on closer inspection I can feel a slight wear in the rear bearings

I am not sure if this is normal wear or if the worn Cush rubbers caused it, but I guess I will replace the bearings as well

[Juvecu]

Had the same thing, the sprocket carrier bearing had play on it because the cush drive is a bit worn and stresses it more than it would otherwise. I replaced the bearing, but I haven't bothered to fix the rubbers yet, it's on my todo list though.