Irregular Chain Wear

[Descolada]

I have been noticing a very pronunced "clunk, clunk, clunk" as I spin the back wheel by hand and it suggests that the sprocket alignment is out of whack. I also see this in an irregular chain wear pattern that did not used to be there (see Picture 1). I have checked the rear adjuster alignment by measuring the distance between the rear shaft spacer and the end of the swing arm and they are identical (see Picture 2).

Picture 1.



Picture 2.



Does anyone have any suggestions as to how I can further check the alignment please?

[Mr Nick]

My chain looks a bit like that mate: in my case it's because it runs over the chain slider at the spocket and the grooves in it polish the bottom of the links. It also makes a click/dunt/chap noise over the slider too.

My chain runs a bit looser though due to the longer travel but worth checking.

And if your chain looks like the bottom picture I'd maybe slacken it a bit....

Or play a tune on it. :violin:

[Descolada]

Ha, Ha - no the bottom picture is just an example of where I was taking the measurements from (it's from the service manual by the way so if you think it'a a bit tight you might want to take it up with Suzuki   )

[Joe Rocket]

On other bikes, in other manuals, you can put straight edged planks (or similar reference lines) along both sides of the rear tyre and check the distance either side of the front tyre. It seems a bit H-R but it will give you a better indication, I think.

It only checks the front/rear wheel alignment, not the alignment of sprockets.

HTH  

[Hondaman]

The marks on the chain are from either the rubber cush on the front sprocket &/or the chain slider & not any indication of chain wear.
However, if you are getting clacking & the chain slack is correct, the chain is probably knackered.

I find the adjuster markings satisfactory.

[greywolf]

That brightness pattern on the side links comes from the chain wearing into the #9 plastic buffer. The grooves in the buffer wear faster from the side plates until the rollers reach the buffer too. The raised rib on the buffer contacts the rollers to minimize wear but it still happens. Every bike with enough miles on it to get buffer wear will have that look on the chain. It has nothing to do with sprocket alignment.

[Descolada]

OK, so I loosened off the rear wheel and reset the chain and adjusters then tightened it all back down. seems to have done the trick and it seem's a lot less noisy. The chain is readjusted to the manual recommendation and the adjusters are aligned.

Thanks as always for all the input.

[greywolf]

How long has it been since you checked the condition of the front sprocket teeth? They wear much faster than the rear.

[Descolada]

Actually I checked it tonight while I was cleaning the chain. I changed the front and rear sprockets as well as the chain shortly after getting the bike because they looked very worn. That was at 17350 and I'm around 25000 now.

[endintears]

Maybe too simple an explanation but a seized link maybe.....