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Drive Chain Suddenly loose
- Clearwind
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As for my issue, I was riding along the other day and all of a sudden my drive chain became very loose and kicked off of the rear sprocket. And I can't determine why this happened, any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
With regards to the background on the issue here is what I have determined with the help of my uncle who is very mechanically inclined thus creating the mystery of the loose chain:
1. The front sprocket hasn't moved, or doesn't appear to have moved and isn't loose at all.
2. The rear tensioners also don't appear to have moved, nor has the rear tire slipped at all. (everything is as tight as it originally came.
3. According to the previous owner, he just put on a new chain, (I bought the bike in the begining of september) so there shouldn't be any strech in the chain and upon visual inspection the chain seems fine and well lubed.
However knowing the alarming rate at which parts seem to fall off this bike we were wondering if there should be a third sprocket somewhere along the chain (that may have fallen off) to take up the slack similar to what would be found on a bicycle?
Thanks in advance
Clearwind
Edit: the bike is a 1978 KZ650
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- fixer5000
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1978 kz650b pretty much stock
\\\\\\\" get there fast but arrive alive \\\\\\\"
massachusetts
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- Clearwind
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A couple of things:
1. I've currently got about 9-10 inches of play in the chain, where as I had about 2-3 before.
2. when you say the notches in the swing arm are you referring to the stiffness settings on the shock absorbers? or something else? if you are referring to the shock absorbers they are set at the same amount on both sides currently.
As for whether or not the sprockets were replaced, I'm not sure as I didn't do the replacement on the chain, however neither of the sprockets look worn to me at this point.
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- 77_650B1
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It's also possible that the chain adjusters weren't tightened all the way and your whole axle moved a little. Just adjust your chain as per the owners manual or service manual , and see if it happens again.
1977 KZ650-B1
-Dual Discs
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-WG Coil Mod
-Alloy Wheels
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- JohNLA
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s49.photobucket.com/albums/f255/JohNLA_photo/1983%20GPZ%20550/
83 GPZ 550 Stock with 3600 miles_83s.
83 GPZ 550 4-1,pods,Mikuni 36,000 + miles
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- RonKZ650
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321,000 miles on KZ's that I can remember. Not going to see any more.
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- fixer5000
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1978 kz650b pretty much stock
\\\\\\\" get there fast but arrive alive \\\\\\\"
massachusetts
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- steell
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You've got 9-10" of play in the chain. Gads, that's near impossible even if the adjusters moved all the way to their loosest setting. I'd count the links and see if a too long chain was fitted first. If it's right in links, it's probably just a junk chain. If it's not an oring chain, it's definately junk and needs to go bye-bye along with the sprockets.
I'm with Ron on this, 8"-9" of play is simply impossible with a chain of the correct number of links. There's not that much adjustment available.
Maybe the previous owner fitted a 4000 psi tensile strength el cheapo industrial chain on the bike??
KD9JUR
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- BSKZ650
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is there any chance of getting some picks of the chain and sprockets,
if the wheel moved that much I dont think the brakes would be working right,and the swing arm loose would make it almost impossible to ride.
I am betting on a cheap chain and they did not replace the sprockets, thus they are shot
77 kz650, owned for over 25 years
77 ltd1000, current rider
76 kz900, just waiting
73 z1,, gonna restore this one
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- Patton
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... was riding along the other day and all of a sudden my drive chain became very loose and kicked off of the rear sprocket....
1. The front sprocket hasn't moved, or doesn't appear to have moved and isn't loose at all....
Is the chain still engaged with the front sprocket (meaning -- are the chain links still meshed with the front sprocket teeth underneath the engine cover)? Thinking maybe the chain has slipped off the front sprocket (i.e., countershaft sprocket), perhaps hung up inside on a damaged gunge cover (the thin metal cover that normally surrounds the sprocket).
Without removing the engine cover, could perhaps use a flashlight to look inside underneath the engine cover where the drive chain enters just before engaging the sprocket. Does everything appear normal?
Good Luck!
1973 Z1
KZ900 LTD
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- donthekawguy
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Rathdrum Idaho
1971 Kawasaki g3ss
1972 Yamaha R5 350
1965 Suzuki Hillbilly
1964 Yamaha 125
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