Bugger me. Bike troubles

[Lias]

My GN's been making some strange noises from its chain area lately, so when I took it into Road & Sport this arvo for a WOF, I asked them to have a look at it.

For the record, its been making an intermittent clunky noise under certain circumstances (to whit, when I release the throttle and slow down withotu braking. When its slowing down through the 40-60km speed range, doesnt seem to do it at higher speeds, and gear seems to be irrelvant). I'd tried cleaning, oiling, and adjusting the tension which didnt seem to have any affect on the noise.

Anyways they did the WOF, and the service sheet said "Lubed chain, test rode, lubed chain again". Thought this was a bit strange cos I'd put chain oil on not very long ago, but figured oh well they must know what they are doing.

Riding home, still had the occasional clunk but did seem a bit better. Just down the road from home, horrendous noise happens. I figured something bad (tm) had just happened, slammed on the brakes and put the clutch in. Chain had come right off the sprockets, its still in one piece (sort of) but looks seriously munted to my untrained eye.

Pushed it the rest of he way (maybe 50-100m) Rang the shop, they said "Hrmm maybe we overloobed it, we'll come pick it up in the morning".

Anyone have any ideas on whats got wrong? The bikes just over a year old (about 2.5 weeks outside of warranty), I'm not religious about cleaning the chain, but I do it semi often, and apply castrol chain oil too.

Opinions/suggestions from mechanically minded people? Is this something I fucked up or something the shops fucked up. The bikes only done 7800km, and I'm guessing I'm looking at a new chain and sprockets now, which I just know aint gonna be cheap.

Pics attached, the second two are a bit blurry but you can see where some of the figure 8 bits have moved over to the wrong side of the chain.

PS: Ignore the date on the camera, its wrong.

[Karma]

Take it back to where you got the WOF and get them to fix it.

[Lias]

Take it back to where you got the WOF and get them to fix it.
I got the WOF from the local bike shop/suzuki dealer (road n sport). They are coming to pick it up tomorrow morning. I just want to know wtf happened lol.. Was it their fuckup or something I've done/not done.

[Zapf]

wow... one of the links has moved across the entire length... how did it do that?

[Mental Trousers]

Looks like it's just fucked. How old is the chain?? That link being on the wrong side of the chain will definitely make it come off, but how it got there is the problem. I'd say you're gonna have to file that one in the fucked if I know basket. Chains rooted now though.

[Waylander]

Might be time for that bike upgrade. Go ahead mate, could use another heavy cruiser to ride with.

PS. Make sure it's either shaft or belt driven...

[T.I.E]

wow... one of the links has moved across the entire length... how did it do that?

dam thats wicked, never seen a chain doo that before.
but replace chain, its stuffed for sure also check out your sprockets hopefully no damage has been done there too.

and yeah file it in that special place.

might wanna keep the chain or that area which is screwed as thats impressive. would like to see that close up.

[Lias]

Looks like it's just fucked. How old is the chain?? That link being on the wrong side of the chain will definitely make it come off, but how it got there is the problem. I'd say you're gonna have to file that one in the fucked if I know basket. Chains rooted now though.
1 year / 7800km

Its not just one link.. theres at least 3 of them that have gone across.

[T.I.E]

1 year / 7800km

Its not just one link.. theres at least 3 of them that have gone across.

na seroulsly that is not good. that is a serious problem one link is something but 3 wow.
it might be maintenance, check with someone you looking after it properly, and definately try another brand. thats way too wrong.

[Lias]

The thing that bugs me is that all the links were fine before I asked the shop to take a look at it.

Could the chain have come off because it was overlubed (what the shop said might have happened when I rang them) and then the links been damaged/chewed up by the sprockets after coming off?

[T.W.R]

the 7800km is that how much you've done on the bike ? coz that chain is munted!
the adjusters are fully extended, going by that the chains done a lot more than 7800km, a GN shouldn't slog-out a chain that quickly especially if you've been maintaining it regularly

if Kath Barnsley is still at road & sport have a talk to her

[T.W.R]

don't mean to be a bastard:bash:

but to give us a laugh, you should take the chain off lay it on the ground & see if you can make a semi circle with it ( links flat on the ground, not on its edge) my money says it will make close to a 180 degree arc!

i've seen a TS125 farm bike with a chain like that, a dairy farmer brought it new, never adjusted the chain & when it chewed through the chain guard brought it into the shop to findout what the problem was:doh:

[Rhino]

Many years ago I broke a chain, but I ain't seen one like that before.

A couple of thoughts. You mentioned that the bike was making noises from the chain before it was worked on and that you had adjusted and lubed it without having any effect on the noise. When you adjusted the chain did you put the bike on the centre stand and rotate the rear wheel to find the "tight spot" in the chain.:slap: All chains develop them as they wear. :argh: You should adjust the chain when the tension is at its maximum. If adjusted in a "slack spot", it's possible that it was far too tight when it hits the tight spot, and was stressing the links. This normally only happens if the chain is VERY worn.

The other thought is that when the shop adjusted it, the rear wheel ended up out of line with the front wheel (and also the front sprocket.) This would place a lot of side pressure on the links.:shit:

[Lias]

The is the original chain (the bike was new november last year, it and the chain have done 7800km fullstop, ever).

If the chain was in bad shape before I took it in, surely when they looked at the chain today they would have noticed?

Blah who knows.

[Bandit Rider]

Can't damage a chain by "over lubing" - a chain will run in an oil bath.

There has got to be a manufacturing fault in the chain. The clunking was almost certainly one of the links having moved - you would not have necessarily seen it unless you looked closely.

The dealer should definitely fix this - whether or not it is out of warranty. Still covered by consumer guarantee.

[avgas]

Your missing about 8 spacers from what i can see....these space the two sides apart....fucked if i know how they have gone (bike shop) joining links up to make a chain for you or what......
.....
WTF!!!
....
im still dumbstruck - its a bitch to remove spacers..... HOW THE FUCK!

[Mental Trousers]

It's down to either parts failure or wrong part (chain and/or sprockets) or workmanship. Parts failure may be the fault of the workshop if they didn't put the spacers in the chain or something like that. However, tough time proving that after 7800k. Hell, get them to check that the rear wheel is actually correctly fitted as someone may have put it back on with a spacer in the wrong place causing a misalignment between the 2 sprockets.

[Ixion]

Your missing about 8 spacers from what i can see....these space the two sides apart....fucked if i know how they have gone (bike shop) joining links up to make a chain for you or what......
.....
WTF!!!
....
im still dumbstruck - its a bitch to remove spacers..... HOW THE FUCK!

Nope . I've seen it. They don't get removed, they crack. As a result of slack chain, and cheap chain , and worn chain and sprockets. Then the two halves fall off, leaving just the pin. Takes a hell of a worn chain though cos what does it is the chain being so stretched that the rollers are coming round in line with the TOPS of the sprocket teeth , not the valleys. And the sprocket teeth tips crack the rollers open just like so many little chisels. If the bikes only done 7800 km, by the look of that sprocket and the chain, they must be made of compressed banana leaves.

[T.W.R]

The is the original chain (the bike was new november last year, it and the chain have done 7800km fullstop, ever).

If the chain was in bad shape before I took it in, surely when they looked at the chain today they would have noticed?

Blah who knows.

holy shit!

well with the way that chain has gone from new, its well worth seeing what can be done through the new bike warranty. for it to have stretched that much & to have basically collapsed the way it has, theres a manufacturing fault somewhere.
though with it obviously being adjusted up to full & the bike being new and under service schedule, it would have been noticed earlier. the arguement the shop will put forward will be neglect most likely, but someone has adjusted it recently though ( the clean mark of the axle head can be seen in the 1st pic).

[Zed]

My GN's been making some strange noises from its chain area lately, so when I took it into Road & Sport this arvo for a WOF, I asked them to have a look at it.

...Pics attached, the second two are a bit blurry but you can see where some of the figure 8 bits have moved over to the wrong side of the chain.Sounds like the problem started before you took it for a WOF, but that chain looked like it had had a bath in lube, see it all splattered over the tyre. I suggest you try and get some compensation out of the bike shop, because they should have picked up on it when you asked them to check it out! Get them to go halves with you on the chain and sprocket set, then it'll only set you back $130-150 instead of $250-300. :spudgrr:

[Stevo]

Can't damage a chain by "over lubing" - a chain will run in an oil bath.

There has got to be a manufacturing fault in the chain. The clunking was almost certainly one of the links having moved - you would not have necessarily seen it unless you looked closely.

The dealer should definitely fix this - whether or not it is out of warranty. Still covered by consumer guarantee.
I agree wholeheartedly, as copious quantites of lube will NEVER hurt a chain.
My guess is, that one or more of these links were shifting when you were riding it hence why the clunk was intermittent. By the time you ever slowed down to have a look it would have been in normal position................. Soooooooo That being the case, What now?

When you bought the bike they give a year warranty, BUT in the interest of good consumer practice most (not dealers, but distributors) companies have a 3 or 4 week grace period. In other words as soon as the year if you miss by a day they don't screw you over.

Not sure if warrantees cover chain and sprockets though?????????

[Dadpole]

Saw a similar thing years ago. Chain had been run to death. No adjustment or oiling, then the rollers cracked when the owner finally adjusted the chain - too tight.
(was not me by the way)

[thehollowmen]

The other thought is that when the shop adjusted it, the rear wheel ended up out of line with the front wheel (and also the front sprocket.) This would place a lot of side pressure on the links.:shit:

Nah it is really hard to do that as the chain will 'step' and align itself with both sprockets.

I ain't seen anybody align their chain perfectly yet.

And yeah, as said above... don't believe that over-lubing bullshit, unless they're taking full responsability and replacing your chain. chains of old used to run in enclosed oil baths and would last 100,000+ km, I'll find a pic if you want.

[thehollowmen]

hrm that sproket looks fine.

I think the bike shop may have improperly adjusted your chain.

I wouldn't be going back there if they cause you to have accidents like that
:bash:

[Sketchy_Racer]

flip!! look how much oil splatter there is on the tire!! i hope that was not oil coming off the chain while riding?? it could get a little slipery if it worked its way down the the contact patch of the tire.

[thehollowmen]

flip!! look how much oil splatter there is on the tire!! i hope that was not oil coming off the chain while riding?? it could get a little slipery if it worked its way down the the contact patch of the tire.

Speaking of that, I left my bike after oiling the chain to put the camera inside ... those stand photos..

And the little crotchdropping from around the corner (running around at what hour of the night unsupervised?) sprayed my rear tyre with chain oil!

I gave it a good scrub with warm soapy water but ... I'm still worried about it.

[Motu]

Ixion's got it - that chain is crap,and has been playing up for sometime.Sounds like the bike shop were suspicious,but just turning it around by hand was probably hard to pick up,blink and you miss it stuff.Your bike was built to a price,and the chain is one area to save money one.Make sure you buy a quality chain and replace both sprockets as well.

[Wolf]

When I rode his bike I noted the chain was loose and advised he tighten it, which he did. Afterwards I said it sounded like it still needed a tighten which he did again. After the first tightening it was running out of adjustment space.

I'm stunned that the damage is so bad after such a short distance - especially given that that is the factory-fitted chain and should at least be semi-decent quality. I've ridden more powerful bikes and lubed them less frequently than he has and gotten better service out of the (sadly abused) chain over longer distances. I've worn a few chains through lack of maintenance but I have never seen a chain in that state - all of mine the links were too stretched to line up with the teeth and valleys on the sprockets properly and I had already removed a couple of links but the spacers were never that rooted. And I've bought some budget chains in my time but none of them have gone to that sorry state!

[Lias]

Chain is as expected fucked, sprockets are thankfully fine.

Suzuki warranty apparently specifically excludes chains, according to the bike shop it could be in that condition at 2 weeks old and suzuki wouldnt replace it.

I'm pretty unhappy abotu it, but very little I can really do, other than not buy Suzuki ever again :-P

Which is okay cos I'm planning on a Triumph for my next bike :-)

[Waylander]

Lol you would fit the RocketIII quite wel I think.

[Wolf]

Which is okay cos I'm planning on a Triumph for my next bike :-)
He likes the "bad boy" image - Triumphs, leathers, black helmet, pushing the bike 35 miles in the dark...

:killingme

[Lias]

Lol you would fit the RocketIII quite wel I think.
I'm spur of the moment trying to get finance for a Bonneville America thats on Tardme atm.

[Katman]

I would agree that it looks like a manufacturing fault with the chain. I am a motorbike mechanic and have NEVER seen a chain do that.

[Katman]

Just realised I missed a couple of pages of replies before I posted.:doh: I still have not seen a chain do that but rather than a manufacturing fault I'd be inclined to point the finger at a cheap and nasty chain. Starts to make you realise how Suzuki can sell the GN at such a (seemingly) rock bottom price. Someone said it earlier - upgrade to something with a bit of class!

[Lias]

I'd be inclined to point the finger at a cheap and nasty chain. Starts to make you realise how Suzuki can sell the GN at such a (seemingly) rock bottom price.

That was pretty much the unofficial answer from one of the mechanics. They said that when Suzuki lowered the price on the GN to 2995, (apparently it used to be about twice that), they lowered the quality ALOT too.