DR 650 engine sprocket - which way round please?

**Aslan** · 14th November 2008, 05:25

Ok - so I should have marked clearly what I disassembled - but 'help' I've replaced my stock 15T with a 14T sprocket and am now suffering anxiety and doubt concerning whether the raised piece on the sprocket should face inwards toward the engine case / crankshaft or outwards. This is not clear to me from online part locator at Bike Bandit or any source I have.

Thanks in advance - cheers Aslan

**ducatijim** · 14th November 2008, 06:52

Hi Stephen, the raised part goes outwards if I remember right. But, you would be better off to:

Throw away the sprocket cover and locking plate,
Use both 13 and 15t sprockets and:
Secure with 21mm, external, circlips in the groove provided.

Now you have a very quick change gearing system( instead of the more modern and convienient 6 speed box) for both hiway and not-so-hiway!

The 14t is a reasonable comprimise, but 1st is still WAAAY high in the tight!

Simply brilliant!

**Crisis management** · 14th November 2008, 06:55

I "think" the raised part faces out as it provides some of the clearance for the retaining plate....which will need grinding down to clear the chain anyway!

At the end of the day the sprocket can't rub against the cases as the shaft spline prevents it moving that close, Ducati Jim will be along shortly to tell you to retain it with a circlip rather than the plate and bolts system.....the sprocket can safely float on the spline as long as something stops it falling off the end of the spline!

Edit.....Bugger he beat me to it!

**Bass** · 14th November 2008, 07:31

Originally Posted by Crisis management

Edit.....Bugger he beat me to it!

Ha haha hahaha!!
Hang on, just let me sneak out and sell some tickets to this one!

(They're both right Steve - its outwards)

And just to really piss Iain off, I tend to side with Jamie on this one. (Starting to sound like a broken record, eh?)
In Oz, with the mods he made, he had a front sprocket change down to an unhurried 5 or 6 minutes, on the side of the road. I took about double that because I still retained the covers and my rear axle nut is split pinned while his was Nylock.
Either way, the 13 toother made such a difference in the tight and actually spoiled me. See, my motor is really happy low down and so with the 13 on I never learned to use the clutch properly on the rough - I didn't need to - she just tractored on through. Now, with the 15 on and piss poor clutch technique, I tend to stall it or fall off - usually both.
I still have the 13 of course, but over there it was days between sprocket changes; here it's hours and I'm a lazy bugger.

Lastly, the other thing I discovered in Broome where I replaced the chain and sprockets, was that my bike being American spec, came with a 43 t rear sprocket where the NZ/Oz spec is 42 (IIRC). It was of no real significance however, as by then, we were through the real slow tight stuff.

**Crisis management** · 14th November 2008, 08:33

Originally Posted by Bass

And just to really piss Iain off, I tend to side with Jamie on this one. (Starting to sound like a broken record, eh?)

Bistard.....

I actually agree with you both, it's a better way of retaining the sprocket and worth considering if you are going to do regular sprocket changes.

**Aslan** · 14th November 2008, 09:56

Jim, Iain & Neil - thanks for your helpful comments. Trust you're all well

Seems I may have put the sprocket on wrong way round - bugger

The circlip idea and the various 'tooth' numbers all sound good - cheers Stephen O

PS Just need NordieBoy or ConneyR to chime in now with their views

**Bass** · 14th November 2008, 10:37

Originally Posted by Aslan

PS Just need NordieBoy or ConneyR to chime in now with their views

Now hang on.....
You have agreement at the moment which is an unheard of event here!
Let's not go and spoil things, OK????

**Aslan** · 14th November 2008, 10:57

Originally Posted by Bass

Now hang on.....
You have agreement at the moment which is an unheard of event here!
Let's not go and spoil things, OK????

you're right Neil - I plan to go home and turn the spocket round this evening before heading off for a training ride befre tackling the 42nd at the end of the month

**Transalper** · 14th November 2008, 11:03

cooneyr has sold his DR so I'll step in and say that I started with all this sprocket changing stuff and got lazy myself.
Now I just do most things on a 15/43 combo.
I can't remember the last time I put the 14T on, but it will indeed need the retainer plate ground down a bit.
Another thing.... both mine and J's bikes have the flat side of the sprocket out.
They came like that and that's how they still are so got me wondering now as the bit about providing some of the clearance for the retaining plate sounds like it makes sense.
I'll be popping down to the local dealer when I get a chance to check out a new one.

Nordie??

**Aslan** · 14th November 2008, 11:32

Cheers Transalper - I'm sure mine came with the flat side out as well.

Certainly yours and Iain's (CrisisManagement) comment about grinding some off of the 'cover plate' have got me thinking.

I'll be interested to hear what you find in talking to your shop - here in wellington the mechanics I spoke with determined by looking at the 15T OEM that it had been fitted with the flat side facing out. The determined this by where the wear was occurring.

thanks all for input

**Crisis management** · 14th November 2008, 12:02

If there is some concern about the sprocket "handing", stick it on and check the chain / sprocket alignment by viewing from the rear along the chain, if there is any serious misalignment will be visible.

**MXNUT** · 14th November 2008, 12:52

Originally Posted by Aslan

Cheers Transalper - I'm sure mine came with the flat side out as well.

On both my DRZ400 and my RM250 The sprockets are fitted with the flat side outwards and the boss towards the gearbox, this spaces the sprocket and chain away from the countershaft oil seal.
DR may be different ????

**Bass** · 14th November 2008, 13:14

Originally Posted by Bass

Now hang on.....
You have agreement at the moment which is an unheard of event here!
Let's not go and spoil things, OK????

I do so love betting on a sure thing

**Aslan** · 14th November 2008, 13:35

Hi MotocrossNut - thanks - hope all's going well for you. cheers S

**NordieBoy** · 14th November 2008, 14:21

Originally Posted by Aslan

PS Just need NordieBoy or ConneyR to chime in now with their views

Oh alright then, since you asked so nicely

Originally Posted by Bass

Lastly, the other thing I discovered in Broome where I replaced the chain and sprockets, was that my bike being American spec, came with a 43 t rear sprocket where the NZ/Oz spec is 42 (IIRC).

NZ spec is 41.
US Spec is 42.
The Freewind sprocket is 43.

Flat side of the front sprocket to the outside (Just double checked on a new one up town).