Thumper Club Forum
Technical => Bike Problems/Questions => Topic started by: guest1703 on October 04, 2013, 03:25:08 PM
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Hi all
Since this is my first proper bike, I am bit of a newbie when it comes to fault finding and maintaining.
First of all, I just adjusted the chain, it is now down to almost the last line of the measure lines. Does this mean I need a new chain right away? How easy are these to change yourself?
Next, I beleive my gears act quite ruff when shifting. changing from first to second gear needs a harder pull with my foot than rest of the gears. Also and extra push in the bike appears when releasing the clutch from first gear when starting, and second gear as well if I release the lever in a normal motion. If I do it really slowly, everything is all good. What can this me?
Hope somebody here can help me.
Thanks Dennis
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The chain is most probably shot, if you check the teeth on the sprockets you will see if they have worn asymmetrical. The clutch may just need adjusting but it may need replacement.
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Test the tension of your current chain in several places - they can wear unevenly and you may well find that where it is correct or loose in one spot it can be drum tight in another - this is not good for the sprockets and drive side bearings.
It sounds like you're going to need a new chain and probably sprockets. Buy a decent quality set with an 'O' ring chain- Thumpers really give the chain hell and a cheap chain will be knackered very quickly. Buy and fit a chain oiler - LOOBMAN (http://www.loobman.co.uk/) is cheap and efficient ( if a little fiddley to fit) and it will make a massive difference to the life of your chain and sprockets.
Try www.wemoto.com for spares they're good and reasonably priced.
The chain is continuous so you'll need either a proper motorcycle chain breaker to remove it or grind the heads of a couple of the chain rivits with and angle grinder. You should really get the new chain re-rivited to join it, but to be honest the XBR is pretty low powered - in spite of Honda's 44BHP claim I've never known a standard one dyno'd at more than 32-34 bhp at the back wheel - so I would have thought a chain split link would be amply strong enough ( a lot of older, bigger bikes used them no problems) but thats your choice.
Oh if you fit the Loobman and 'O' ring chain make sure you don't use old engine oil to lube it ( you can with cheap non 'O' rings chains) as it will bugger up the seals - I use cheap(ish) supermarket own brand 10/40 ( or whatever else is cheap).
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You may also find that a new chain and sprockets will improve the change from 1st to 2nd
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Thank you all very much!
Do any of you have an idea for a chain and sprockets that will fit my bike?
Would be great if it was something available on either the UK of DE eBay :)
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Thank you all very much!
Do any of you have an idea for a chain and sprockets that will fit my bike?
Would be great if it was something available on either the UK of DE eBay :)
I don't know if the other guys would agree with this, but I would recommend first checking out JT Sprockets main website. This should help with identification. Then contact B&C Express in UK. I found them extremely helpful over the phone.
I would count the number of teeth on your existing sprockets and the number of links on your chain, to double check against what JT list and what B&C Express recommend. Hopefully all three will tally!
Good luck.
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This http://www.wemoto.com/bikes/honda/xbr_500_h/87/picture/swift_heavy_duty_o-ring_chain_and_jt_sprocket_kit/
@ £77
Or this with a DID chain for £107
http://www.wemoto.com/bikes/honda/xbr_500_h/87/picture/did_chain_and_jt_sprocket_kit/
Make sure you order for the right year/model as there are 2 different front sprockets.
Others available on Ebay - both chain and sprockets are easily available.
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Thanks a lot!
Since I am quite short on money at the moment, don't you think the sprockets on the bike will last just the season out?
I have attached some photos. Because then I will just order the mentioned underneath.
[attachment deleted by admin]
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Yes !.
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The sprockets don't look abd so you may get away with a new chain - could be the previous owner fitted a cheap chain that has stretched.
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I actually asked the previous owner and he never changed sprockets or chain. He have had it since 2009
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I actually asked the previous owner and he never changed sprockets or chain. He have had it since 2009
My advice would be to try your best to raise the funds to change the whole set. A part worn sprocket will ruin a new chain. It won't run efficiently and it will be noisy. IMO.
It may be the photo distorting the image but, to me, your gearbox sprocket looks worn and the chain link in the photo looks seized in a bent angle?
Once you have a new set, if you keep the correct tension, lubricate it and clean it, an o ring chain of decent quality will go on for thousands of miles.
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The front looks quite worn to me, its best to change the sprockets as well as the chain because worn sprockets will kill the new chain.
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Okay, I changed the chain and the rubber shock absorbers in the rear wheel. So far so good.
But I still have some problems with my gears. After 10-15 km. I have to use more power to change gears, but only sometimes, and it is randomly what gears the problem occurs at. I can't adjust my clutch lever more than it is without loosing free play.
Does anybody have an idea what this could be?..
Thanks a lot
Dennis
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I have come down to that it is the second and third gear I am having problems with, is it worn out clutch plates? And how complicated would it be to change these?
Also, reaching around 50 km/h i can sometimes hear a high pitch sound from the engine area, it seems to disappear over time and also stops when going down around 20 km/h.
Anyone having an idea what this could be?
Thanks a lot