New noise coming from bike while "cruising"

I own a 2000 Honda Shadow. Recently, I am hearing a new noise coming
from my bike. It occurs when I am cruising (not applying any gas) at
any speed, in any gear.

I start to hear, not a grinding noise, and not exactly a clicking
noise, but something that sounds in between. It is a *light*
combination noise that sounds like a cross between clicking and
grinding. I haven't had a chance to dig into my bike, and find out
exactly what is making that noise, I believe it is coming from the
clutch, down below.

Anyone have any ideas?

Thanks

 

Sounds like a slack chain to me. What model of Shadow, anyway? Chain
drive?

 

Yes, it is a chain drive. It is a 750 ACE Shadow. I think I am going
to replace the chain, and tension in up properly. Taking a quick peek
at it, it appears that it is a little more loose than it should be.

I also noticed that the bike it starting to run a little more hot than
it should, I'm in a much hotter location now, and I've had the coolant
replaced, and just changed the oil, and went to a slightly thicker
oil, a 20w50.

Thanks

 

If you knew *anything* about how Honda secures its chains, you would
know that this "silly piece of stamped sheet metal" is actually quite a
stout piece of kit.

As there is *no* lateral force on the gearbox sprocket, the two little
bolts that secure it are all that is needed.

Furthermore, Honda ensures that should something really odd happen, and
the bolts fall out (and I have owned literally dozens of Hondas that
employ(ed) this system), then usually - not always, I grant you - the
sprocket cover that, er, encloses the gearbox sprocket ,is so
close-fitting that there is not enough clearance for the sprocket to
come off the end of the shaft.

The worst that can happen is that it starts rubbing on the inside of the
sprocket cover and making a terrible noise, which would be enough to
alert even the terminally ignorant.

To the OP - this man is posting complete irrelevance and nonsense. You
havbe a chain that needs adjustment - and, yes, possibly is worn out. No
more than that. And you don't need to replace the fixing plate, either.

 

Yes, good idea. Lube it as well.

That's your problem: no more, no less.

Ummmm... unless you're in a really hot location (Arizona? Nevada?
Central India? Saudi Arabia?) that probably isn't necessary.

 

You got it, I'm in Las Vegas, NV; current temperature is 108.

 

Thanks for the heads up. I will be replacing my chain this weekend,
as it doesn't look like its in the best condition, and I think it is
about due anyways.

Thanks for the help

 

Probably a wise move, then.

 

Wrong. It is surprisingly hard.

You don't actually know how Honda designs that fixing. There is a groove
running round the end of the output shaft. The (surprisingly hard) plate
is rotated slightly so that it slides over that groove, and then rotated
so that it slides onto the splines. I

Once rotated, because of the design of the plate and shaft, it cannot be
reoved unless it is rotated back again. Obviously the sprocket just
slides on and off the splines.

The plate is then bolted up tight against the sprocket.

The plate method is completely different from the securing nut you
describe.

I have a 30 year-old Honda that uses this design. It's on the original
plate, as far as I know.

Interestingly, my Ducati uses the same means of securing the sprocket.
In the very early days, the fixing plate was indeed very soft metal, as
you describe, and it did indeed wear. Ducati changed the design for one
made of harder metal, and the problem went away.

I remember being advised to change the plate at the first service, and
when I looked, you could see wear marks. That was at 6,000 miles. It's
been on the same plate ever since, and is now approaching 30,000 miles.

 

On 23 jun, 10:28, (The Older
Gentleman) wrote:

Umm... my bike did 100kmiles on the original (pretty hard) plate. It
looks as
it can take another 100k.

And --as a former designer of production machines-- that plate is an
excellent way to secure the gear wheel. People that think it to be a
'silly
device' don't know anything about mechanics.

Rob.

 

On 23 jun, 10:28, (The Older
Gentleman) wrote:

Umm... my Honda did a 100kMiles on it. It looks as if it can take
another
100k.
And --as former designer of production machines-- that fixture is
a perfect way to secure the sprocket. People who think it to be a
'silly device' don't know anything about mechanics.

Rob.

 

I couldn't have put it better myself. Honda has been using the system
for at least 40 years, and probably longer. If it was crap, you'd think
they might have changed it by now.

"Boss-san, leave soft metal plate in and let sprockets fall off and
destroy engine every few thousand miles!"

No, I don't think so.

 

He doesn't know, Nor do you. Who cares? It's a part that has worked
successfully for Honda for four decades.

In other words, you guessed.

You don't know much about bikes. You seem OK on carbs, but for bikes,
you don't have the experience. You haven't owned, or even ridden,
anywhere near enough to be able to make the right value judgements. You
just look at a schematic and draw the wrong conclusions.