Havin' A Bad Day...what Does It Mean When The Bike Shudders And There's A Crunching Noise Coming From Under The Bike?

Took the bike to work today for the first time this year.

On the way home the bike started to shudder, then whenever I would start in 1st there was some serious clanking and grinding.

Luckely I was almost home so I finished the ride in 1st at 20kph.

So tell me....is that a gear box that I just buggered?

How much would that run me?

That happened to me once on my V-Strom. It felt like a small animal had run into my rear wheel, but it turned out that the screw holding the chainguard in place had rattled loose, and the chain guard had started going into the chain.

[image: View Post]stinkyfishy, on Apr 30 2009, 06:43 PM, said:

Took the bike to work today for the first time this year.

On the way home the bike started to shudder, then whenever I would start in 1st there was some serious clanking and grinding.

Luckely I was almost home so I finished the ride in 1st at 20kph.

So tell me....is that a gear box that I just buggered?

How much would that run me?
What is the condition of your chain?

sPOTO

[image: View Post]sPOTO, on Apr 30 2009, 09:27 PM, said:

[image: View Post]stinkyfishy, on Apr 30 2009, 06:43 PM, said:

Took the bike to work today for the first time this year.

On the way home the bike started to shudder, then whenever I would start in 1st there was some serious clanking and grinding.

Luckely I was almost home so I finished the ride in 1st at 20kph.

So tell me....is that a gear box that I just buggered?

How much would that run me?
What is the condition of your chain?

sPOTO

That's the thing...brand new chain and sprockets.

[image: View Post]stinkyfishy, on Apr 30 2009, 09:33 PM, said:

[image: View Post]sPOTO, on Apr 30 2009, 09:27 PM, said:

[image: View Post]stinkyfishy, on Apr 30 2009, 06:43 PM, said:

Took the bike to work today for the first time this year.

On the way home the bike started to shudder, then whenever I would start in 1st there was some serious clanking and grinding.

Luckely I was almost home so I finished the ride in 1st at 20kph.

So tell me....is that a gear box that I just buggered?

How much would that run me?
What is the condition of your chain?

sPOTO

That's the thing...brand new chain and sprockets.

When you adjust the chain, there's a bolt you loosen, then you turn the hub cam thingy to adjust the chain. Then you tighten the bolt again to lock the chain adjuster into position. Did you tighten this? Or could it be loose, and the chain adjuster moved, and now the chain is way loose and flopping around?

[image: View Post]elizilla, on Apr 30 2009, 09:39 PM, said:

[image: View Post]stinkyfishy, on Apr 30 2009, 09:33 PM, said:

[image: View Post]sPOTO, on Apr 30 2009, 09:27 PM, said:

[image: View Post]stinkyfishy, on Apr 30 2009, 06:43 PM, said:

Took the bike to work today for the first time this year.

On the way home the bike started to shudder, then whenever I would start in 1st there was some serious clanking and grinding.

Luckely I was almost home so I finished the ride in 1st at 20kph.

So tell me....is that a gear box that I just buggered?

How much would that run me?
What is the condition of your chain?

sPOTO

That's the thing...brand new chain and sprockets.

When you adjust the chain, there's a bolt you loosen, then you turn the hub cam thingy to adjust the chain. Then you tighten the bolt again to lock the chain adjuster into position. Did you tighten this? Or could it be loose, and the chain adjuster moved, and now the chain is way loose and flopping around?

I had the work done 'professionally'...so I guess I will be checking the chain adjuster bolt at first light... Thanks!

[image: View Post]stinkyfishy, on Apr 30 2009, 09:48 PM, said:

[image: View Post]elizilla, on Apr 30 2009, 09:39 PM, said:

When you adjust the chain, there's a bolt you loosen, then you turn the hub cam thingy to adjust the chain. Then you tighten the bolt again to lock the chain adjuster into position. Did you tighten this? Or could it be loose, and the chain adjuster moved, and now the chain is way loose and flopping around?

I had the work done 'professionally'...so I guess I will be checking the chain adjuster bolt at first light... Thanks!

Should be pretty obvious whether the chain is super loose or not. Let us know how it turns out!

Put it on the centerstand and roll the rear wheel. If you don't hear anything, start the bike, drop it in gear and let the clutch out. I have never heard of a gear box going out on any VFR, especially a 6th Gen.

Also, if the rear sprocket is loose, it can make some bad clunking noises. I'd recommend checking the torque (or at least tighness) of the sprocket bolts.

Don't forget to check the front sprocket too!

Raining today and I have no good lighting in the garage so it will have to wait for the weekend.

If it is the chain how much damage did I do to the chain itself? Is it possible that I just blew a brand new chain with this situation? Is there anything else that I could have damaged because of the chain being loose! I did less than 100km on that chain right out of the garage...

[image: View Post]stinkyfishy, on May 1 2009, 05:13 AM, said:

Raining today and I have no good lighting in the garage so it will have to wait for the weekend.

If it is the chain how much damage did I do to the chain itself? Is it possible that I just blew a brand new chain with this situation? Is there anything else that I could have damaged because of the chain being loose! I did less than 100km on that chain right out of the garage...

Is it the original chain...or if not, how many miles do you have on it??

I wouldn't worry about damage to the chain, more than likely if it's clunking like that, it's probably dyeing or dead already.....does it have red dust coming out of it?
http://www.vfrdiscussion.com/forum/uploads/1239314663/gallery_14545_4471_35369.jpg
IMG_0349.JPG

he just said the chain is new....I wonder if the shop WAY overtightened the new chain...or never tightened it.

Tightwad, i'm wondering the same thing. I've also seen the nut come off the front sprocket before. AFTER BEING TORQUED. As strange as that may sound. It made some very interesting noises when that happened. Although if that would have happened i think the speedo would start showing strange or be broken as well since the pick up is there. At least that is what led us there with the GSXR.

What scares me is that it is not just the sound it was making but the very negative effect on the ride....bucking a lot in any gear...that's what has me most worried...I am under 30 days on this repair so I should be able to make a good case on 'warranty' for the chain.

I have to say now after going to 2 different Honda dealers and getting bad service (ie problems cropping up right after pickup) and now with this 'specialty' sport bike shop, I think I am going to a) start doing more of my own work b) when I have to go to the mechanics for something I will bring a torque wrench and a circuit tester.

[image: View Post]stinkyfishy, on Apr 30 2009, 08:43 PM, said:

Took the bike to work today for the first time this year.

On the way home the bike started to shudder, then whenever I would start in 1st there was some serious clanking and grinding.

Luckely I was almost home so I finished the ride in 1st at 20kph.

So tell me....is that a gear box that I just buggered?

How much would that run me?

It means, "Aaaaaagh! Get your bike off of me!" :biggrin:

[image: View Post]stinkyfishy, on May 1 2009, 09:48 AM, said:

What scares me is that it is not just the sound it was making but the very negative effect on the ride....bucking a lot in any gear...that's what has me most worried...I am under 30 days on this repair so I should be able to make a good case on 'warranty' for the chain.

I have to say now after going to 2 different Honda dealers and getting bad service (ie problems cropping up right after pickup) and now with this 'specialty' sport bike shop, I think I am going to a) start doing more of my own work b) when I have to go to the mechanics for something I will bring a torque wrench and a circuit tester.a severely over tightened chain would do that if it's fighting the swing arm motion. Should have one inch of free play at the lower mid point of chain. severly loosened might result in the chain riding forward of the front sprocket striking the engine case gaurd and cause drive lash. Don't need good light to check. Just go out and tug on the bottom center of your chain. It will be obvious either way.

FYI, don't trust that the proffesionals you pay are any better than you at remembering to tighten a bolt. Happens more often than I care to remember. Just had a problem today with race tech who installed my gold valves. I had to correct their work to install my front wheel. They deal with a lot of bikes and the work is only as good as the person doing it.

Found the problem...and you we're all right.

The mechanic didn't tighten the clamp bolt AT ALL! I was able to spin it around with my fingers.

The whole unit had shifted forward. The chain was draped over the center stand...the clunking was the stand bouncing and the shuddering was the kick stand bouncing back into the chain.

I have photos of it but am not sure how to load them...I spent the 20 minute to set everything right but I am going to the shop tomorrow and demanding a new chain. Spending over $200 on something that was supposed to last me a long time and they don't even finish the job properly!

This is why I do most of my own work as well. This past winter, I got completely fed up and depressed, so I took the V-Strom in and paid them to do some work, at a reputable shop I'd been buying parts from for years. They did a poor job, and I had to work on it some more myself when I got it back, anyway.

I'm not perfect, far from it. I've screwed up a lot of wrenching jobs. But the more I do, the more I learn. And I figure that even if the shops do things perfectly, I'm still better off doing as much as I can, myself, because that way if I have trouble down the road, I will know WTF is going on in there, and I will be in a better position to take care of it. I do a lot of touring, and if I'm in some other state and it's a Sunday, and I can't handle things, I'm screwed.

Hopefully no major damage and it's not a big deal.
Definitely talk to the shop. :dry:

The only thing mine has screwed up is they did all the service, EXCEPT forgot to install the tire I had brought in to be put on.
So, I paid, got my key, walked out ot the bike, and saw. Then went right back inside. :rolleyes:

[image: View Post]elizilla, on May 1 2009, 07:54 PM, said:

This is why I do most of my own work as well. This past winter, I got completely fed up and depressed, so I took the V-Strom in and paid them to do some work, at a reputable shop I'd been buying parts from for years. They did a poor job, and I had to work on it some more myself when I got it back, anyway.

I'm not perfect, far from it. I've screwed up a lot of wrenching jobs. But the more I do, the more I learn. And I figure that even if the shops do things perfectly, I'm still better off doing as much as I can, myself, because that way if I have trouble down the road, I will know WTF is going on in there, and I will be in a better position to take care of it. I do a lot of touring, and if I'm in some other state and it's a Sunday, and I can't handle things, I'm screwed.
I feel the same way! I'd rather screw it up myself than pay someone to break my stuff. I'm no professional, so at least I have an excuse when I do it wrong. I swapped the wheels on my RC51 from the Marvic track setup to the stockers for street riding. This was soon after I bought it, and was the first time I switched the wheels. I didn't bother adjusting the chain, and hadn't been paying attention to the fact that the sprocket was 2 teeth smaller on the stocker. The result was exactly what this thread started as. At first I thought I was really screwed on the bike, but brought it home and (eventually :blush:) found the issue.

I sent a polite but firm email to the owner of the shop and he was very apologetic, told me he didn't want that type of reputation so offered to install a new chain himself.
Oh and he was going to fire the mechanic for being careless.

Sometimes being polite pays off!

[image: View Post]stinkyfishy, on May 5 2009, 08:50 AM, said:

I sent a polite but firm email to the owner of the shop and he was very apologetic, told me he didn't want that type of reputation so offered to install a new chain himself.
Oh and he was going to fire the mechanic for being careless.

Sometimes being polite pays off!
So the center stand doubles as a drive chain tensioner. If that chain would have come off you would'nt have even considered being polite. Glad all is good and you didn't ride it very far.