Loose Countershaft Sprocket, Normal?

I am doing first time chain and sprocket change on my 6th gen and using oem sprockets and DID chain. The front sprocket has a slight wobble even when bolt is torqued. The washer appears to be flat (not Belleville). Is this normal?

No, but it's nothing to be concerned about in my opinion. The higher the mileage, the more the wobble of the sprocket. The splines on the shaft are definitely a wear item. I have three RC36's and the high mileage bike has a sprocket wobble. The other two are low mile bikes and the sprockets are still precision tight.

I've heard of people going to extraordinary lengths to firmly fix the sprocket onto the shaft. However, it certainly appears to me that Honda engineered the sprocket to be able to move 1-2mm laterally. If you mean that the sprocket moves fore and aft, then this could be more of an issue because it suggests excessive wear to the splines on the countershaft, which is essentially non-replaceable (you may as well get a new engine).

Ciao,

It has a very slight axial clearance, the spines on the countershaft look pristine.

This has been discussed a lot over the years.

OEM sprocket and aftermarket sprocket, some move and some don't. I think I even asked the same question here once back in 2005 or so. It's not a problem. however I got paranoid and made up a small spacer out of an old coke can to keep it secured.

mneal

It has a very slight axial clearance, the spines on the countershaft look pristine.

Not sure, but that could be designed in to allow the chain/sprocket system to find it's center to reduce wear and vibration.

I left it float slightly, seems like Honda would control tolerances and the oem should be as designed. I know it's apples and oranges but a lifetime ago rode motocross and they usually used a internal splined doubler plate that lived in a grove of the CS that slide on after the sprocket then rotated and fastened to the sprocket, that setup had a ton of float.

When reinstalling the countershaft sprocket slather up the splines good with some anti seize. Dry metal-to-metal contact will not do the shaft and countershaft sprocket any good.