Another primary chain question

[quawk]

Have just taken my bike out for it first ride this year. After riding about 6-7 miles, upon slowing down as I approached a stop sign, the bike emitted what I'd describe sounded like either a gear clash or chain clash noise. It was just a brief momentary noise. I turned around, headed back home, suspecting something bad, but made it back home with no further noise. While sitting on the bike in the shop, before shutting it off, it now seems somehow different when sitting there idling with the clutch pulled in, almost more of a different feeling rather than a noise. I know the primary chain issues with these bikes have been covered a number of times here on the forum, but besides the chain noise at speed at a certain RPM, are there other symptoms or issues that would point to a worn primary chain? Although it's been over a year since the last conversations about having new chains made up, I have contacted kanonkopdrinker to see if it is still possible to get in an order. Just emailed him before I started to compose this so have not heard back from him yet. Is there any way to actually check visually or otherwise, to determine if your chain is excessively worn? Also, can anyone give any updates on the progress of having new chains made project?

[wayne]

Just quickly before my bedtime, deposits were taken for the new primary chains a few months ago. I believe final payment will be around August this year with the chains dispatched soon after.

How many miles on your bike QUAWK?

[kanonkopdrinker]

If you are 'Roger', I have just replied to you!

The project to have 'RK' remanufacture a batch of primary chains is on-track (AFAIK) for delivery around August.

Please contact [e-mail] ASAP if you would like to be added to the list; there are only be 50 new chains in the order.

David

[quawk]

Thanks kanonkopdrinker for the reply. And to wayne, my bike has 12,000 miles on it, but as I had mentioned in previous posts about this bike, in the original owners manual which I received with the bike, the original owner had hand written service records jotted down and at the top of the list, was "engine replaced @ 2,000 miles", so according to this, the engine would only have 10,000 miles on it. Either way, 10 or 12 thousand would seem to be very low miles. I now have to wonder when the engine was replaced, would they have used the original primary chain when replacing the engine, or am I misunderstanding how this chain is actually used?

[quawk]

kanonkopdrinker, I think I've asked in other correspondence with you, but can I ask about the unusual forum name. Did it have something to do with an upscale wine?

[wayne]

Without any inside knowledge QUAWK, I'd imagine the chain wouldn't be replaced unless found to be out of spec. It's quite independent of the proper unit itself.

We have some very high mile original motor RE5's on the board (six figures). Does anyone know how long a typical primary chain lasts? I can't imagine a 12,000 miler being out of spec unless severely abused (I'm thinking a certain turbocharged Norwegian here lol..... outstanding bike which, by the way, is also a very high miler).

[quawk]

Wayne, I can't attest as to whether or not the original owner abused the bike, but, with the excellent original condition of this low mileage bike when I bought it, (although non running) and a page full of hand written service tasks performed to the bike jotted down in the owners manual leads me to believe it was well taken care of if not babied. Without having searched yet here on the forum, is there a thread explaining or showing what's involved with replacing the primary chain? I certainly don't want to take apart a bike/engine with this few miles on it.

[wayne]

From the mileage and everything you say, I'm sure the Primary chain is not the culprit but it may be worth checking for a damaged tensioner. The running wheels that apply tension to the chain are just rubber.

I don't believe there's a thread re replacing the primary chain. However, pretty simple, just looks daunting. The clutch cover can basically be removed in one piece. You don't have to disassemble all the sub systems.

Follow the manual but in a nut shell, bike on the sidestand, drain all oils and coolant, disconnect hoses, undo the relevant screws (see below for picture of the screws you DON'T have to remove), take off clutch cover (see below for tips on breaking free a stuck cover), disassemble clutch (not hard), you may not have to remove tensioner (simple if you do), remove chain, refit and reassemble (see below for video on correctly setting the gear timing (simple job)). That's a shorthand guide, of course check the manual.

Much less work just to inspect inside or replace the tensioner.

re5rotary.proboards.com/thread/3258/clutch-cover-removal-disassembly

[quawk]

Wayne, are the chain tensioner running wheels you referred to available as replacements from some source?

[wayne]

No, I don't believe so but someone speak up if you know of a source. However, JESS at Rotary Recycle will almost certainly have some good ones.