Chain rattling noise. It is what it is?

[eMpTy-Oh7]

Hi All,

I've found threads about chain rattling noise (like loose coins) and many seem to say that's how the OEM chain is.  So just ride it and forget it? I have a 2018 and at around 600 miles the chain slack was about 3 inches so I adjusted back to around 2.25 inches (the manually calls for 2 to 2.2 and says adjust if it's beyond 2.28) so I just kept that.   

It's now at close to 1,400 miles and I noticed it again (reason is because I was at a parking lot and was just going around with no helmet or earplugs so I heard it).  I have Akrapovic exhaust with baffle off and earplugs so it could have been rattling the last 700 miles and not even realizing.  I checked the chain and it's still the same since I adjusted at 600 miles.  Anything to worry? Or should I adjust it more closer to 2 inches? I am using Motul chain wax and it was cleaned recently so it's not dry for sure.

Thanks

[mossrider]

1 hour ago, eMpTy-Oh7 said:

Anything to worry? 

Nope. Ride it and enjoy it. 

Certainly keep it adjusted, clean and lubed like you have been. Chains are the noisiest form of power transfer but also the smallest, lightest and most efficient. They allow easy gearing changes and are relatively cheap to repair and replace, which is good because they last the shortest of the other options. Coast down your driveway in neutral with the engine off and no helmet at 15 mph and listen to it. It simply makes noise. 

Cheers.

[eMpTy-Oh7]

Got it.  That's pretty crappy.  It sounds like this video but somewhat louder (at least when I was listening to it at maybe 20 to 25 mph) with helmet off.  Next time I'll put my rear up on the pitbull and let it run and see how loud it is.

 

Edited May 20, 2020 by eMpTy-Oh7

[longrider1951]

That's what a  chain with no load on it looks and sounds like.  When you sit on the bike your weight takes up a lot of that slack.

[eMpTy-Oh7]

So I put it on pitbull stand today.  The chain makes noise and it doesn't seem to run smooth.  Seems like it's bouncing around.  Does this look normal?

 

[mossrider]

It's fine, go ride it.

 

Take same video again in 30,000km and you'll have something to whine about.

[Spatt]

LOL you should hear one when they spit the buffer off on the dyno.  Draik ran his all season without one and the chain directly on the swingarm.  Sounds like hell coming down the pits but doesn't damage the swingarm surprisingly.  Even the targets I used on with the 3d scanner it didn't rub them off.

That said its not an issue.  More than lightly you are slightly out of alignment with the axle.  The marks are next to worthless on the stamped swingarm. I'd get an alignment tool and check your off to one side and hitting harder on the sprocket on one side.  

[eMpTy-Oh7]

17 hours ago, mossrider said:

It's fine, go ride it.

 

Take same video again in 30,000km and you'll have something to whine about.

30,000km? I had my previous bike like 5 years and it was just a little over 3,000 miles.  

[eMpTy-Oh7]

The alignment tool is kind of useless.  Impossible to align it properly.  When you torque the alignment bracket moves.

 

16 hours ago, Spatt said:

LOL you should hear one when they spit the buffer off on the dyno.  Draik ran his all season without one and the chain directly on the swingarm.  Sounds like hell coming down the pits but doesn't damage the swingarm surprisingly.  Even the targets I used on with the 3d scanner it didn't rub them off.

That said its not an issue.  More than lightly you are slightly out of alignment with the axle.  The marks are next to worthless on the stamped swingarm. I'd get an alignment tool and check your off to one side and hitting harder on the sprocket on one side.  

 

 

Edited May 22, 2020 by eMpTy-Oh7

[Spatt]

5 minutes ago, eMpTy-Oh7 said:

I’m sure those work fine never used them.  The ones that use cones and pass through the axle and the swing arm pivot are what I use so you can measure the distance.  

I thought about buying those but your limited to the distance of the rod that isn’t very long and it works visually instead of using a measurement.  But it’s $15 vs $150

[eMpTy-Oh7]

12 minutes ago, Spatt said:

I’m sure those work fine never used them.  The ones that use cones and pass through the axle and the swing arm pivot are what I use so you can measure the distance.  

I thought about buying those but your limited to the distance of the rod that isn’t very long and it works visually instead of using a measurement.  But it’s $15 vs $150

Yeah it's visual but looking at it it can't be off much.

[mossrider]

32 minutes ago, eMpTy-Oh7 said:

30,000km? I had my previous bike like 5 years and it was just a little over 3,000 miles.  

Stop looking at it and ride it. It's fine!

Egad, I put more track miles on in 1 year than that. I have 70,000 on my Ultra and 100,000 on my Nomad, 65,000 on my Versys, 12,000 my Guzzi, 76,000 my V-Star, 7,000 a piece on my 2 RD350's, 20,000 my XS650, and that only goes back 20 years.

Like Spatt, I measure. Unlike Spatt, I R smrt. I use 2 gun cleaning rods slid through the holes to measure from. 

Ride the damn thing! Your chain is close enough. Go find something else to worry about.

Edit: you want something to whine about get a Guzzi, lol. 

☺

[eMpTy-Oh7]

4 minutes ago, mossrider said:

Stop looking at it and ride it. It's fine!

Egad, I put more track miles on in 1 year than that. I have 70,000 on my Ultra and 100,000 on my Nomad, 65,000 on my Versys, 12,000 my Guzzi, 76,000 my V-Star, 7,000 a piece in my 2 RD350's, 20,000 my XS650, and that only goes back 20 years.

Like Spatt, I measure. Unlike Spatt, I R smrt. I use 2 gun cleaning rods slid through the holes to measure from. 

Ride the damn thing! Your chain is close enough. Go find something else to worry about.

Edit: you want something to whine about get a Guzzi, lol. 

 OK........it's a weekend bike.  Between this and my car I can only drive so many miles every weekend hence such low mileage.  My car is 3.5 years old and only has 14,000 miles.

[Spatt]

57 minutes ago, eMpTy-Oh7 said:

Yeah it's visual but looking at it it can't be off much.

Horse shoes and hand grenades...

[1down5up]

5 hours ago, eMpTy-Oh7 said:

The alignment tool is kind of useless.  Impossible to align it properly.  When you torque the alignment bracket moves.

 

 

 

Unfortunately the chains on these bikes from the factory are noisy. I noticed mine has gotten more noisy if you don't keep them clean and lubed, and even so they're more noticeable than all the other bikes I've ridden in the past. Also, on the motion pro tool, isn't the adjustment knob supposed to be facing the outside of the swingarm?