KDReeves

My '87 450 is an unhappy camper. I rode her to work this morning. I bummed a ride home with a friend.

Today on my way to work I noticed an intermittent "tick tick tick" from what sounded like the chain (definitely coming from the left side), but it was quite faint and I've been hearing from it for a couple weeks. This is my first bike, so I figured "it's 23 year old. That's what they sound like."

However, today in the course of 30 miles, it went from a soft hushed "tick tick tick" to a full-blown whacking "chunk chunk chunk" sound. When I put it in neutral and roll the bike, engine off, every so often one link looks like it settles in a little bit, and there's this crunchy grinding/scraping feel to it that seems to correspond to a certain place in the chain, happening at interval as I roll. (Faster when speeding up, slower when slowing down, etc.)

My mechanically-inclined small engine repair teacher (I'm a school teacher) says he suspects rear wheel bearing. My local well-reviewed repair guy suspects chain, but certainly wants to hear it to diagnose.

Anybody have any feelings, suspicions, or experiences on this one? The quotes for chain and sprocket replacement, as well as for bearing replacement, all seem very reasonable to me, but I'd like the Forum opinion before going in on this thing.

__________________
'87 Rebel 450 / www.KDReeves.com

shadetree

My guess would be binding chain, but it's hard to see from here.

__________________

cagie

I would tend to think chain, but, if you ran it any distance you could have buggered the bearings. Bearings are easy to check without the chain on and spining the wheel.

Also check the sprockets.

__________________
Comments contained in my posts are not intended to cause physical or psychological stress and are mearly my two cents worth, and in this economy, that's cheap!
87 CMX250C 'the Pygmy Pony'
87 CMX450C 'Black Lithium'

Guba

Could be the chain. I just replaced a chain at work today that had a few links where the inner roller was in multiple pieces. It made the cluncking sound every time it went around.

If you buy the chain and sprockets and find that's not the problem. You'll eventually have to replace them anyway. So at least you would have the parts on hand for it.

__________________
Some days beer tastes good...other days beer tastes better!

'07 Rebel 250 26,000 miles

Drifter

Have you ever oiled the chain?

__________________

jax

Sounds like it could be the chain binding on one of the sprockets. Have you adjusted the chain? I would check the sprocket for the teeth being sharp, they should have a small flat spot on the top of the teeth. If you can rise the back of the bike and spin the rear tire to check if the chain is running smooth over the sprockets.
You can get chains through JC Whitney fairly cheap.
Keep us all informed as to what you find and how the fix goes.

Ride safe

__________________

Fridgitator

With the engine off, pinch the chain on the back sprocket and pull to the rear. If the chain moves much, your sprocket is worn. On the free run of chain at the bottom, you should be ablr to pinch the chain and slide your fingers giving a slight twist. if the links are binding, you may feel it. With the bike in neutral, roll it a few feet. the links should glide on and off the rear sprocket perfectly straight and smooth. If a link is at an angle, it's binding. If it drops or raises, the roller is shot. It wouldn't hurt to clean the chain and align the back wheel. This will let you get a real close look at the chain and both sprockets. This covers it

__________________
'09 Rebel 250

Loud ties save lives.

KDReeves

Thanks for the input folks! Sounds like binding chain may be the primary culprit, and we'll have to check bearings to make sure they weren't borked in the process. I've got a great quote on new chain and all sprockets, and I'll use the information provided here to ensure my mechanic knows I've got Forum power. Yanno, without actually using the phrase "Forum power," for fear that I'll give away my secret Power Ranger identity.

__________________
'87 Rebel 450 / www.KDReeves.com

cagie

that's scarey

"From Zero to Sixty in three days four hours and thiry-two minutes!"

__________________
Comments contained in my posts are not intended to cause physical or psychological stress and are mearly my two cents worth, and in this economy, that's cheap!
87 CMX250C 'the Pygmy Pony'
87 CMX450C 'Black Lithium'