Sprocket Bolt, meet Swingarm!! Hahaha!!!

[deaconblues]

Well, THAT was fun.

rolling down 680 in the carpool lane, JUST get past the monument overpass... and I feel and hear


"WHUNKWHUNKWHUNKWHUNKWHUNK!!!!"

oh shit. slow down, signal to get over a few lanes... bike is still handling OK, no loss of power, doesn't feel wobbly, but SOMETHING is not right here. Metal to metal hammering and grinding noises are never good.

Pull over to side, shut the bike off, get off, check the chain, nope, not loose... then i see a sprocket bolt (1 of six) trying to escape. Apparently it was using the 'let's gouge a groove in the back of the swingarm on the way out" ploy.

Damn thing milled about a half-inch of aluminum off the rear edge of the swingarm, but doesn't look like it compromised anywhere else. Structurally, there's no problem. Cosmetically, yeah, raw metal, augh. Further to the Rat Side we go.

5 minutes, 1 12mm wrench, and some slight effort later, and she's all torqued snug back where she belongs. Will have to check ALL of them now... perhaps back each one out individually and Locktite them in place.

 

[XXshawnXX]

george when are ya gonna get another bike? or have ya thought about it?

 

[deaconblues]

shawn, i'll get another bike when I get the $$ to pay for it. I ain't rich, or even well off, i got debts out the yin-yang, so it's not simply a matter of walking down to the dealer and filling out paperwork.



In the meantime, I keep the one I got running, however I can.


and before anyone jumps in and says 'sue the bastard that didn't torque the bolts down right' I'd have myself in court for that one. I put the damn thing on, I thought I had them all torqued down equally, but, 500 miles later, one decided to try and make a break for it.

 

[Ezekiel]

perhaps back each one out individually and Locktite them in place.

That's a good plan right there, I think the shop manuals usually say to put locktite on the sprocket bolts anyway. I do. Glad ya caught the bolt before it made it's escape!

 

[Brokenlink]

Whew, better check mine. I put a sprocket on recently.

 

[Ogier le Danois]

shawn, i'll get another bike when I get the $$ to pay for it. I ain't rich, or even well off, i got debts out the yin-yang, so it's not simply a matter of walking down to the dealer and filling out paperwork.



In the meantime, I keep the one I got running, however I can.

Collection for Deacon, I will kick in 40 cents and a pack of gum, we can hold a BBQ.:bbq

When winter comes you will probably be able to find a good deal on something.

Wanna buy a "Cosmetically" rough nighthawk 250 with strong personality issues?:laughing

 

[deaconblues]

hrmm.... well, when it comes to small-displacement bikes, one of the occupants in my apt complex has a li'l Suzuki cruiser, Kz250? I think... hasn't moved in two months. Trailered it here from Nevada, don't even know if it's running. Been thinking of finding out who owns it and asking if they'd want to sell it.

Either that, or "borrow' the brand-spankin' new FZ6 that gets parked next to my bike...

 

[Ogier le Danois]

hrmm.... well, when it comes to small-displacement bikes, one of the occupants in my apt complex has a li'l Suzuki cruiser, Kz250? I think... hasn't moved in two months. Trailered it here from Nevada, don't even know if it's running. Been thinking of finding out who owns it and asking if they'd want to sell it.

Either that, or "borrow' the brand-spankin' new FZ6 that gets parked next to my bike...

I have bolt cutters We can work out the details on the FZ.


The KZ might be the ticket though, I would assume that it would have similar hp and torque to the nighthawk and I can do around 70-75 mph, certainly enough go for the slow lane on the highway. Fuel mileage will likely be excellent as well.:cool

 

[slydrite]

 

[deaconblues]

I don't carry my camera to and from work. I'll take a pic and upload it later on tonight when I get home.

 

[Ogier le Danois]

Still waiting for pic!:teeth

 

[Salo]

yeah me too!

this is a great reminder post. i'm about to switch out my sprocket and chain set.

deacon, do you carry some of your tools with you? or do you have some kind of tweaky-socket-wut-the-fuck-multi-tool thingy...?

 

[silversvs]

Collection for Deacon, I will kick in 40 cents and a pack of gum, we can hold a BBQ.:bbq

When winter comes you will probably be able to find a good deal on something.

I'm in for $2

 

[Hooli]

The exact same thing happened to me when I had my FZ600. I solved it by lockwiring the bolts. :teeth