Non-Concentric Rear Sprocket?

[Menofalts]

Hello All,
I bought my 89 FJ1200 in April with 16,800 miles on it..  This is my first chain drive bike, and I think there might be a minor issue.  I thought my chain was loose "and it was"... but it's also tight!!! When the chain is loose "enough slack to hit the chain sliders on the swing arm," and I rotate the wheel 180* the chain becomes tight.  Are my sprockets just wearing out? Or can the rear sprocket move and become un-centered?

[bigbore2]

Chains can stretch unequally thru-out their length.  Sounds like time for a new chain AND sprockets.  I recently bought an 84 and the chain and sprockets looked pretty good when I looked them over before the sale but have come to find out this is the bikes original chain with 36,000 mi. on it. So I am replacing it now also with new sprockets.     West central WI- like Black River Falls area?

[FJmonkey]

Hello All,
I bought my 89 FJ1200 in April with 16,800 miles on it..  This is my first chain drive bike, and I think there might be a minor issue.  I thought my chain was loose "and it was"... but it's also tight!!! When the chain is loose "enough slack to hit the chain sliders on the swing arm," and I rotate the wheel 180* the chain becomes tight.  Are my sprockets just wearing out? Or can the rear sprocket move and become un-centered?

The chain is the weakest link and what you describe is classic stretched chain. The sprockets can wear but tend to have less effect on how tight a chain is... Get a better chain...

[andyb]

Dead chain, as above.

It's quite rare to find sprockets that are eccentric (though it does happen, hello ebay's cheapest...)

[Menofalts]

Chains can stretch unequally thru-out their length.  Sounds like time for a new chain AND sprockets.  I recently bought an 84 and the chain and sprockets looked pretty good when I looked them over before the sale but have come to find out this is the bikes original chain with 36,000 mi. on it. So I am replacing it now also with new sprockets.     West central WI- like Black River Falls area?

I think i'll try to get a picture of the sprockets and post it.. The rear doesn't look worn at all! And the front you have to look really close to see any wear..  How much wear warrants changing all three?  I found a $120 DID X-Ring chain that I love, but I'd hate to drop a two hundred and some odd dollars on all three with how good of shape the sprockets are...  What companies make good sprockets for the FJ?   And I'm south of Black River Falls, but pass through every week or two to head from Platteville to Menomonie

[Pat Conlon]

http://www.rpmracingca.com/products.asp?cat=39&filter=sprocket

Your chain is stretched. Buy the best chain you can. In the long run, it's more cost effective.
Look at the wear index and the tensile strength of different chains for comparison.
FJ's eat cheap chains. It's up to you if you want to change the sprockets.

[yamaha fj rider]

Chain and sprockets wear as a set, they should be replaced as a set. Another option would be to replace just the chain good quality less expensive chain (this is a short term fix). Next time replace the whole set. Hope this helps?

Kurt