ZZR600 Chain Side Tracking

[Electrical_Tech]

Ok, so during my spring startup rituals and due to unfortunate happenings last season resulting in my needing to change my swingarm (broken spool mount) .. after reassembly I note that my freshly cleaned and lubed chain has a section or sections which deflect sideways. The visual appearance of it is the same as watching a warped wheel rotate. Straight straight straight wobble straight straight straight wobble.

Has my chain been proper f#$ked? or is there something I can do with this to fix it? OR is this more or less normal? The alignment marks are spot on. The rear sprocket is true, and the line of site from front to rear sprockets seems good as well.

Any suggestions anyone?

[Joe]

Try the string alignment trick just to see if you rear tire is true to the front. From what you say though I suspect that your rear sprocket and or chain is bent.

[LaurenOE]

I'd have to see it. Maybe a sprocket was bent, maybe the chain. Dunno. Can you post a video?

[Electrical_Tech]

Be a while before I can do that. Bike is some 7000km away from me for the next two weeks ...

So it's not normal for the chain to do this .. I wonder can it be fixed or do I just replace the chain (the sprocket looks true, but will remove the chain and verify by spin of the wheel). Perhaps at that time too I can do the stringalignment as well.

[bumblebee]

looks are deceiving. I use a laser level to "true" my rear wheel and sprocket when I put them back on and when I set my chain.

[Electrical_Tech]

Canadian Tire Here I Come!!! Tool Shopping YAYYYYYY!!!

Can you describe what you do ?

Thanks

[Süsser Tod]

Maybe there is some dirt or a small pebble stuck in the chain? Where do you see those uneven links, over the sprocket or can you see them over the swingarm? Does the chain jump a bit when it engages the sprocket?

[Electrical_Tech]

The deviation occurs after the particular section rolls off the top of the sprocket heading forward over the swingarm. I hadn't really looked at what it does as that section returns to the lower side of the sprocket. It's a length (from memory) of about maybe 6 links or so?

[Süsser Tod]

Originally Posted by Electrical_Tech

The deviation occurs after the particular section rolls off the top of the sprocket heading forward over the swingarm. I hadn't really looked at what it does as that section returns to the lower side of the sprocket. It's a length (from memory) of about maybe 6 links or so?

That means the sprocket is fine and the alignment can't be that far off. If it was the sprocket you'd see the same thing on every turn of it, and if the alignment was WAY off, the teeth would be pushing against the chain, making it jump a bit before engaging (you do actually learn quite a bit trying to figure out why Chinese bikes don't work fine!) and you'd see that on the bottom side of the swingarm as it seems you're rotating the wheel in the same direction as if it was driving forward.

IMHO sounds like it's time for a new chain, but you might get away with it for a while. Next time you adjust the chain, make sure to adjust it right where it has less slack (turn the wheel and check the slack on several spots, adjust it where there is less slack), if once it's adjusted it is WAY off on other, less tight spots, then it's time for a new chain.

[Electrical_Tech]

My chain only has 4500km on it though