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Rear sprocket free play

10K views 2 replies 3 participants last post by  vatrader 
#1 ·
Was lubing my chain last night when I saw something I neve noticed before, you know how that is. If I grab the rear sprocket with my fingers I can rotate it ever so slightly on the hub. Now, I don't know what the construction is like and don't know if this is normal or not? The bike only has 3K miles and I don't hear or feel any issues in the back end, I think this is normal but just wanted to hear some feedback.
 
#3 ·
Now I get to quote the phrase "They all do it". To some degree or another.

If the movement is due to the cush drive. There are other factors that can create play where there shouldn't be any. Like spacers out of sequence on the axle. And bad wheel bearings.

A cush drive is designed to keep the engine torque from damaging and stressing the other components of the drive train. It can and will lose shape and is considered a "dispensable item", like tires, chains, oil filters. 3K miles seems awful low to be experiencing enough cush wear to warrant replacement. Unless most of those miles are on the rear wheel only? The cush drive will have a bit of play in it. Most chain drive kawasaki street type bikes use a similarly designed cush drive. Usually, when it gets wore to the point the rider needs to re-assemble the cush drive in pieces, shimmed with cut up oil bottles, its time to bite the bullet and drop the 23 or 24 bucks to get a replacement.

Pulling the rear wheel off and examining your assembly sequence from left bolt head, to right side cotter key should affirm the condition of your cush drive, bearings, and spacer sequence. A bearing going totally bad at 60 might be unpleasant.
 
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