Chain Buffer

[Endless]

Apart from going genuine, is there one that you would recommend? Mine has what seems to be an aftermarket one. If I get genuine, do I need to take swingarm off to replace? Looks to be that way.
Troubleshooting a clunking sound as chain rolls around. Bearings are good, chain is near new and sprockets are all good, alignment seems to be good (going off rear of swingarm).

[gsxbarmy]

As far as I am aware, there is no aftermarket option, and yes, you need to remove the swingarm to replace.

Regards the banging sound - have you checked your sprocket carrier bearing? These are prone to collapse and could be what you are experiencing.

To check, remove the rear wheel and pull the sprocket carrier out and check from there.

[Mick_J]

Apart from going genuine, is there one that you would recommend? Mine has what seems to be an aftermarket one. If I get genuine, do I need to take swingarm off to replace? Looks to be that way.
Troubleshooting a clunking sound as chain rolls around. Bearings are good, chain is near new and sprockets are all good, alignment seems to be good (going off rear of swingarm).

Don't rely on the marks on the swing arm for perfect alignment until you have checked it using a straight edge to confirm, a lot of these marks are out.

[Endless]

Thanks for confirming Barmy. Should've done this before posting, just seemed to be coming from there - Put a rag between chain and buffer, same noise is still there. Not buffer, wear seems to be ok on it too. Put finger on front sprocket and turned slow, can feel the notch. Need the time and space to pull apart, might put it in a shop. Have done so already but they reckon nothing wrong with it. I don't trust em of they didn't pick up on anything at all, obviously not right.
MJGT - Cheers, yep onto that one, I meant I measure from the very end of swingarm, not any markers.

[gsxbarmy]

Ok if it's the front sprocket it's not unknown for the nut holding the front sprocket to come undone, especiallly if you have had a sprocket change done at any time. Easy to check, remove the sprocket cover, then feel in around the outside of the front sprocket for the nut. If you can turn the nut then it's come loose.

Easy enough to tighten, remove the 3 bolts that hold the clutch master cylinder on and lift the assembly away. You also have to remove the speedo sensor "nut" which is in the shaft (easy to do no special tools required), and you get to the sprocket nut. As standard this has loctite on it, but if it has been reused doesn't always hold. Remove, apply some blue loctite and re-tighten to the sod upfield torque. Reassemble in the reverse of above.

The other thing to check is your chain - you say you can feel the notch - us this every turn of the sprocket or revolution of the chain. When you feel the notch, just mark the link of the chain it happens on, roll the chain back and examine the link for wear or tightness

[Endless]

Cheers Barmy, one of the first things I looked at, sprocket nut is tight. The notchy sound doesn't have a pattern, can roll chain along, feel notch, turn back and forth and it won't "catch" in same place. Closer inspection can see front sprocket is a little worn. Chain might just be sticking on sprocket a little. Can't be too bad, had another opinion on it and they reckoned could sprocket too but no biggy. Think I might just be a little paranoid. Took it to the drags and nothing blew up or came undone ..

[Snapey]

Near new chain, sprockets are near new but on closer inspection the front sprocket is a little worn.

Please tell me you didn't put a new chain on old sprockets Ben. 

[Endless]

You're right Pete. Good point/pick up - This was sitting in the back of my mind .. I reasoned with the shop about this - even wear/cost effectiveness etc while they were at it. They didn't appear to be worn so why replace was their logic, which I guess made sense at the time. They are the main shop here in town and prepare bikes for the Finke race, so I went with it, didn't make sense to my experience in working metal, but I'm no mechanic after all. Whilst writing this I've gone and done some more reading and am doing your emoji. I'd be very surprised if my clunking noise isn't from the new chain trying to bed into the old sprockets  Off to the sprocket shop I go

[gsxbarmy]

Although you may now have an opposite problem - new chain on old sprockets - could have worn the chain even though it is near new.

It might be expensive but I'd personally renew the chain and sprockets together.

[Snapey]

It might be expensive but I'd personally renew the chain and sprockets together.

..... or put up with the clunking & hope they bed in eventually.

[seth]

you could also clean the chain and re lub with a chain wax rather than chain lub it help cushion the chain while things settle down

[Endless]

Yes .. I've not done a lot of kays on it since though, (yes, some have been hard ones) and since the front sprocket is starting to show wear, I think I'll get a new sprocket set and hope there's not too much of a rebedding period, might have to try the chain wax Seth mentioned to smooth things out with the new set. Gonna shoot for Metal Gear.

[seth]

just for info i run a standard suzuki front sprocket (it has a sound deadening band on the sides for chain to run on and keep it smooth and quite(others now doing aftermarket fronts with similar strips on them)) and a supersprox rear with a good quality chain
i use castrol chain wax it does go on white but goes clear quickly.

seth

[Endless]

Good info, I'd forgotten about the front sprocket with the sound deadener. Can only find a Suzuki one though and they want 4-5 times more than any other good one without it. Not riding everyday so have some time up my sleeve to look at gearing ratio's while Im at it.
Finding I'm having to change gears right before the 1/4 mile mark, not sure how it'll affect my drag times if I either to add teeth to the rear and use the torque to pull through and prevent the next gear change or loose a tooth on the front and use the top end getting through gears quicker. What's the 1400 going to respond to best? Have to have another go at the Sprocket calculator, haven't quite get my head around it. Reminds me - Anyone know where Morey and the Bullfrog got too/is up to? Is it still racing? Bloody stonking bike that was.

[gsxbarmy]

This may help with the ratios

http://gsx1400owners.org/forum_test/index.php?topic=362.0

This shows the speed per gear by entering variables, so you get a good idea before you proceed to purchase. You can download the spreadsheet from the downloads (general) section