Sprocket cover fitting problem

[Zenarchy]

I've been having hastle with this since I took it off to clean up the bike when I first got it. My bike's and RD04.

When I try to fit the sprocket cover back, and tighten the bolts that hold it in place, it seems to distort the plastic cover and pull the bottom part towards the chain (where the chain comes out of the cover at the bottom).

I've had it off again recently and noticed some wear marks on the inside of the plastic cover in that area (like the side of the chain is rubbing against it). I put some black silicone blobs on the end of the pins on the chain and they've worn off so it seems to be rubbing the pin ends on the chain.

I must have spent hours trying to sort it so far. It seems OK until I tighten the bolts up then no matter what I try it always seems to pull the plastic back in towards the chain at the bottom.

I'm guessing it's something to do with that metal retainer thing that runs around the inside of the cover (it's an rd04). I've tried bending it a little, adding washers to the back of it (so it keeps the guard a little further out) but still the same problem.

Was wondering if anyone else had ran into this problem and there's something simple I'm missing?

I'm at the stage now where I'm stuck and not sure what else to try (apart from perhaps trying to buy another sprocket cover and metal retainer but there's no guarantee that that'll be any better ofcourse).

Any ideas?

[c13tay]

My RD04 was exactly the same

gave up thinking about it and used washers to space it out to clear the chain

[YEN_POWELL]

You haven't got the front sprocket on inside out have you? That would bring the chain further forward.

[Zenarchy]

My RD04 was exactly the same

gave up thinking about it and used washers to space it out to clear the chain

Thanks mate. It's good to hear I'm not alone. I've spent ages trying to work out what's causing it and tweaking the metal insert guard thing trying to keep it from happening, but still no luck. Every time I tighten the bolts up it seems to pull forward.

I've stuck a couple of washers to the inside to try to improve it and it's helped a little but still very close to the chain. Looks like I might need to find some slightly longer bolts and add a few more on if I can't figure out another way to do it.

[Zenarchy]

You haven't got the front sprocket on inside out have you? That would bring the chain further forward.

I think when I got the bike the sprocket was on the wrong way around, and I turned it over (there's a thread here about it and the general concensus was that it was boss-outwards the correct way - which is what I suspected originally and why I'd made the post about it).

With it being fitted boss-out now, it should have moved the chain a bit further back I think, but its still rubbing.

I'll need to get around to fitting a genuine honda sprocket soon (for peace of mind as much as anything else), though I think the problem here is with the cover and/or the metal guard that goes inside it.

When I first put it in it looks even and properly aligned (the little overhang that covers one of the oil pipes at the bottom and back matches the flow of the oil piping), then as soon as I tighten it up it sort of angles inwards towards the chain at the front and the pipe guide at the back sticks out a bit more than it should at an angle. So you can see that the whole thing is tilting inwards towards the chain.

It's doing my head in a bit as the metal guard thing has a kind of twist in it (which I think is meant to be there), so trying to picture how it should fit to bend it is tricky, and you can't see it in place as the sprocket cover hides it (if that is infact the problem and it's not something else). From what I can gather, that metal insert is there to protect the cases should the chain snap to guide it off the bike and stop it flailing, so I'm reluctant to remove it completely (though I did try it without it and still seem to get the same effect - albeit a bit less pronounced).

[YEN_POWELL]

Why don't you just fit the metal part and leave off the plastic guard and see what's happening? Actually I'd just get rid of the plastic part altogether, the metal part is the case saver in case the chain breaks. I know they glue together with gunge, but they are definetely seperate parts.

[Zenarchy]

Why don't you just fit the metal part and leave off the plastic guard and see what's happening?

I've tried that, but it doesn't give much away unfortunately. It seems to fit fine on its own and it's hard for me to picture in my mind how it's effecting the cover when it's over the top.

I'm going to have another look in the morning and see if I've been missing anything. I should maybe be looking a bit closer when I try it on on it's own to see if it's bending the metal itself when I tighten the bolts. The cover is OK all the way up the thread and its just the last few turns that seem to be distorting it as I pinch the bolts tight.

Actually I'd just get rid of the plastic part altogether, the metal part is the case saver in case the chain breaks. I know they glue together with gunge, but they are definetely seperate parts.

Hmm..That might be an idea. I'd probably feel a bit safer without the case for the time being at least until I can get it sorted then at least I'll know it's not rubbing the chain. As you say, the plastic itself is unlikely to have any real benefit if the chain was to snap, so it's probably more to stop chain oil splashing and look tidier.

I'd like to sort it out properly ultimately though as it'll only bug me otherwise.

I'll give it another try in the morning then if I can't sort it out then I might just take it off and try looking for another cover and metal bit to see if that helps.

Thanks for your help

[markh]

Dunno if this helps...

Front Sprocket

MarkH

[YEN_POWELL]

I haven't looked at mine (only just woken up) but are there metal spacers in the plastic cover to stop the bolts distorting it as you tighten them?

[Zenarchy]

Dunno if this helps...

Front Sprocket

MarkH

Thanks for the link. I'd looked at that thread the first time I had the problem with this (some time ago), but looking again that one looks a bit straighter than mine. Mine has a kind of kink in it.

I think that's an RD07 though and it looks like it fits differently there (not quite sure though).

I'm going to have a look in the next 30 minutes to compare the two and that might help.

Thanks