Triumphrat

mnmrosen · 09-21-2006

OK, maybe not a fool, but someone who has been riding shafties for a while, and forgot some of the finer details of chain management. Recently, I'd noticed that when adjusting the chain, one section would be tight as a piano wire, but if I turn the wheel a foot, it's practically dragging on the ground. That, and the loud whip-cracking sounds eminating from that department, told me it was new chain time.

Day 1, 14:30hrs: I've purchased a new DID O-ringer, and my local chain store (get it? chain store?) lends out chain tools to the worthy. (Thanks Steve at Madison Motorsports!). They gave me an RK breaker and rivet tool kit and it was awesome, made the ordeal bearable. During the darkest hours of this project, it remained by my side like a little, slightly greasy, soldier. I dismantled half the bike to expose the chain, wondering why Triumph needs two 12x50 mm bolts and nuts to hold a plastic fender to the swingarm, and why does every job require 17 different kinds of wrenches? Every time I work on the Trophy, I empty my entire toolbox onto the floor. Anyway, I popped off the old, clip-style chain easily. It was a Regina, worn out and with at least one broken roller. This road-weary Italian beauty then slipped thru my greasy glove and snaked off the drive sprocket and onto the floor. I knew that was gonna be trouble. No pulling the new chain thru with the old one. I then fed the new chain into the dark, grimy lair where the drive sprocket lives. I thought it fed around the sprocket, it slid though and made the right noises. Knock off for the night, and rest assured of my chain-changing prowess. Little did I know...

Day 2, 17:30hrs: ...It was curved in front of the sprocket, which was obvious when I tightened the wheel, and the chain still drooped to the floor. Did I mention I'd already riveted the master link? Oops. Time to race back to Madison Motorsports for another link kit. Of course they have one in stock. Back to the garage, break the chain with my trusty tool, and attempt to feed the chain through properly. Well, it was like pushing a rope. I really, really didn't want to remove the sprocket cover/transmission sidecase, so I kept at it. After approximately 749 attempts, my arms were shaking too hard to hold the chain steady and I realized I needed two things: an assistant and a motorcycle lift. I can't afford a lift, and my wife won't buy me one cause she knows that I'll never leave the garage if she does. So I had to settle for an assistant. Oh, I also needed a beer.

Day 3, 17:40hrs: My friend John came over after work. We call him the Master Extractor for his uncanny ability to get things out of other things. Let's hope he can reverse the process for this job. First he tries all the methods I'd attempted and abandoned. He even brought his own coathanger to bend into a hook. I just chuckled. Been there, done that. After exhausting every avenue of possibilities, we heed the ancient maxim made popular by Bill Clinton: K.I.S.S. Keep It Simple, Stupid. John fed the old chain into the sprocket cave slowly, and the sprocket, having enjoyed enough amusement at our expense, finally caught it and fed it through. Now I owe John a lunch. I lined up my 17 wrenches and buttoned everything back up. Now, I've a new, shiny chain, and a very greasy bike.

Postscript: If there's one lesson that's burned into my brain from this misadventure, it's this: Always... No. Never... Um, no that's not it either. Oh yeah - I never knew what the term "chain suck" meant till now. They sure do, sometimes.

Cardiffian · 09-21-2006

A very well written post there and a warning to others when they come to change their chain :-D

trophyrider00 · 09-21-2006

That was a great post. I laughed, I cried, I felt your pain. :-D Seems like the simplest things have a habit of turning into an odyssey.

Love the title to the post too. You truly have a gift for writing.

stevent · 09-21-2006

Just take the sprocket cover off next time. Since you didn't change the sprocket you'll be doing this again soon.....

:upthumb:

mnmrosen · 09-22-2006

Quote:

On 2006-09-21 21:32, stevent wrote:
Just take the sprocket cover off next time. Since you didn't change the sprocket you'll be doing this again soon.....

:upthumb:

I'm a cheapskate. Didn't want to pay for a new gasket and oil, and I just can't bring myself to pour back oil after it's been drained. The sprockets only have a couple thousand miles on them, and are like new. They probably won't last as long as if they were changed with the chain, but they'll be good for a while.

stevent · 09-22-2006

Sorry but all that is is a cover, the slave cylinder for the clutch comes off in one piece, then the clutch pushrod slides out and the cover comes right off. Just be sure you don't get crud in the hole the pushrod goes through and you'll be fine. No oil, no gasket...The front sprocket is the one that'll be worn because it's got half the teeth and spins faster. I did mine twice, in fact the second time was right before it got wrecked, I wish I'd have saved the money.

[ This message was edited by: stevent on 2006-09-22 12:41 ]

porsche996 · 09-22-2006

Quote:

On 2006-09-22 12:40, stevent wrote:
Sorry but all that is is a cover, the slave cylinder for the clutch comes off in one piece, then the clutch pushrod slides out and the cover comes right off. Just be sure you don't get crud in the hole the pushrod goes through and you'll be fine. No oil, no gasket...The front sprocket is the one that'll be worn because it's got half the teeth and spins faster. I did mine twice, in fact the second time was right before it got wrecked, I wish I'd have saved the money.

You're lucky, then. Must have a newer model Trophy.

Prior to 2000, I believe, the front sprocket cover has an oil passage & a gasket in there. My 1996 most definately does; I changed my chain just recently, and I assure you, you have to drain the engine oil or else when you pop that cover, it's all over the ground. I didn't have to change the gasket, though; it was in good shape.

stevent · 09-23-2006

My mistake, the 1200's must be different in that area than the 900's. On the '02 1200's at least it's just a cover.

mnmrosen · 09-25-2006

Quote:

On 2006-09-22 20:17, porsche996 wrote:

Quote:

On 2006-09-22 12:40, stevent wrote:
Sorry but all that is is a cover, the slave cylinder for the clutch comes off in one piece, then the clutch pushrod slides out and the cover comes right off. Just be sure you don't get crud in the hole the pushrod goes through and you'll be fine. No oil, no gasket...The front sprocket is the one that'll be worn because it's got half the teeth and spins faster. I did mine twice, in fact the second time was right before it got wrecked, I wish I'd have saved the money.

You're lucky, then. Must have a newer model Trophy.

Prior to 2000, I believe, the front sprocket cover has an oil passage & a gasket in there. My 1996 most definately does; I changed my chain just recently, and I assure you, you have to drain the engine oil or else when you pop that cover, it's all over the ground. I didn't have to change the gasket, though; it was in good shape.

You are correct. It is the later 1200s with black engines that don't have an oil passage under that cover.