12 replies to this topic

[jayaramk1983]

Bike : Karizma-R
Vendor: Hero Honda
Year of Mfg : 2010
Kms run : 2900

I am hearing chain noise (rubbing against the chain guard) on my 3 month old ZMA. This started after the first service during which in all probability the service center opened the bike's chain guard and in all probability did not fit it properly or did something to misalign the chain, now there is chain noise (grinding noise) when riding the bike. One of the other roadside mechanic told me that the chain is not aligned properly hence it tends to oscillate when riding causing the chain to rub on the guard. He tried some stuff and then the noise went away only to return back in 50-60 kms. Im not sure what I can do except that to remove the chain guard and run the bike as-is , maintaining the chain from time to time.

The 2nd problem I am facing is the engine noise at idle like khat khat khat , when I press the clutch the noise goes away, but this noise comes in when the clutch is released, this happens during idling in neutral only and not during other times. I reported this to the service center who said they would fix it in 2 days but did nothing and just handed over the bike. However, there is no issue in the bike's running , FE or anything else. It just runs fine. One more thing was this noise started after 1st service. One of the mech just said maybe the cam tensioner is bad, but I dont think so.

Edited by jayaramk1983, 05 July 2010 - 02:53 PM.
added few more lines

[Ricci]

Probably the chain is too loose, this could be fixed by adjusting the chain tension via the adjusters at the rear of the swingarm.

As for the noise, try adjusting the clutch free play. The noise seems to be from the spring perhaps, but hard to say without hearing it. Also check the oil level. At 2900km the cam tensioner shouldn't even be close to being worn.

[jayaramk1983]

Ricci said:

Probably the chain is too loose, this could be fixed by adjusting the chain tension via the adjusters at the rear of the swingarm.

As for the noise, try adjusting the clutch free play. The noise seems to be from the spring perhaps, but hard to say without hearing it. Also check the oil level. At 2900km the cam tensioner shouldn't even be close to being worn.

Ricci

The chain is perfect slack , but the alignment is not correct. When I feel the chain and rotate the rear tyre the tightness of the chain changes from tight to loose to tight which is weird, due to that the chain oscillates in an up down motion causing it to hit the chain guard somewhere.

As for the engine noise, I too dont think its the cam tensioner and the clutch freeplay is also correct. I have a doubt about some spring inside which can be misaligned or loose causing the noise. Its scary though, the engineers at the SC could not solve the problem. I complained to HH from their site and got a call , ill take the bike to the SC to see if they can solve it or not.

[Ricci]

In that case, the sprocket could be bent (so early ?), also have a look at the rubber dampers in the rear wheel hub, not sure what it's called (cush drive?)

[Prady]

Ricci said:

In that case, the sprocket could be bent (so early ?), also have a look at the rubber dampers in the rear wheel hub, not sure what it's called (cush drive?)

Are you pointing the Sprocket rubber?

[v.v.shyam]

jayaramk1983 said:

Bike : Karizma-R
Vendor: Hero Honda

I am hearing chain noise (rubbing against the chain guard) on my 3 month old ZMA. This started after the first service during which in all probability the service center opened the bike's chain guard and in all probability did not fit it properly or did something to misalign the chain, now there is chain noise (grinding noise) when riding the bike. One of the other roadside mechanic told me that the chain is not aligned properly hence it tends to oscillate when riding causing the chain to rub on the guard. He tried some stuff and then the noise went away only to return back in 50-60 kms. Im not sure what I can do except that to remove the chain guard and run the bike as-is , maintaining the chain from time to time.  

Ricci said:

Probably the chain is too loose, this could be fixed by adjusting the chain tension via the adjusters at the rear of the swingarm.

jayaramk1983 said:

Ricci

The chain is perfect slack , but the alignment is not correct. When I feel the chain and rotate the rear tyre the tightness of the chain changes from tight to loose to tight which is weird, due to that the chain oscillates in an up down motion causing it to hit the chain guard somewhere.

Jayram hi,

Was the chain unevenly readjusted by the local mechanic ?

This could be the cause for the uneven chain tension.

Did you ever get the chain case / cover re inspected internally? Please note that there could be a possible bend / fold at the tip of the Chain case which might be touching the chain once it get loose.

Quote

The 2nd problem I am facing is the engine noise at idle like khat khat khat , when I press the clutch the noise goes away, but this noise comes in when the clutch is released, this happens during idling in neutral only and not during other times.  However, there is no issue in the bike's running , FE or anything else. It just runs fine. One more thing was this noise started after 1st service. One of the mech just said maybe the cam tensioner is bad, but I dont think so.

Quote

As for the noise, try adjusting the clutch free play. The noise seems to be from the spring perhaps, but hard to say without hearing it. At 2900km the cam tensioner shouldn't even be close to being worn.

Quote

As for the engine noise, I too dont think its the cam tensioner and the clutch freeplay is also correct. I have a doubt about some spring inside which can be misaligned or loose causing the noise. Its scary though, the engineers at the SC could not solve the problem.

I am not sure if the engine sports a Dynamic balancer. If it does, then there could be an issue with the preloading of its springs. Else please get the clutch & primary gear nuts checked.

PS : These are just some indicators to possible issue.

Edited by v.v.shyam, 07 July 2010 - 07:53 AM.
Missing words

[jayaramk1983]

v.v.shyam said:

Jayram hi,

Was the chain unevenly readjusted by the local mechanic ?

This could be the cause for the uneven chain tension.

Did you ever get the chain case / cover re inspected internally? Please note that there could be a possible bend / fold at the tip of the Chain case which might be touching the chain once it get loose.

Venkat sir,

No it wasn't adjusted by any local mechanic but only by the Service Centre of HH at 1st service, the chain noise started then. One thing I noticed was that the chain noise went away after 2nd service but came back in a span of 20-30 kms indicating that the cause you said (chain guard bent somewhere touching when the chain becomes loose) might be true. I'll check with the guys to see the chain cover internally too to find if any part has bent causing the chain to touch it.

v.v.shyam said:

I am not sure if the engine sports a Dynamic balancer. If it does, then there could be an issue with the preloading of its springs. Else please get the clutch & primary gear nuts checked.

PS : These are just some indicators to possible issue.

I'm not sure about the balancer unit, however I have got a call from the HH SVC to bring the bike and they have promised to fix it asap. I'll post once I go to the HH guys to see what the problem is. One more thing I noticed was that there are vibrations on the handlebars due to this noise too. Does that suggest the engine balancer springs ?

Edited by jayaramk1983, 09 July 2010 - 01:55 PM.
multiquote mistake

[v.v.shyam]

jayaramk1983 said:

I'm not sure about the balancer unit. I'll post once I go to the HH guys to see what the problem is. One more thing I noticed was that there are vibrations on the handlebars due to this noise too. Does that suggest the engine balancer springs ?

Basic closer look at the balancing system might provide good insights to the issue.

[jayaramk1983]

v.v.shyam said:

Basic closer look at the balancing system might provide good insights to the issue.

Thanks Venkat Sir. Haven't been able to visit the SC due to hectic work schedules.

The chain noise was looked into by a known mechanic and as per him he says that the sprocket is gone bad hence the chain oscillates up and down during the running causing it to hit the chain guard. He told me that this is due to the fact that the chain was not properly lubed during the initial running and hence the sprocket got damaged / worn out. I am not sure that whether the sprocket should go bad in 3000kms , but as per my maintenance the chain was never dry anytime from the start.

The only solution he says is change the chain sprocket or reverse the chain and put it , or enjoy the noise.

[jayaramk1983]

An update , the mech opened up the chain guard and said that change the chain. There is no damage to the sprocket , nor the chain or anything nearby. Even the chain guard doesnt show any brush marks from the chain.

I am now confused. Why should I change the chain then! The noise continues unabated. Its getting frustating now.

[Ricci]

Check the chain free play. If the chains' free play is over 30mm at the middle between the sprockets, and the rear axle it out farthest from the hub , at the end of the axel travel marked by the calibration marks on both sides of swingarm, then the chain is loose beyond point of adjustment , even if not necessarily worn at the sprocket/chain interface but at the links.

[v.v.shyam]

Ricci said:

Check the chain free play. If the chains' free play is over 30mm at the middle between the sprockets, and the rear axle it out farthest from the hub , at the end of the axel travel marked by the calibration marks on both sides of swingarm, then the chain is loose beyond point of adjustment , even if not necessarily worn at the sprocket/chain interface but at the links.

Thx Rahul! You have eased my task

Adding a small addition, the sprockets might have become sharp at the edges.

[jayaramk1983]

Thanks for all the ideas Ricci and Venkat Sir. The chain noise is gone now as the adjustment is done properly as Ricci had pointed out the alignment was the culprit and hence the noise was coming.

Thanks a lot for pitching in with the ideas. I am late to post here as I did not visit the forums from a long time.

Edited by jayaramk1983, 12 January 2011 - 09:54 AM.
correcting a grammatical mistake