Ducati Monster Forum

Moto Board => Tech => Topic started by: triangleforge on July 29, 2008, 11:16:25 AM

Title: Front Sprocket lateral play?
Post by: triangleforge on July 29, 2008, 11:16:25 AM
Was cleaning the chain this morning on the 2001 M600 and noticed a circle where the sprocket retaining screws rubbed the front sprocket cover:

(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3188/2713764523_85f5e3f2fc.jpg?v=0)

I hadn't noticed it before, but it's possible the rub was there even before I bought the bike; this is the first time I've done a really thorough job of grubbing out the area around the front sprocket.

The sprocket has 1mm or less of lateral play along the output shaft (which doesn't move) -- enough to feel, but not much more than that. I checked the retaining screws & they're both good and snug. The sprocket itself looks to be in great shape, though I'm just about due for a new chain & sprockets anyway -- want to go to 14T, and the parts on the bike now have at least 6K miles on them, so it makes sense to replace them all together. Though I didn't think to pull out a straightedge before I put the cover back on, just eyeballing it I could convince myself it's bowed inward just a little bit.

Anyway, is the rub mark on the sprocket cover or the tiny amount of lateral play in the sprocket anything to be immediately concerned over?
Title: Re: Front Sprocket lateral play?
Post by: Slide Panda on July 29, 2008, 11:23:48 AM
Did you take off the retaining plate and have a good look at it?  They wear out over time.. that might be your culpret
Title: Re: Front Sprocket lateral play?
Post by: triangleforge on July 29, 2008, 11:27:09 AM
Good idea; I didn't do that, but might be worth a quick look while I've got the tools out.

Thanks.
Title: Re: Front Sprocket lateral play?
Post by: johnster on July 29, 2008, 01:19:06 PM
I honestly could be wrong here, but I always thought that most (if not all) Ducati front sprockets were supposed to "float" a little bit. To do that to your sprocket guard, though, is too much I'm guessing.  :-\

Did I dream this up?  I could have sworn they were...  ???
Title: Re: Front Sprocket lateral play?
Post by: Slide Panda on July 29, 2008, 01:47:20 PM
Quote from: johnster on July 29, 2008, 01:19:06 PM
Did I dream this up?  I could have sworn they were...  ???

I think you are...  There might be a tiny bit of play due to the different in the thickness of the retainer plate vs the width of the grove it sits in.  But we are talking fractions of a mm.  And to wander all the way over and run on that cover is like a cm or more...
Title: Re: Front Sprocket lateral play?
Post by: Norm on July 30, 2008, 08:51:24 AM
Most of them have a little wobble to them (float?). I've been working on a full floating front sprocket but haven't been real happy with what I've come up with yet.
Title: Re: Front Sprocket lateral play?
Post by: Butcher on July 30, 2008, 08:53:36 AM
Norm,

Why would a person want this? 

To eliminate chain bind and let it move around a bit? 



Quote from: Norm on July 30, 2008, 08:51:24 AM
Most of them have a little wobble to them (float?). I've been working on a full floating front sprocket but haven't been real happy with what I've come up with yet.
Title: Re: Front Sprocket lateral play?
Post by: brimo on July 30, 2008, 03:55:29 PM
All normal don't worry about it, the rub mark is just from grit that gets dragged up in to the cover.
Title: Re: Front Sprocket lateral play?
Post by: Capo on July 30, 2008, 04:36:24 PM
Take a look at this keeper, notice the wear on the teeth, this increases the axial clearance.

(http://i295.photobucket.com/albums/mm143/Tarugo996/P1000044.jpg)

BTW, the rear sprocket on the S*R's also has some float and wiggles.