Katana Owners Club U.K.

Hi Guys,

In between restoring the Kat and other stuff, I'm playing with a cheap n nasty Chinese 125, to get the missus on the road till the Kat is finished.

This machine had spectacularly failed cush drive rubbers, and as a result, the previous owner (who doesn't know one end of a spanner from the other) decided to try and tension the chain. He pulled it up that tight, he bent the end of the swingarm where the adjuster bolt fits through.

I've straightened it out, fitted new rubbers and put it back together. Now, the chain keeps coming tight and loosening, with every complete revolution. At it's tightest point, the chain is almost on the tips of the teeth of the back sprocket. In 1st gear on tickover, it kerchunkerchunks like hell. I've checked & double checked the wheel alignment, the back sprocket looks true as it rotates.

Would I be right in thinking numptyb*llocks has stretched a few links in the chain? Looking at the front sprocket with a torch as it rotates, it looks true and not bent (cannot get the sprocket cover off, as I need a 1/4" drive 8mm socket which I havent got!).


A new chain is only 15 quid off ebay... but I don't want to shell out until I get some thoughts!

Cheers,

J

The chain is well lubed up, made sure of that!

I'm hoping it isn't the output shaft.... doesn't look bent, but I'm gonna have to whip the sprocket cover off and have a proper look!

The bike was only £100 quid, and is worth more in bits (especially as it's only 4 years old!), but I'd rather get it going.... No pile of Far Eastern junk is gonna beat me

Cheers,

J

Better be quick coz the electrics will probably pack up any minute

Good luck.

Pete

I havent even got as far as the electrics yet

Headlight & tail light inoperative.. which either points to switch or both bulbs gone. Sidelight works ok!

So far it's had new cush drive rubbers, a second hand CBR-125 front master cylinder (The Chinese made the sight glass out of plastic, and it's fallen to bits!) and hopefully that will be that.....

I'm hoping to god it aint the output shaft that is bent.... else it's getting stripped and ebayed for spares!

The plan is, to get it on the road for the missus, then keep it as a spare once the Kat is done... or if I fancy a bit of fun (125's can be fun sometimes!), or it's too slippery for my Trumpf.

Cheers,

J

PS, where can I get sliding pins from for the front calipers on a '81 650?

I'm 99% sure it's chain....

Having observed the front sprocket, it's all true. Pulling the chain round the back sprocket reveals a few links that don't fit snugly in the troughs of the sprocket (they sit more or less on the tip), so I'm pretty sure it's been stretched by over tightening.

Then no doubt I'll find more faults

Ta,

J

New chain & sprocket ordered.... Bulbs blown in headlight & tail light.

Hopefully that will be the end of it.... Bloody chinese crap! lol

J

my mate had a 125 scooter. only paid a couple of hundred for it - new !!! even had a remote start fob:)

Pete

The first owner paid just over 400 quid for this one, and it arrived in a crate with the number plate!

It was ok till he packed up riding and sold it to the numpty round the corner... who basically made a complete dogs backside of it, and sold it back to him... hence why it only cost us 100 quids lol

It's worth it for that kind of money, just to allow 'er indoors road time before doing her DAS training etc. She used to ride many years ago, but that was before the days of ANPR & Section 165 of the Road Traffic Act

J

Re sliding pins, do you mean the ones for the rear caliper or the sliding bolts for the front?just for reference the bolts are the same as all GS /GSX range for the 80's up to 84, and the pins for the rear are current for all Suzuki rear now.
However you'll probably find yours are in my garage with your swingarm gaiter. At the moment access to garage is limited. Due to it being painted white just like the background !

How much of a rush are we in?

Hi Fossie,

Not much of a rush at the moment.... just gotten it down to the bare frame, and have stripping/rubbing down/painting etc to be done before we even get to the final bits n bobs... It's the front caliper sliding bolts that are needed, I'm pretty sure one side is there (will go down to the shed and have a look). Managed to get some rear indicators from ebay, but gonna need fronts too!

Had a proper look at the gaiter, and it's knackered. As well as a couple of repairs with mastic, there is a whole new split opened up!

Just waiting on slightly warmer weather now, as reluctant to strip down & red oxide in these temperatures!

Cheers,

J