chaincase noise

[phazerkid]

my dad has a '05 RX-1 and i went to go for a ride today and started going across a feild and there was a bang and it started to make a ratcheting noise every time i hit the throttle so i tightend up the chain and it kept doing it. Has anyone had this happen or know what the problem is?

 

[grader]

better pull the cover and check things over. bottom bearing went out in chaincase on mine this year, destroyed inner half. its easy to pull cover and look, as well as check speedo bearing on the other end.

 

[phazerkid]

ok ill have to check that, but it doesnt sound like a bearing becoase it went bang and then did it. And it only has about 2000 klimetors on it

 

[Len Todd]

If there is/was no oil in the case, it takes about 20 miles for the chain to stretch and pass over the top gear. How much did you turn in the adjuster screw before there was resistance felt from the chain being tight? More that two or three turns and the chain was probably stretched from some off-normal condition.

By all means, get in the case and look closely. If there is no oil, then you have a seal or gasket problem. Then once you get the thing fixed, keep a very close eye on the oil level (i.e. check it every few miles) to ensure you only had one problem or that you really fixed it.)

 

[phazerkid]

i turned it about 4-5 times untill it felt tight but its still making a wierd noise.I dont think any oil leaked out because it sits in a heated shed with a cement floor and there is nothing on the floor and there is no sign what so ever that it was leaking.But ill pull the cover off tomorow or maybe sometime this week.

 

[LazyBastard]

To see if it has been leaking oil, you do NOT look for oil spills... you CHECK THE DIPSTICK!

 

[Len Todd]

If there is no oil to leak, then there will be no sign of leakage.

Four turns is a lot. One more symptom that there is serious a problem inside the chaincase.

 

[phazerkid]

ya im hoping its nothing to bad but it dosnt sound good

 

[phazerkid]

ok i pulled off the chaincase today.There was lots of oil in it, but the lower bearing had failed, all the little rollers were gone out so the lower gear just moved around without a bearing holding it and was rubbing on the reverse gear coller coasing lots of noise

 

[Len Todd]

Hard to imagine the bearing gone w/o taking out the seal. You were very lucky.

 

[LazyBastard]

Probably a good idea to change the seal at the same time anyways. There is not a lot of oil splashing around that seal, so it wouldn't necessarily be hosing out a lot.

 

[phazerkid]

ok i just got the parts today, we replased the seal and bearing and cleaned up the old top bearing and it seemed fine, so my dad started putting back together today and it should be up and running by tomorow

 

[03RX1-ER-LE]

They way he talked about the little "rollers" gone sounds like he was talking about the roller bearing inside the bottom gear splined hub and not the chain case ball bearing for the driveshaft. Has anyone seen that ball bearing go bad since it is constantly in a oil bath? Over the years on all my sleds (Chapparral-Deere-V-max-Phazers-Etc) the sealed bearing has failed (speedo side) but never had to change the chain case bearing.

 

[grader]

mine went this year, 05rx1. gear busted out piece from inner half and destroyed it. sled had 5000miles on it. this sled has no reverse. my last sled 03rx1 with reverse had almost 14000 miles and had no chaincase problems. i don't think its a common problem or even know why it happened but as with any mechanical piece, chit happens.

 

[Convert]

Same thing happened to me earlier this year. Got a used chain case with new bearings from my dealer for $100. When the bearing goes the bottom gear rubs on the inside of the chain case.