 different rear sprocket?!?
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,960
Loquacious
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OP
Loquacious
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,960 |
So yesterday I'm working on the bike and I'm putting on a new set of sprockets and chain.
Now let me set up an image for you. I've got a box that I keep scrap parts in. When the box is full I take it to the dump to get rid of them. It takes a while to fill up the box since I've still got my original rear sprocket in there among the scrap as well as me putting in the one I just took off.
I've gotten the kit from the closest dealership and take everything apart that I need to. As I put the rear sprocket that I just removed off the bike into my scrap box the original rear sprocket that came with the bike catches my eye. It looks different. I compare the two.
My bike is an early 2002 Bonneville America, prefactory fire. The original rear sprocket has 46 teeth not the 42 like the one I just took off or the new one I just put on.
What the (editied because of the AUP) heck?
Has anyone else come across this in the past that I don't remember? Did I get a super secret test model that they let out the door without knowing? Was my rear sprocket tooth counted converted to metric because I live in Canada and use kilometres?
John
Like a dog on a car ride with my tongue in the wind
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Re: different rear sprocket?!?
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,271 Likes: 17
Saddle Sore
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Saddle Sore
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,271 Likes: 17 |
"Was my rear sprocket tooth counted converted to metric because I live in Canada and use kilometres? " Possibility,did you happen to count the teeth? Duh...nevermind! 
Last edited by mikemm03; 04/19/2009 1:47 PM.
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Re: different rear sprocket?!?
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 4,074 Likes: 83
Loquacious
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Loquacious
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 4,074 Likes: 83 |
Hmmm.. whaddup widdat? Wouldn't happen to have the front sprocket too would you? It'd be interesting to know how many teeth it had. Dunno.. maybe early production used a lower gear ratio.. the 17/46 combo gets a 2:70 ratio but a 17/42 kicks it up to 2:47.. slightly higher.. fuel mileage maybe? A 19/46 combo is 2:42 which is pretty close to 02 stocks gearing so maybe they took some teeth from both ends for whatever reason. Wouldn't you love to know all those little production and development secrets?... or is it just me.... 
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Re: different rear sprocket?!?
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,960
Loquacious
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OP
Loquacious
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,960 |
Quote:
Wouldn't you love to know all those little production and development secrets?... or is it just me....
Nope it's not just you, I would have loved to have sat in on some of the discussions and testing of the early models.
As a matter of fact yes I still do have the original front sprocket. That was a 17 tooth still. Your theory on fuel mileage could be correct, I guess we'll never know.
It's like the other little quirk on her which Phil pointed out to me years ago. The ignition cylinder on my bike protrudes past the plastic bodywork adjacent to it while everyone else's is recessed. Really makes me curious.
John
Like a dog on a car ride with my tongue in the wind
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Re: different rear sprocket?!?
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Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 3,816
Freelance Jedi Knight
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Freelance Jedi Knight
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 3,816 |
no idea what you talking about Quote:
It's like the other little quirk on her which Phil pointed out to me years ago. The ignition cylinder on my bike protrudes past the plastic bodywork adjacent to it while everyone else's is recessed. Really makes me curious.
mine America is 2001
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Re: different rear sprocket?!?
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 23,243 Likes: 64
Fe Butt
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Fe Butt
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 23,243 Likes: 64 |
He meant the ignition switch I think. Never saw one that sticks out but haven't seen many of the first couple years.
I learned all I need to know about life by killing smart people and eating their brains.
Eat right ,Exercise ,Stay fit, Die Anyway!
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Re: different rear sprocket?!?
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,172
Saddle Sore
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Saddle Sore
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 5,172 |
You got a Friday afternoon, end of shift, end of production run model... "Hey Nigel, I need a sprocket and ignition switch to finish this one." "Check in that box of extras in the corner..." 
More flags
More fun!
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Re: different rear sprocket?!?
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,960
Loquacious
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OP
Loquacious
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 3,960 |
Quote:
You got a Friday afternoon, end of shift, end of production run model...
I was thinking something similar.
"Nigel, we've run out of the 42 toothed rear sprocket for the last Bonneville America of the day and the next run isn't due until the 'morrow"
"Blasted all Alan!! Simply put on a rear sprocket of a...(insert model here, I was thinking maybe a TBS would have to check to see if they use a 46 toothed sprocket) they others are already down at the pub."
John
Like a dog on a car ride with my tongue in the wind
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