Primary Drive Sprocket and Inner Clutch Basket play?

[Tinman]

What is an acceptable amount of play in the primary drive sprocket and center clutch basket when they're slid onto their respective splined shafts?

When I slide both on, it seems like there is a lot of rotational play, I can twist the sprockets side to side and the play is very noticeable. Is that normal or should it be closer to an interference fit but still be able to slide it on by hand? Or are they that loose before being tightened down?

[48lesco]

Tin - There shouldn't be any play in those splines. There's some wear somewhere that should be addressed. When nice and clean, they slide on fairly easily, but shouldn't wiggle at all once on. I have to say though, I've never seen wear at that location; are you sure it's the splines?
-48

[Tinman]

48,

Everything looks fine, both the splines on the shafts and the inside of the sprockets still are showing the serrations from the milling. I miked out both the shaft and the inside of the sprocket and they appear to be acceptable. Perhaps I'm just imagining what is the norm to be excessive.

The primary drive sprocket and the outer clutch basket sprocket are showing wear where the chain rides so I'll track down new sprockets and compare the two when fitted to see if any slack is taken up. I probably need a new primary chain as well but that's not the issue at hand and not as readily available as the sprockets are.

I need to clarify myself when I say it wiggles when turned left and right, the sprockets are not tightened down on the shaft when I twist the sprockets.

[48lesco]

Tin - I guess I'm not sure I completely understand... You mention that the sprockets aren't tightened down, but the clutch center (with the spline) and the clutch outer (with the sprocket) are only held in place by a snap ring; they are not tightened down in any way. The primary sprocket on the crankshaft is tightened down by the nut. There should be no rotational play in either splined joint even without the snap ring installed or the nut tightened. When the clutch and primary sprocket are assembled and joined by the primary chain there will be plenty of rotational play if you rotate the clutch outer, due to slack in the chain (and any wear in the sprocket spline). That's got nothing to do with slop in the clutch center spline however.

Clutches are a dime a dozen on ebay, but the sprockets on the outers are sometimes a little loose (rotate slightly) due to wear in the riveted joint. Some here will say to never use those, always throw them out, but I put a lot of easy miles on one that did rotate a little and I can't say I noticed any difference at all when I replaced it with a new one. Good primary sprockets are pretty common too if you think you need one. As you know, new OEM primary chains are getting hard to find, but even if you do, there will still be some slack when installed (taken up by the tensioner). A low mileage chain from a Dream (less HP) is the way to go but check the used ones carefully for cracked rollers.
-48

[Hahnda]

I think that one you have the tensioner in place and the slack is taken up most of the left and right rotational slop will be gone. I think that is the slop you are talking about?

[Tinman]

Well, it sounds like I'm imagining things. At least I hope so. I'll know when I put on a different primary sprocket. I'm just not use to loose fit tolerances, but I do have an active imagination.

I surely appreciate the input and responses. I'll report my findings when I put on a new sprocket.

[Tinman]

Well my active imagination is just that, "ACTIVE and IMAGINARY!' I installed a new sprocket and it had no more or no less play than the one in question. Thanks to all that answered my posts and a lesson learned for me.

Tinman