94-2003 honda magnas

[hubcapsc]

call me stupid, but how do I know when a chain needs to be replaced or what to look for when I go look at this magna this weekend for chain wear with 22K miles on it?  I doubt it has been replaced since new in 1997.

You can probably get a Renthal chain for around $100 and a OEM rear Magna sprocket
for around $100... I don't know about the front sprocket, hopefully cheap and easy, it
was on dirt bikes...

Besides seeing obvious wear, you can take the chain off and see stuff about how much
it has stretched and how much of a side-to-side arc you can bend it in... you kind of need
a baseline (what was the new one like) to make sense of these tests, though...

-Mike

[Woton]

Always replaced the chain and sprockets at the same time on our two Magnas.  Good advice...

The last time I replaced mine I went with a one tooth higher front sprocket with the hope of dropping the revs a bit for highway riding and to see if gas mileage would be improved.  The Magnas loved gas stations...got a little old on longer trips.

The change dropped the RPMs by 500 at highway speeds, and I noticed no real change in the bike's performance for my non-aggressive riding style.  The gas mileage benefit to this was negligible, still I accomplished what I wanted and rode the bike this way for some miles before selling it.  The larger front sprocket performed fine over time.

At times I miss the Magna, but not the chain/sprockets.

[cookiedough]

good to know will check rear sprocket for wear/unevenness/and pointy tips, but still will not prevent me from buying it this weekend. 

[Pappy!]

Cookie. There is a stretch gauge on the bike back where you adjust it. That tells you when you are at the end of the useful life of the chain.
Another common indicator is a stuck link. You can hear them and feel them a bit as well. You put the bike on a stand and rotate the back wheel and you can see the stuck link.

[cookiedough]

well, bought a 97 magna tonight.  One issue pretty much is all:

noticed in 1st gear at stoplight taking off or shifts from 1 to 2 or 2 to 3 mostly at LOWER rpms light throttle hear a chug,chug, chug 4-5 times until it goes away or I give it more gas.  It is not a lurching engine sound like is starving for gas or bad carb though.  The more throttle or higher revving, the less times like 1-2 times is all and not as loud either mostly.

other than that,  bike ran great smooth shifting and no power lags up to 75 mph at all with smooth constant idle around 1400 rpms.

Can a bad chain/sprocket or too loose of a chain cause this chugging/lugging noise since engine runs fine otherwise and good shifts, etc.  Noise happens when AFTER letting off the clutch all the way mostly giving some throttle.  If I get on it HEAVY and fast driving it home,  the chug noise 4-5 times does not happen much at all really just barely noticeable for 1-2 times.  

The chain is in dire need of a cleaning all gummed up, etc. for sure and is OEM since 1997 and 22K miles on cycle.  

Tomorrow or this weekend:  can I use cheap WD-40 or other cheap spray lubricant with rags to get the gunk off and then I have some very nice JB chain lube that sticks to chains made for cycles/atvs/chainsaws that will not fly off actually sticks and coats to the chain not cheap stuff that I have used with good results on my kids 90cc chain driven ATV.  It is almost like a foaming chain lube but bubbles up and does not even drip off the chain and spray states does not collect dirt or grime repelling gunk from sticking to the chain.  Is called JB (mfg.) heavy duty chain lube bought at farm and fleet.  

do they make chain cleaner spray vs. using wd-40/cheap spray lubricant to get the grime and gunk sitting for years on that OEM 1997 chain?  The rear sprocket does not look all chewed up but was getting dark and did not do much inspecting on the chain since had 3 hour drive home in 39 degree temps doing 70-75 mph thru most of it.  First 45 minutes fine when sun out, rest BRRR COLD NO windshield mostly interstate.

[hubcapsc]

can I use cheap WD-40 or other cheap spray lubricant with rags

WD and a non-metal brush would be a good thing to go at it with. A real
clever seeming thing might be to use a rag with the rear wheel off the
ground (center stand?) and the wheel spinning - until the rag catches
and chops your finger off in the sprocket... I know a fellow with three
fingers because of that... now that you are committed to chain
maintenance, don't be afraid to pop the master link and lay the
chain out and clean the snot out of it... stare close at the cleaned off
sprockets - with your glasses on if you're like me  , maybe even
take some pictures and look at them all blown up on your screen.

Ida know about your chug sound, horrible worn chain-sprockets
can make a mechanical ginking sound, good luck...

Read on-line about how to decide when the chain is adjusted
to the proper tightness - not too floppy loose and not to
tight... a too tight nasty worn chain might make your noise...
sprockets/wheels nicely lined up... with a chain you don't
just jamb the axle through a hole and call it good, there's
adjustment doo-dads on each side (I've never looked at
your specific bike)... chain adjustment has to take into
account for suspension travel - not too loose at the loosest
point and not too tight at the tightest...

-Mike

[Alpha Dog]

Best thing to do is join the v4 muscle bike forum.  You have the 3rd generation magna on that site.  Some really good people that know these bikes.

There is a simple way to get the rear tire off the ground,  using a 4 x 4 and they have the measurements.   You can clean the chain pretty good with kerosene.  However if that chain is original I would not pass go,  I would order a new chain and sprockets this day.  Local Honda dealer may well have them.  Mine local Honda dealer carriered  Bikemaster brand, pretty good made in Czech Republic I believe.  Or buy Renthal.    Do not be wowed by cheap price ebay chains and sprockets.  They are Chinese and  have considerable failure.   Noise could well be a chain.   Well best of luck.  Fun fun bikes.

[cookiedough]

read up on youtube videos last night.  gonna buy a grunge brush vs. going thru a whole roll of paper towels/rags to get the gunk off quicker.  Yah,  need to get that rear wheel off the ground to do it quicker and right.  I wonder if the rear wheel lifters that are made for racing crotch rocket bikes where they lift the rear up by the bolts on each side and then pushing that rear lever up would get it off the ground, similar to this one I can get somewhat local?

https://www.cyclegear.com/accessories/trackside-rear-paddock-stand

[Woton]

Enjoy the Magna, cookiedough!  Doubt if it will be as bullet-proof as the Valk, and yours may need some love to get it the way you want it.  Ours did, and overall we had a great experience as Magna owners.

That's really what it's ALL about.  Honda did a great job with this bike - as they did the Valkyrie.

Ride safely!

[Pappy!]

Congrats!!!
I gave you all the site information in post #4 here. Great folks there just like in here and a wealth of information on the bike.
oh......never happened without pictures! 

[cookiedough]

did a quick inspect of chain - WOW,  no wonder something was chattering while shifting gears as soon as I gave it gas/throttle.  Chain has over 2 inches of slack in middle bottom up/down should be only 1 inch according to owners manual.  Looked at tooth sprockets and most looked in very good shape but did not spin wheel all around yet by pushing bike back and forth to check every sprocket tooth.  Chain is so loose I can push chain sideways to hit the rear wheel rubber and easily hit the frame above the chain pushing up on the chain very easily, thus that is probably the chattering going on chain hitting frame shifting gears as I give it throttle after shifting. 

going to clean OEM chain and rear sprocket and then tighten up in back does not look hard to do and go from there.  Also, previous owner overfilled with Castrol semi synthetic car oil last year guessing 10+ ounces over required 3.3 quarts or so, not good, as shown on dipstick.  gotta change that out ASAP as well with full synthetic mobil 1 or Amsoil.