Drive chain noisy??!!

So Ive put my new chain on (1st time I changed a chain) Well anyway I believe I have the correct slack in it (1" taken at the middle of the bottom section)... When I turn the rear wheel by hand while on the stand, the chain links in contact with the front sprocket makes a noise like a baseball card in the spokes of a kids bicycle. New chain (DID ERV3 - 150 miles) new front sprocket (AFAM 15t - 10 miles) and new rear sprocket (Sprocket Specialists 43t - 150 miles) Stock id 15/40 on an 03. Is this noise normal because the chain is breaking in (links are still pretty stiff), or am I running into some unforseen problem... Everything is aligned properly... Quadruple checked sprocket alignment, wheel alignment, checked chain slack both on and off the rear stand, etc... Do I just need to clean and lube the chain? Need help asap, I dont want to break something and spend $ fixing it if it can be easily avoided...

If I understand, you have different miles (150) on thr chain and rear sprocket than the front sprocket (10 miles) Did you run a new chain on the old front sprocket? Bad idea. This can prematurely screw up a chain. Sprocket teeth and chain links wear unevenly, you need to replace all as a set.

So Ive put my new chain on (1st time I changed a chain) Well anyway I believe I have the correct slack in it (1" taken at the middle of the bottom section)... When I turn the rear wheel by hand while on the stand, the chain links in contact with the front sprocket makes a noise like a baseball card in the spokes of a kids bicycle. New chain (DID ERV3 - 150 miles) new front sprocket (AFAM 15t - 10 miles) and new rear sprocket (Sprocket Specialists 43t - 150 miles) Stock id 15/40 on an 03. Is this noise normal because the chain is breaking in (links are still pretty stiff), or am I running into some unforseen problem... Everything is aligned properly... Quadruple checked sprocket alignment, wheel alignment, checked chain slack both on and off the rear stand, etc... Do I just need to clean and lube the chain? Need help asap, I dont want to break something and spend $ fixing it if it can be easily avoided... Spoon A couple of things, chain slack is a key to longevity with the assoc parts so with only 1" i'd say your on the tight side of the range! 1 1/4-1 1/2" would be better. Using the 15t has created a tight turning radius therefore as the chain travels along the top/bottom of the plastic swingarm protector it will make significant contact with it which may or may not be the 'clicking' noise. BD

I have the same gearing st up. With the stock set up being 15/40 you should not be having any probs with the front part of the chain. I also dont see the need for anymore slack as the chain is going to stretch someonce it gets heated up and broke in. It may just take some time for the grease to works its way into the chain. I hope you have better luck with the sprocket specialist rear than I did. I stripped all of the teeth off of mine by the 1500 miles point. Sent it back to them and they said the hardening process was done right and then said it was out of warranty. I ordered a Renthal Hard series and have over 8000 miles on it and it is just now wearing the coating off of it. Just a point also, I only replaced the chain and the rear sprocket and left my front stock on there and have not had any probs yet. CLeaning and chain maintainence are the key along with lubbing the chain on a frequent basis.

Spoon A couple of things, chain slack is a key to longevity with the assoc parts so with only 1" i'd say your on the tight side of the range! 1 1/4-1 1/2" would be better. Using the 15t has created a tight turning radius therefore as the chain travels along the top/bottom of the plastic swingarm protector it will make significant contact with it which may or may not be the 'clicking' noise. BD :+1: :thumbsup:

I agree with BD! You didn't press/bevel the master link too tight against the O-rings did ya?

My damn fingers typed to fuggen fast for my pea brain (DUH) to notice the zx6r has a 15t as stock so as sneaky mentioned there would be no issues with chain rub so my apologies gents, BUT i will go on the record as saying 1" is not enough slack even from new or near new even though they will have an initial stretch on the 1st ride. Once suspension is compressed that 1" of slack will be taken up, hence undue tension on assoc parts. BD

My damn fingers typed to fuggen fast for my pea brain (DUH) to notice the zx6r has a 15t as stock so as sneaky mentioned there would be no issues with chain rub so my apologies gents, BUT i will go on the record as saying 1" is not enough slack even from new or near new even though they will have an initial stretch on the 1st ride. Once suspension is compressed that 1" of slack will be taken up, hence undue tension on assoc parts. BD huh, see if I agree with you again. Hell I assumed it was for the ten but a typo.