Drive Chain; Inspection; Drive Chain Sliders - Honda CRF450L 2019 Owner's Manual & Off-Road Handbook

Drive Chain

Drive Chain

Refer to Important Safety Precautions on page 33.
An endless (riveted master link) chain connects the
countershaft and rear wheel sprockets. The O-ring
chain uses rubber rings between the side plates of
the pin and roller links to seal in the manufacturer-
installed lubricating grease and keep out moisture
and dirt.
The service life of the chain depends on proper
lubrication and adjustment. Poor maintenance can
cause premature wear or damage to the drive chain
or sprockets.
When the motorcycle is ridden on unusually dusty
or muddy tracks, more frequent maintenance will
be necessary.
The drive chain should be checked, adjusted, and
lubricated as part of the pre-ride inspection
(page 19).
Under severe usage, or when the motorcycle is
ridden in unusually dusty or muddy areas, more
frequent maintenance will be necessary.
Before servicing your drive chain, turn the engine
OFF, lower the side stand, and check that your
transmission is in neutral.

Inspection

1. Turn the engine off, raise the rear wheel off the
ground by placing an optional workstand or
equivalent support under the engine and shift
the transmission into neutral.
2. Check the drive chain slack (1) in the upper
drive chain run midway between the drive
sprocket (2) and driven sprocket (3). Drive
chain slack should allow the following vertical
movement by hand:
1 – 1 3/8 in (25 – 35 mm)
130
Servicing Your Honda
(1) 1 – 1 3/8 in (25 – 35 mm)
(2)
(1) drive chain slack (3) driven sprocket
(2) drive sprocket
3. Check drive chain slack at several points along
the chain. The slack should remain constant. If
it isn't, some links may be kinked and binding.
Lubricating the chain will often eliminate
binding and kinking.
NOTICE
Excessive chain slack may allow the drive chain to
damage the engine cases.
4. Inspect the drive chain for:
• damaged rollers
• loose pins
• dry or rusted links
• kinked or binding links
• excessive wear
• improper adjustment
• damaged or missing O-rings
Replace the drive chain (page 132) if it has
damaged rollers, loose pins, or kinks that cannot be
free. Lubricate the drive chain (page 131) if it
appears dry or shows signs of rust. Lubricate any
kinked or binding links and work them free.
Adjust chain slack if needed (page 131).

Drive Chain Sliders

1. Check the chain slider (1) for wear.
Replace it if below the service limit.
SERVICE LIMIT:
upper side: 0.04 in (1.0 mm)
lower side: 0.10 in (2.5 mm)
0.04 in
(1.0 mm)
(3)
0.10 in
(2.5 mm)
(1)
(1) chain slider
2. Check the chain guide slider (3) for wear.
Replace the guide slider if it is worn to the
bottom of the wear limit (4).
(3)
(4)
(3) chain guide slider
(2) (1)
(2) wear indicator
(4)
(4) wear limit