Ducati Monster Forum

I just changed my front sprocket today, and it feels AWESOME. However, there is a very noticeable noise that I both feel and hear, especially when cruising with the throttle closed and clutch in. It feels and sounds like something is rubbing or grinding. Is this normal? Does anybody else have this?

Have you taken a really good look at the old vs the new regarding allignment? .. and checked front and rear sprockets for wear/rubbing signs?

It's possible to mount them incorrectly or to have bought the wrong model...

Didn't notice any difference between old/new alignment. It just slipped right on, pretty easily. I got the JTF736.14 sprocket for my 2008 Ducati 695...

Shim, sprocket with large flat surface out, retainer plate - in that order?

Heavy rider and/or adjusted ride height? Could result in a chain rubbing against the swingarm...

Chain lubed and adjusted with good wheel allignment? Rear sprocket where and how it should be?

What shim?
I didn't mess with the rear sprocket. Chain is lubed and properly tightened

How many miles on the chain?  Sprocket flat side out?  Is the chain too tight?  Loose enough so it is rubbing on the guide?  Rear wheel aligned?

According to the parts catalog there is a shim between the engine and the sprocket.

Did you tighten the chain after the sprocket change - not always required, but...

I'm just throwing out ideas to maybe rule out the obvious and get closer to the solution.

I think that shim is inside the cases.

To the OP...do you have a rear stand?

If not maybe borrow one and put it up so you can check alignment and spin the wheel to see what's up.

There's nothing that I can see that's going on right now...could it just be that it's rubbing harder on the chain guide now?

That is one result of a 14T front. It might be the cause.

Did you put the bike on a stand?

Even more likely if the rear is raised or the chain is loose.  If the sound is more like a whine the chain might be too tight, which will eventually kill the output shaft bearing.  Or, if the chain has a lot of miles on it you can get noise and/or vibration from changing only one part.

Didn't put it on a stand, and the rear is still stock. I tightened the chain to 25-27mm...should it be different now that the front sprocket size is different? And yeah...maybe "whine" is a better description

Spec is correct.  It does take a little feel to get it right though.  Try a touch more slack and see what happens.

Also, spin the wheel and check the chain for tight spots. For some reason they don't wear evenly.

You need that 25mm at the tightest point.

How many miles did you have on your chain and sprockets before you upgraded?  Many shops will recommend that you change front sprocket, rear sprocket, and chain all at the same time to allow for even wear.  If the new sprocket is installed correctly (if you have half a mechanical brain, it most likely is) and the chain tension is ok, you may slap the old sprocket back on to see if the problem persists. 

Only 4000 miles on the chain

Should the chain be relatively tighter or looser with the new sprocket?

The smaller 14T sprocket should make it looser if you didn't adjust the chain.

One question nobody asked, 520, 525 chain? Which sprocket chain combo as in the afore mentioned?