Slack somewhere in drivetrain 1100 shaft

82 1100 Spectre 18k miles

I’ve only ridden the bike for about a week, but there seems to be so much play in the drivetrain. On/off throttle gives a good jolt, and I’ve never felt a bike that had this much slack in it.

I have removed the front bevel gears, the driveshaft, and the final drive gear case because I’m replacing gaskets and seals in all of them. There is very, very little play in any of them and absolutely no play in the driveshaft U-joints. Everything looks very good in there. Swing arm is tight.

If the entire drive line outside of the engine output shaft is that tight, then where is all the slack coming from? The transmission?
 

There is a "backlash" spec in the manual for the bevel gears (which can be adjusted with shims) If the jolt isn't the bevel gears next point to check would be the clutch basket

Wookie58 wrote:

There is a "backlash" spec in the manual for the bevel gears (which can be adjusted with shims) If the jolt isn't the bevel gears next point to check would be the clutch basket
 

Yes, the front bevel gears feel very tight. What little slack they have is completely disproportionate to what I’m feeling when I ride the bike. I just saw the clutch basket when I replaced the gasket for the cover. I didn’t spend too much time looking at it, but it appeared to be OK and the clutch feel is very good. Anything in particular that I’m looking for?

Legionnaire1856 wrote:

Wookie58 wrote:

There is a "backlash" spec in the manual for the bevel gears (which can be adjusted with shims) If the jolt isn't the bevel gears next point to check would be the clutch basket

 

Yes, the front bevel gears feel very tight. What little slack they have is completely disproportionate to what I’m feeling when I ride the bike. I just saw the clutch basket when I replaced the gasket for the cover. I didn’t spend too much time looking at it, but it appeared to be OK and the clutch feel is very good. Anything in particular that I’m looking for?

With the clutch plates removed you are looking for play between the clutch basket and the flywheel (they are riveted together) also check the springs in the flywheel aren't broken