Primary chain bang in my 1200 sporty

Hey all. New to BT and sittin here waiting for the headache to stop throbbing since the bike is making me bang my head against the garage door!!

I've got a 98 883 converted to 1200 with 23k and am meticulous with maintenance. Recently started hearing a slight bang when in 3rd, 4th and 5th on decel then throttle up. Adjusted the tension shoe and it goes away for maybe 200 miles then comes back. Changed the primary fluid to Mobil 1 20w/50 from a recommendation of a Non H-D mechanic friend and It still did it. Pulled the primary and replaced the tension shoe, did a visual check of the gears and chain, refilled with new fluid and the noise still comes back and seems louder! What am I missing? Is the chain fatiguing? Should I go back to straight 50 wt? Was it always there but I never heard it till I had to put baffles in the pipes to get it through inspection? :gah:

Try replacing the chain.

Do sporties have a compensator similar to big V-twin? If so check it for being loose or worn

Sportys don't have compensator sprockets. But what you are hearing and feeling is "lash" from either the chain being stretched too much, or the tensioner shoe has no more adjustment left.

If the case is opened already, it's time to replace the chain AND the tensioner. Look at the sprockets for wear too, but Sportys have very tough trannies and can go 3-4 times that mileage without worries.

Go back to straight weight 50 or even 60 weight oil unless you live in the frozen North and ride when temp is below 30f.

Any recommendations on the brand of gear oil since the alternator sits in the fluid an I dont want to compromise the operation of it..

Any name brand 75-90 or 80-90 gear oil that has the limited slip additive pack in it....it'll say on the bottle "suitable for wet clutches" or "suitable for limited slip differentials"

Or you can order this stuff

Bel-Ray Sport Transmission Fluid - Cruiser Motorcycle - Motorcycle Superstore

Lucifer, I think that weight of oil is too thick for a Sporty primary. 50 or 60 weight should be plenty protection.

Got the Bel/Ray fluid for the Sporty. It's red and made for the Sporty trans and guy at the store said it won't mess with the Alt like some fluids will. I'll see if it helps

A 50 or 60 wt engine oil is thicker than 75-90 or 80-90 gear oil...75-90 gear oil is approx the same viscosity as 10-40 engine oil....I kinda knew that reply was coming from someone

AMSOIL Article - Gear Oil Basics

Gear oil - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

It'll work fine and it's a gear oil too...the same as their 80-90 hypoid gear oil....I contacted Bel Ray a number of years ago and their reply was they are the same oils just a different label on the bottle for marketing purposes...
JMHO engine oil is for engines and gear oil is for gear boxes(trannies)

Those are excellent references Lucifer, but all that technical info does not mention the effects on the wet friction clutches that are in the primary case. Also, chain drive is not the same as gears meshing, and lubrication requirements are different.

Sporty's primary and tranny share the same oil....the gear oil will not hurt the primary chain in the least...and the gears in the trannies are gears...I mentioned the gear oil bottle to use will say on it "Suitable for wet clutches" or "suitable for limited slip differentials" which are clutch packs in the differentials...remember "posi-trac" rear ends?? Those gear oils have the additives in them so that the clutch packs will not slip or grab...

Geez, I forgot about the Sporty trans being unitary that's shared with the primary! Man I am slipping. Thanks for keeping this old fart in line.