Front sprocket problems

[CJM]

Bought a renthal 16 tooth front sprocket, it fits on the splines fine-but the little stock holder/clip piece will not line up with the bolt holes on the sprocket no matter what. I tried flipping the holder and the sprocket many ways, it just wont slip on right, throw the stock one on no issues.

The splines just wont allow the holder/clip to line up properly at all, its off by like 1 tooth.


Box says 400ex 99-04 on it, nothing else came in the box but the sprocket. Maybe Im missing something?

Maybe I shoulda went with a 36 tooth rear??

[NacsMXer]

I run that same sprocket and the retainer clip fits fine. Note that the retainer clip has splines built into it to slide over the splines on the countershaft.....but once "fully home" the retainer clip doesn't ride on the splines of the countershaft at all. It sits on a groove in the countershaft, thus it can be spun 360 degrees in any direction to get the bolt holes to line up.

So if the retainer is still on the splines and you are trying to get the bolt holes to line up it sounds like the sprocket isn't pushed on all the way yet. It needs to be on there enough to expose the groove in the countershaft.

[CJM]

OK, See I had it that way and the sprocket seemed loose to me.

Ill go try it again.

Which way does the sprocket face? The flat side out of the side with the raised section out?

[NacsMXer]

Raised side out

[CJM]

Thanks, got it to fit. Im trimming the case saver right now.

I just wanted to be safe than sorry cause it seemed like it should be tighter on there-but it fits good now.

Thanks again!

[NacsMXer]

Glad it worked out. I had the same concern at first when I installed mine. A little side to side wiggle in the sprocket is totally normal.

[CJM]

Yea, once I tightened the chain up it was fine.

So I ground down the case saver, its like way to thin imho now even tho it fits.

Do they make aftermarket ones that work?

[NacsMXer]

Don't quote me, but I remember Pro Design case savers being advertised as being able to work with a 16T front sprocket on the 400EX. This was back in the day.

Here's a quote from EvilJester400EX back in 2003 to back that up:

"What kind of case saver is it? I have a Pro Design case saver and it has plenty of room, I run a 16t front sprocket."

[CJM]

Thanks.

[CJM]

Just bought the case guard, I ground so much off the stocker its insane.

Oh well, it still works for now.

[99400esex]

Originally posted by NacsMXer
Don't quote me, but I remember Pro Design case savers being advertised as being able to work with a 16T front sprocket on the 400EX. This was back in the day.

Here's a quote from EvilJester400EX back in 2003 to back that up:

"What kind of case saver is it? I have a Pro Design case saver and it has plenty of room, I run a 16t front sprocket."

Mods3.com has that case saver for a 16 tooth sprocket. Great site

[CJM]

I kinda already ordered it from rocky mtn cause I had a coupon. Thanks man.

[99400esex]

Originally posted by CJM
I kinda already ordered it from rocky mtn cause I had a coupon. Thanks man.

No probs man. You ran a 13 tooth sprocket before didnt you?

[CJM]

Originally posted by 99400esex
No probs man. You ran a 13 tooth sprocket before didnt you?

15t, I felt I didnt have enough top end.

1 size gives me slightly more top end overall which would help a bit.

[CJM]

Went out today and 2nd was more usable but bogged down to much in climbing hills. Before I had a decent bit to climb and now it seems to bog to much like it runs out of juice when i really need it to rev a bit more. It also bogged to much in tight higher speed trails. Maybe if I had a stage 1 cam it would work better, but with my stage 2 it just doesnt.

Stock 15/38 worked ok for climbing the hills and overall but I was always in and out of 3rd.

So using the handy converter http://home.earthlink.net/~gellett/400ex.htm it seems perhaps if I kept the 15 t front and put a 37 rear on it might give me just that little bit more and still have enough to do the hills and such.

Thoughts?
-switch to stage 1 cam and keep gearing
-throw a 37 t rear sprocket on it