'98 Bird

My mileage is down considerably. In my case, I haven't noticed any difference in gas mileage from cold winters to hot summers. My bad gas mileage started last summer. I've got a carburated model. I can't figure what happened. I use to get to 180 miles before the fuel light came on. Now, it comes on at 150 miles. What could it be? Thanks

If the chain the same as an oem I'll keep it then.

The next thing after the rear sprocket, I was going to put on DID ZVM chain. I bought one and will sell it for $60.00. I paid $125.00 from Chaparral. Maybe, there are others who haven't had a whine using the ZVM chain. Or, have had a whine but weren't bothered by it. Where's the best place to buy an OEM chain? Thanks, Mark

<<You said your chain was changed......was the sprocket in front changed as well? The aftermarket front sprockets have more gear whine to them....>> Well, I put a aftermarket counter sprocket on it and this made a different noise. Then I put the OEM c.sprocket back on and this particular noise was dampened considerably. I looked at the rear sprocket by spinning the rear wheel with bike on the centerstand and it looks as though the sprocket is bent. I'm going to put new on and see what happens. Anybody ever have a chain come off and damage the counter sprocket shaft or the bearing to the shaft? I hope this isn't my case. Mark

Take the center bolt out of your lifter and put the key in the hole the bolt came out of and put it into the slot to hold the piston in place. Unbolt the 2 bolts that hold your lifter in the engine case and pull it out. Pull the key out of the lifter and see if the piston comes out any further. I got 34,000 miles on my bike and the piston is 3/4 of the way out. Could be yours is fully extended.

The spacers are in the right place and alignment looks all right.

I'll check the alignment out tomorrow. Thanks

The last 2 drivechains I've had on my bike have made a whine sound. Sounding, a little, like a an old siren getting ready to wind up. The first of the 2 chains came off, one time, damaging a bunch of parts that I replaced. I think, this whine sound started after this had happened. Could I have damaged some kind of noise dampening part that I haven't found? Thanks