Bonneville America Forums Forums Technical Forums General Tech Quick chain adjust question

I think my chain needs adjusting. Is it better to adjust on the sidestand or up on the handy dandy Harbour Freight bike lift? I know the bike lift, I should be able to find the area with the greatest slack.
I know with the bike lift, I've got to be careful overtightening. Maybe just lift her enough so that she's upright ?

Thanks !
Steve

I think you should adjust it on the sidestand, Thats how the manual says to do it.

should always adjust with weight on the wheels or it won't be right.

Thanks Ian and Ted.
I've already reviewed the manual's procedure, with the bike on the sidestand.
I could have sworn I saw something, a couple of years back here, where someone suggested using the bike lift to make the bike more upright, not up in the air, but just up straight.
Just thought I'd double check with folks here.

I do it on the lift but only to keep it upright. I can't see getting that rear wheel aligned properly if its on the side stand.

Thanks Z, that's what I was thinking. Maybe it was your post that I recall, from way back when.
Either way, I think the chain is due to be adjusted.

I've got to check the carb balance as well, and finally install the speed bleeders/change out the brake fluid. I'm also thinking of replacing the battery before it gives me problems, it's the original so it's 5 years old.

I don't think adjusting the chain on the lift is a good idea since it is going to take some of the weight off the wheels.

You have to do it with weight on or come up with a different measurement to account for being on the lift since the swing arm is the wrong way around. As far as getting the wheel squared up, a steel ruler laid on both shoulders of the rear sprocket and over the chain will give you a good look at the chain run toward the front and allow you to tweak the rear wheel to perfection.

Definitely adjust with weight on the wheel. I adjust, then sit on the bike and reach down to wiggle the chain for slack. That way I get a true indication of the chain's tightness under full load.

OK, I went ahead and did it on the side stand. Chain is tighter, with a little play.

But...

the last thing in the Haynes manual procedure says
"Now turn each adjuster bolt anti-clockwise slightly so it's shoulder is tight against the adjuster."

It looks like it wil turn more than "slightly" to fit the shoulder against the adjuster. And if I do turn it back, won't that affect the chain tension or is the rear axle nut torqued holding it?
BTW I torqued the rear axle nut to ~85 Nm - my torque wrench only goes to 70, so I applied a little extra "oomph", comparable to the "oomph" I had to use it to break it.

Thanks in advance.

Probably a bit late, but this might have helped

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zB4DsHV8SAQ

Thanks Bryn,
Interesting video, although my bike isn't mounted like the one used in the video.

That chain has a lot of play to it, compared to the Triumph spec of 20-30 mm.

And it still doesn't answer my question about the adjustor bolts.

But it's still interesting to watch. Thanks again !

Also in regard to the video Bryn linked, the Canyonchaser guy there didn't mention the fact that all motorcycles slightly vary in the distance of where the swing-arm pivot point is located and where the countershaft sprocket is located.

I bring up this factor only because depending upon how far apart those two points are(some motorcycles have these two points very close and some are farther apart), the difference it makes about how much of a variance the chain will slack while the rear wheel is unloaded and on a centerstand(or on a jack), and while the bike is under load and being ridden.

These two aforementioned points on our bikes are at relatively separate areas, and so our chains actually tighten(there's less slack) when under load.

(...FYI...some modern sportbike designs now have those two points in relatively close proximity, with the result that there is very little difference in the chain slack while the bike is unloaded or under load)

Dwight,
Any advice about the adjustor bolts ? Should I turn them back so their shoulders are snug on the adjustors? Since the rear axle nuts are torqued up, it should be ok, correct ??
Thanks

Yep, that's what I do, Steve. That way I feel there's added force to keep the axle in the place I've adjusted it to.

And, as I think it's been said before in this thread, my final test is to sit on the bike after all the bolts have been snugged up again and then reach down and wiggle the chain up and down to make sure I still have about 1" of total slack in the chain.

OK, thanks Dwight !!

The only thing left to say is it's better that the chain be too loose rather than too tight, you'll feel a too tight chain interfere with shifting and finding neutral. Plus, too tight means more wear.