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Chain tension question

4052 Views 12 Replies 11 Participants Last post by  greywolf, 
N
I have a somewhat odd question so please bear with me. I know in dealing with bicycles that there is a tool that you can use to check your chain tension. By knowing what the "parameters" of a good chain are you know how much longer you can go before you have to buy a new one.

Now, with that said, I was doing some "preventative maintenance" today & noticed while I was lubing my chain that it's "drooping" a little. I know from the shop that does all of my "big" work that these chains DO stretch & that you have to loosen & reposition your rear tire periodically to combat this. My question is does anyone know of a tool where I can check to see if my motorcycle chain is stretched like I have on my bicycle? Also, how easy is it to adjust your rear tire? I haven't tried any of this because I didn't think I have all the proper tools to do it. After looking at it for a bit I realized that all it seems I need is a couple wrenches. (probably not the case, but....) Am I missing something here?! :confused:

Thanks for your help!
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R
This is a great forum

I just went through my real first chain tensioning today. It was a piece of cake. I was worried that I'd get the rear tire out of line with the front tire, but that didn't happen. After I went through the steps mentioned in the 3 or 4 threads on Stromtrooper on how to do it, it was just easy.

Loosen the axle nut, yea you have to have a wrench on the other side too.

Turn the #5 hex in the back of the swing arm a quarter turn on each side.

Remeasure the slack and adjust if necessary.

Spin the nut off and put some anti-seize on it. Tighten back down to 58 ft lbs, eyeball it and you're done.

I could tell the difference in the ride. A little more smooth and the herky jerky stuff was gone. Turn loose of the bars and she just tracks like butter.

Great stuff, thanks you guys.

RR
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