Chain replacement or something else?

[xgs550x]

Just a quick question. There is a lot of play in my chain (up and down), but I still have room to adjust. So, I brought the rear wheel back and tightened the chain up to manual specs. However, as I rotated the wheel the chain would alternate between being within spec and fairly loose. I am assuming that the chain has stretched out in some of the links and that is causing the discrepancy. Does that sound right? Chain replacement? Is there anything I can do to keep the existing chain?

thanks

[hampshirehog]

That's pretty normal. The chain stretches more in some parts than it does in others. If you're on a budget you can get it sitting between slightly too tight and slightly too loose if there's adjustment left. When I was a penniless student I ran chains between very tight and very loose - not recommended but I got away with it.

Otherwise replace the chain and the sprockets at the same time; if you only replace the chain it'll be boogered in no time on the old sprockets.

[Bert Patterson]

I suck at most technical issues, but at least on this one, I might have some competence for no other reason than years on a bike…….

Chains never wear evenly – they ‘stretch’ (euphemistically) more in certain spots than others. I think this may relate to engine pulsing, but I really have no idea. When you adjust a chain, you need to adjust it to spec at the point at which the chain is tightest. To check to see if you need a new chain, pull the chain off the sprocket at the point furthest to the rear – I think you should do this at several points through the chain travel – and if you see an eight-inch (?) of light between the ‘trough’ in the sprocket and the link, the chain’s shot.

Or……you could wait for one of a thousand guys that know this stuff better than me to respond.

[almarconi]

How many miles on the chain and sprockets?

If in doubt, I'd replace both. Chain and sprockets are not that expensive and you want them to work.

[Nessism]

Sounds like you need a new chain. An overly tight chain can damage the engine cases and transmission shaft bearings so if you insist on continuing to use this chain, do as Bert suggests and set the tension at the tightest spot in the chain.