Chain just broke

[Rob S.]

So two inches of total movement on the bottom rung is good?

[tkent02]

Well then my chain is way too tight. I guess i need to adjust that out more. I wonder why everyone says an inch total movement is ok? Well i guess i need to get on that.

No one who knows anything about chains has ever said that.

It is wrong.

[jbthomp]

Right on. Then that is how I will do it. I definitely don't want to break a chain. I like my legs just the way they are. Lol

[Griffin]

Go to the 1:32 mark of the video, and observe the chain "slop":

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YAiXqOwkmE

That's at least 2 1/2" inches up and down.

Generally, for the longest chain life, you want to take the maximum amount of slop you can have without the chain leaving the sprocket teeth, and reduce it by 20%.

For our GSes, that generally works out to be between 2"- 3".

[mrbill5491]

Hmmm, me thinks I'll take another look at my chain. When I installed this 530 conversion, I probably had 2 1/4 to 2 1/2 inches of slack. Though once you drop the bike down off the center stand on to the wheel, the chain tightens to about 1 3/4s.

[tkent02]

Hmmm, me thinks I'll take another look at my chain. When I installed this 530 conversion, I probably had 2 1/4 to 2 1/2 inches of slack. Though once you drop the bike down off the center stand on to the wheel, the chain tightens to about 1 3/4s.

That's just it. When the swingarm pivot is in alighnment with the two sprockets, the length is is maxed out. If this length is longer than the chain, the forces on everything is multiplied many many times, something has to give.
Whatever it is will be expensive, and probably dangerous.
You have to alow enough slack that this can never happen.

It gets worse with old chains and sprockets, because if the tight loose tight thing as it goes around. At the tightest point the chain length can't be allowed to be shorter than the sprocket distance, at it's longest, when all three points are lined up.

Old chains just have to be set looser than new ones.

[GSXR7ED]

Mine was alot tighter after I installed the 630 Bill gave me. Let me get the ruler out...


Ed

[mrbill5491]

That's just it. When the swingarm pivot is in alighnment with the two sprockets, the length is is maxed out. If this length is longer than the chain, the forces on everything is multiplied many many times, something has to give.
Whatever it is will be expensive, and probably dangerous.
You have to alow enough slack that this can never happen.

It gets worse with old chains and sprockets, because if the tight loose tight thing as it goes around. At the tightest point the chain length can't be allowed to be shorter than the sprocket distance, at it's longest, when all three points are lined up.

Old chains just have to be set looser than new ones.

Hmmm, so even with the new chain, I probably should more then 1 3/4s slack with the bike's weight on the wheels then.

Okay, went back and checked the manual. It says: on center stand, loosen axle nut and adjusters, adjust chain to 20-30mm or 0.8-1 1/2 of slack. That being said, mine is adjusted looser then what the manual calls for. Even with the bike off the center stand I have 1 1/2 inch to 1 3/4s depending on the tight side or loose side of the chain. On the center stand it jumps to 2 1/2 to 2 3/4. I rotate my chain when I adjust to check the loose and tight side. I'm looking for a good middle ground between the two.

[mrbill5491]

Mine was alot tighter after I installed the 630 Bill gave me. Let me get the ruler out...


Ed

Yeah we may have gotten a bit on the tight side yet.