chain gets tight and loose when it spins

[moggtoady]

when i drive down the road it feels like i have a bent rim. it dosnt look bent i also tried tightening my chain about a week ago i dint kno if that had something to do with it. i had the dash marks lined up and im pretty sure i did it correctly but who knows i need help!!! the bike is a 1977 suzuki gs550

[tkent02]

Your chain and sprockets are shot.

[azr]

As "Tkent" said, your chain is shot. If you spin the chain around and check it at different spots you'll find you have 'tight spots' In one spot the chain play will be loose and at others tight. A serious problem. If you "must" ride the bike adjust the chain to spec at the tightest spot. It will be sloppy in the loose area's. Check both your sprockets they'll probably need replacing too maybe and order a chain ASAP.

[moggtoady]

00

is there any thing else it could be?

[tkent02]

If it's already doing the loose and tight thing, don't push your luck.

[Baatfam]

is there any thing else it could be?

There may be other things wrong with your bike, but it sounds like you do need a new chain and sprockets...

How long have you had the bike? Have you ever changed them before?

I know it's expensive, but chains and sprockets wear out. That's part of owning a motorcycle.

[tkent02]

I know it's expensive, but chains and sprockets wear out. That's part of owning a chain drive motorcycle.

Fixed it for you.

[koolaid_kid]

There may be other things wrong with your bike, but it sounds like you do need a new chain and sprockets...

How long have you had the bike? Have you ever changed them before?

I know it's expensive, but chains and sprockets wear out. That's part of owning a superior chain drive motorcycle.

Fixed it better for you.

[tkent02]

I'll go with that.

[sedelen]

As Arz said, adjust your chain at it's tightest point if you must ride, otherwise in addition to replacing your chain and sprockets, you might end up replacing some engine/transmission bearings, or even crack a case, I think I'd opt for a new chain and sprockets.

[snicrep5]

I have a similar problem on mt 1100. I put new 630 sprockets and chain. I wasn't educated on the benefits of the 530 system. But I went cheap on the chain and got a non o-ring one. Turns out it wasnt that cheap. About every 100 miles I have to adj it because it slaps the chain guard on deceleration. I have the tight spot/ loose spots but its extreme. (no play/over 1" play. Going to the 530 conv with a quality oring chain. Im mindful of this because the p.o. busted the chain and trashed the cover and chipped the case. No cracks in the case tho. But im rambling.

[Mysuzyq]

Going to the 530 conv with a quality oring chain. Im mindful of this because the p.o. busted the chain and trashed the cover and chipped the case. No cracks in the case tho. But im rambling.

They (530 O/X ring) hold up a lot better than the stock chain did, and seem to need very infrequent adjustment, after the initial one.....as in, no adjustment in over 10,000 km.

[JEEPRUSTY]

Replace the chain and sprockets.
Use an OEM style chain as it sufficed up till now and anything more is overkill.

I broke and engine case once when my chain broke.
I was sure I could remove a second link with no problems

[Spyder]

Every thing I have ever owned with a chain has this same symptom. Bicycles, mini bikes, go cart, dirt bikes, street bikes. New chains old chains doesn't matter. There has to be a technical reason a chain runs tight-loose. I agree that with an worn chain \ sprockets it will be worse. But why does it do it in the first place???

[Gonzo]

Every thing I have ever owned with a chain has this same symptom. Bicycles, mini bikes, go cart, dirt bikes, street bikes. New chains old chains doesn't matter. There has to be a technical reason a chain runs tight-loose. I agree that with an worn chain \ sprockets it will be worse. But why does it do it in the first place???

There are a lot of moving parts in that chain. It's only one component, so it's often thought of as one thing, but each link has a inner and outer plates, rivets, rollers, o/wx-rings and who knows what else (I don't know the full anatomy of a chain), and then you figure each single piece is subjejct to wear and tear at its own rate of speed over the length of hundreds of links, then you are bound to get uneven wear.