550 chain tension

[Guest]

My chain seems to be a lot looser than it should be..at least to me. I don't know how much play it's supposed to have, so i'd like to see if someone could tell me? My dad said 1 inch up and 1 inch down from the middle between the sprockets. BUT, i've heard too that different bikes are different tensions.

[Agemax]

your dad is almost correct.an inch play total is about right,so 1/2 inch up and 1/2 inch down. make sure you measure the chain slack while you are sat on the bike, with both wheels on the ground (ie. not on the main stand)

[Steve]

"You on the bike" is somewhat repeatable, but hard to measure your chain slack without help.

The IDEAL conditions under which to measure slack is when the center of the front sprocket, the swingarm pivot and the rear axle are all in a straight line.

That is when the chain will be the tightest. You can set that condition once, and adjust your chain accordingly, then put the bike on the centerstand, measure the slack in that condition, then maintain that measurement, knowing that it will be OK when the three points line up.

.

[Agemax]

"You on the bike" is somewhat repeatable, but hard to measure your chain slack without help.

The IDEAL conditions under which to measure slack is when the center of the front sprocket, the swingarm pivot and the rear axle are all in a straight line.

That is when the chain will be the tightest. You can set that condition once, and adjust your chain accordingly, then put the bike on the centerstand, measure the slack in that condition, then maintain that measurement, knowing that it will be OK when the three points line up.

.

i can quite easily sit on my bike and reach down to check the slack! if that is a physical challenge then it is not that much effort to get your dad/girlfriend/wife/husband/mate/dog/cat.......whoever to assist you

[koolaid_kid]

Different bikes have different settings, depending on the wheel travel and the method(s) used to take up the extra slack. For a GS, you are on-track.

[DamKevinBoyd]

Sweet sweet. I'm gonna have my girlfriend come over in about an hour and sit on the bike. She said i have to make motorcycle noises the whole time -_- haha

Thanks everyone

[Gorminrider]

If you have twin shocks, just take the shocks off to find Steve's sweet-spot easily. It seems like work but answers this question once and for all-Is my chain too tight?

kick wood blocks under the rear wheel or a lever+blocks to adjust the height of it while you fiddle (ie: to find maximum swing-arm-to-drive-sprocket dimension)