Two Wheels on my Skunk - Chain adjust

[salty_monk]

Well for the first time since about a week after I bought it home it's back on two wheels...

My Haynes says 20mm of slack at the middle of the chain.

I translate that as:

Put a measuring stick behind the chain in the centre at the bottom

Lift chain & measure movement at 20mm.

I realise there is likely a couple mm tolerance either way.

Anyone want to correct my method or suggest a better one?

Never owned a chain drive before.

Cheers,

Dan

[Dan Ruddock]

What you have done sounds ok to me. All I can add is check it off the center stand and make sure you still have slack with all your body weight on the bike. Dan

[Billy Ricks]

Don't trust the marks stamped on the swingarm and adjusters. Do a websearch for motorcycle string alignment. It's the easiest way to get the alignment spot on. Once you get a baseline on the alignment in respect to the marks if it were me I'd do the chain adjustment with the bike on its sidestand so the suspension is close to where it will normally be. Most chains will tighten a little as the suspension goes up and down.

[robertob]

Yes, but rotate the rear wheel and feel for the tightest spot (all chains have tight & loose spots). Measure it there, so that when it's at the loosest spot it will be looser.

Don't spend too much time on it, just make sure it's close because after you ride the bike a few miles it will loosen up and you should do it again. This always happens when bikes sit around for a long time.

[salty_monk]

Ok thanks, this one doesn't seem to go tight & loose in any spots but I'll double check again before I button it up.

I'm doing it on the centrestand right now....

[Steve]

The chain will be the tightest when the sprocket shafts and the swingarm pivot are all in a straight line.
That might be when the bike is on the centerstand, but I can't remember, it's been almost 30 years since I have had to worry about adjusting a drive chain. \\/

.

[salty_monk]

Yep, on this bike that would be on the stand, thanks

[rphillips]

Better look again to be sure. The chain should get a little tighter when off the centerstand then a little tighter when you sit down on it

[8trackmind]

Well for the first time since about a week after I bought it home it's back on two wheels...

Welcome to the Skunk Club.:-D You have any pics of the beast yet?

[salty_monk]

Only old ones..... It's getting close, I'll put some pics up soon.

Dan