Chain adjustment

[Guest]

How often should I have to adjust my chain? It seems to get loose after only a couple days riding. I ride everyday about 20-25 miles roundtrip and am not too aggressive on the throttle. I have done the chain adjustment per the manual, loosen the rear axle, adjust tensioners to have proper slack and wheel alignment, tighten rear axle (admittedly, I don't know how tight this is supposed to be). It just seems that having to adjust it every couple days isn't what you should have to do. Any suggestions?

[TheCafeKid]

How old is the chain? oring/xring or just standard cheap roller chain?

Chains should be cleaned every 400-600 miles as per most manufacturers instructions to get max life out them. If done as directed a modern Oring chain should last 15000-20000 miles, xring and xwring even longer. I've got around 17k on mine and have only adjusted it when I've had to pull th wheel to have the tire changed. Once a week sounds like its worn out. Chain and sprockets SHOULD be replaced as a set or you will destroy one or the other if one is new and the other isn't in a quickness...

[1_v8_merc]

Your chain should not be getting more loose.
Roll the bike forward about 1 or 2 feet, then check the chain slack again.
If the measurement changes, your chain has developed slack spots and is bad.

As chains get older, or even because of Lack-of maintenance, they develop Loose and Tight spots, and your chain is toast.

If you MUST ride on a spotty chain temporarily, find the tighest spot on the chain, and loosen it to within factory spec(in millimeters). Now roll the bike back and forth, and find the Loosest spot, how loose is it? It's better to run loose than too tight.
If you run too tight, eventually you will damage the transmission.

I've run my 750 floppy loose...never had an issue, but that was ONLY temporarily until my NEW chain came in!
Your best bet, is to order a new chain IF the chain is getting bad.

If your chain has stability in the measurements, check your axle adjustments in the rear of swingarm, make sure nothing is loose!!!

[7981GS]

How old is the chain? oring/xring or just standard cheap roller chain?

Chains should be cleaned every 400-600 miles as per most manufacturers instructions to get max life out them. If done as directed a modern Oring chain should last 15000-20000 miles, xring and xwring even longer. I've got around 17k on mine and have only adjusted it when I've had to pull th wheel to have the tire changed. Once a week sounds like its worn out. Chain and sprockets SHOULD be replaced as a set or you will destroy one or the other if one is new and the other isn't in a quickness...

He is correct on all counts.
When a chain/sprockets are at the end of their lifespan is the only time that you should have to adjust it that often.
Even the tiny 530 chain sprockets that I got from Z1 over a year and a half ago have gone over 7,000 miles and have yet to need any adjustment.
That is on a very powerful 1100 engine powered bike.

Eric

[mrbill5491]

When you have to adjust your chain that often that is a sure sign its shot. Time to replace sprockets and the chain, don't go cheap on the chain you get what you pay for.

[ikantbreave]

I did end up getting a cheap chain to start out so that is an issue. I also changed the front sprocket and not the back (bad idea, I know now), and I replaced the bolts in the tensioners with ones a wee bit larger so I think they're not gripping as they should. Gonna look into fixing all these mistakes first.

[1_v8_merc]

I understand, not all of us are millionaires! lol

Ehh, if your only riding locally, a cheap chain should be fine.
Just make sure the tensil strength isn't too low.
(I think mine is around 9000lbs minimum.)

[bwringer]

At minimum, get o-ring or x-ring chain. "House brand" is fine, as long as it's from a reputable supplier. For example, RockyMountainATVMC.com sells "Primary Drive" chain and sprockets, and it works fine.

DennisKirk.com sells generic BikeMaster or Parts Unlimited chain and it's also fine for your purposes.

Beware -- there are lots of skeeves on fleaBay selling really dangerous, bad quality chains for cheap. Don't even bother.


Bear in mind that chain technology has improved vastly since the '80s. Nowadays, folks with 130 hp 750cc sportbikes routinely and safely change to a 525 or 520 chain to save weight. Back in the '70s, Suzuki used 530 chain on the GS400.