Chain excessively loose due to raised rear.

[Guest]

Hi,
i have an 1100 Katana and the previous owner retrofitted it with '88 Kawasaki ZX10 running gear.
This involved removing the mono shock link and welding on some shock mount blocks. They had the presence of mind to add the ability to change the ride height by having more than one hole on the bottom mount.
I've found through experimenting that it handles better when it's raised at the rear slightly above standard but, then the chain is quite loose.
Im looking for ideas on how to limit how much slack there is (tensioner??). It's currently in pieces so if I had to, I could get the swing arm pivot moved but that's a last resort.
Any thoughts?

cheers

[Steve]

Think about it for just a moment.

You have just proven the fact that the chain gets looser as you raise the back of the bike (by changing the angle of the swingarm).

If you adjust the chain for that new angle, what do you think will happen when you get on the bike and straighten out that angle?

Yep, the chain is going to get TIGHTER. Good chance it will be TOO tight.

Ideally, you want to adjust the chain for the worst-possible situation, which is when the center of the front sprocket, the swingarm pivot and the rear axle are in a straight line. That is when the chain will be the tightest. Any movement of the axle, either UP or DOWN, will add some slack to the chain. Adjust the chain for proper tightness for that worst-possible situation, then don't worry about it.

.

[megatwin]

Have some one sit on the bike,or you sit on it,and check your chain slack then.

[earlfor]

Think about it for just a moment.

You have just proven the fact that the chain gets looser as you raise the back of the bike (by changing the angle of the swingarm).

If you adjust the chain for that new angle, what do you think will happen when you get on the bike and straighten out that angle?

Yep, the chain is going to get TIGHTER. Good chance it will be TOO tight.

Ideally, you want to adjust the chain for the worst-possible situation, which is when the center of the front sprocket, the swingarm pivot and the rear axle are in a straight line. That is when the chain will be the tightest. Any movement of the axle, either UP or DOWN, will add some slack to the chain. Adjust the chain for proper tightness for that worst-possible situation, then don't worry about it.

.

Plus 1 on that! Adjust the chain tension at the point when the chain will be at its tightest, which is when the swing arm is straight.

[Boogieman]

Yeah, that's exactly what I do. Between me and a mate, we are 280kg, we sit on it until the two sprockets and the swing arm pivot line up then adjust to the tightest spot on the chain.
I've been running around a for a year on that theory with no hassles. I just thought I'd see if there's a more refined way of doing it or if there's any danger of the chain being that loose.

Thanks for for the replies.