How to Adjust The Chain On Your Motorcycle

How to put correct tention on your chain driven bike and reduce clatter,chain and sproket, and tire wear. Sport bike shown 05 GSXR-750 for popularity sake.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Axle nut socket
• Needle nose pliers
• Old flat screw driver
• Metric or SAE wrench set according to bike model and make

1. 
   Chain/sprocket/& tensioner

   Inspect chain and sprocket for wear. You will visually be able to seeflat spots in chain rollers or indentions worn in sprocket. If you see these indicators it is time for a new chain and sprockets. Usually I change both and primary gears and chain also when I pull primary cover. This will pay off in the end, trust me...

2. 
   Homade wheel nut tool

   Loosen wheel nut using wheel nut socket or wrench if thats what you have. Most older H/Ds like I ride the most use a 1" or 1-1/8" socket or wrench. Many bikes have a cotter pin through a hole in axle or a tab locknut. Pull pin if needed with pliers or pry tabs out with screwdriver before loosening.

3. 
   Inside adjuster with visual notches...

   This particular sport bike pictured has an inside adjuster and notches to keep you on track. Old Harleys have backside adjusters with locknuts(I just insure I turn both sides 1/4 turn at a time. Some other bikes will have an adjustment cam. If you are mechanically inclined enough to follow this article you will see your adjustment apparatus no problem and where you turn it out.

4. 

   Now we are going to find our actual tensioner. It will either be a cam or a tensioner bolt with nuts that push or pull against axle housing to tighten chain. Now turn apparatus until you have approximately 1" of play top and bottom while your weight is on bike. You may have to make several adjustments to achieve this.

5. When you have proper tension, make sure back wheel is tracking straight. It should be if you followed notches or turned exactly same turns on both sides if you have tensioners like that. You may have to hold wheel in place when you tighten axle nut. If ou have a manual most people torque this nut. I just tighten and I have never had a problem. Tighten till nut lines up with tabs or hole for cotter pin. Bend tabs in or insert and bend pin over. Check tension again and you are done. You will see a noticable difference if done correctly.

Tips & Warnings

• Ensure you are tracking straight when done.

Resources

• www.charlotteslist.ws

[chef-daddy]

on 2/19/2009 Inttersting article. The pictures are great! Thanks.