Fort Worth Motorcycle Riders

Can someone give me tips on adjusting my chain? My main question is how much tension to put on the chain.
right now the chain is touching the swing arm .I know how to loosen the axle bolt and use the adjustment marks, just don't know how much tension to have.

Minimum of 1.25" of slack (varies a bit depending on the bike) no more than 1.75" (again depends a bit on the bike).

Better a little on the lose side than too tight.

So that's 1.25" from the swingarm?

Polokid69 wrote:So that's 1.25" from the swingarm?

No

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zB4DsHV8SAQ" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I adjusted but might be a tad tighter but much better than before. First time it's been adjusted since I bought it

I wouldn't admit that! Make sure the chain is in good condition then. Have you been cleaning it?

Good video. I like that he mentioned taking the slack out when tightening the axle nut. That was going to be my input. On my bike if I don't do that then it causes my chain to be too tight.

milesmiles wrote:I wouldn't admit that! Make sure the chain is in good condition then. Have you been cleaning it?

You have to clean it ? I once or twice sprayed it with lube, does that count ?

Omg

Obviously I know nothing about chain maintenance

Well there's no better time to learn. I'll get with you soon

Refer to your manual.

Owner's manual will tell you how to adjust it.

And you don't *have* to clean or lube your chain. You'll just need to replace it more frequently if you don't.

Rhino wrote:Owner's manual will tell you how to adjust it.

And you don't *have* to clean or lube your chain. You'll just need to replace it more frequently if you don't.

Sprockets will wear faster too

Ideally you should be cleaning your chain and lubing it every 500-600 miles, or after riding in rain.

really? i thought it was every 300. I need a new chain, but this one lasted 20k

My manual says every 300 but I say hogwash to that, about every 600ish is where I do it and I've gotten 30K out of a chain before.

I say hogwash to 300 miles as well. I think it's all relative though. 2 miles down a dusty dirty road is enough to make me clean mine. 300 miles down perfect clean roads and I would just shrug as it likely looks just as clean as the morning I started out. 2500 miles for the BB trip and the chain was waaaay dirty.

I say hogwash, just to say hogwash

And that's why I love you so much Miles.

fixxervi6 wrote:My manual says every 300 but I say hogwash to that, about every 600ish is where I do it and I've gotten 30K out of a chain before.

Yeah, I'm lubing every 500 or so, cleaning about every 1000.

I dribble left over motor oil over it before every ride.

Who cleans their chain? Just squirt some lube on it an go.

When the rollers are shiny is when I lube it again. And I clean with WD-40 every 3 lubes. Simple as that.

I just realized we've all been barking up the wrong tree.

He asked about "Chan" adjustment.

Used to you had vertical and horizontal hold knobs on the front of you TV...now you have to delve into the "menu". Good luck.

Anyway, once you do that, no matter whether you're watching Charlie, or Jackie, you can adjust them properly for Brightness, Contrast, Color, Sound, and various other subtle changes.