- Step 1: Get a flat surface for the procedure. Your garage should do if you are at home. If not, you need a flat place
- Step 2: Please put on your gloves and get the bike up on its stand. As noted, you should ensure the rear wheel properly...
- Step 3: Measure the tension of your chain with tape. This is where you check the tension of the chain. You should know...
How to tighten a motorcycle chain the swanky way?
How to Tighten a Bike Chain on a Multi-Gear Bike A multi-gear bike owner like a mountain bike has to follow an imperceptibly different method to tighten the bike chain. It is quite natural for the chain to get grabbed in the foot while you are cycling when a chain is loose in a bike with a derailleur.
How tight should a motorcycle chain be?
- To check the correct chain tension is to see if you are able to move it around half an inch in either direction.
- If you are happy will how tight the chain is. Then you can tighten the rear axle nuts one by one.
- Now the last test that the chain is tight enough by ensuring you can only move it about half an inch in either direction.
What happens if a motorcycle chain is tight?
- Loosened rear axle nuts or chain tension nuts (most common issues)
- Wrong chain alignment
- Worn out sprockets
- A spacer is missing somewhere
- The chain is brand new (they are prone to getting loose)
- The chain is too old and needs to be replaced
- Your chain is the wrong size ( a chain is always specific to the sprocket set!)
How often to lubricate a motorcycle chain?
You should lube your motorcycle chain at least 400 miles ride or every week whichever comes first. Lubing your motorcycle chain not only smoothes the ride but also prolong the chain life. The frequency of lubing your chain should be changed depending on the weather (dry, rainy) and the condition of your ride.
What happens if your motorcycle chain is too loose?
Too tight, and the tension will restrict your power and force, effectively hindering your motion (and safety). Too loose, though, and you risk a chain jumping off a sprocket; a slapping chain has the potential to damage moto-parts (and rider-parts).
How tight a motorcycle chain should be?
On average, however, most street motorcycles will need a chain tension of about 20 – 30 mm, or about a half inch to an inch in slack. This means that the chain should be able to move about a half inch to an inch up and about a half inch to an inch down. It's easiest to measure this using a measuring tape.
How do you check motorcycle chain slack?
Grab yourself a tape measure and find a central point between the front and rear sprockets. Pull your chain down and measure the distance between the centre of the chain and the sprocket. Lift it to its highest point and measure the distance again. Find the difference between these two measurements and – voilà!
How do you adjust chain tension?
2:013:56How To Check and Adjust Your Motorcycle Chain | MC GarageYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThen turn the adjuster a quarter turn at a time to shift the axle position and change the chainMoreThen turn the adjuster a quarter turn at a time to shift the axle position and change the chain slack. There are of course adjusters. On both sides of the axle.
Where is the tight spot on a motorcycle chain?
1:459:17Chain tight spots - but why? - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThe indicator is not twitching. And it says L therefore lost spot. So this is the law spot. As soonMoreThe indicator is not twitching. And it says L therefore lost spot. So this is the law spot. As soon as gets it about near that dot it starts doing the kit again flicking backwards and forwards.
Why do motorcycle chains get loose?
A motorcycle chain that keeps getting loose is usually caused by the rear axle or chain tensioning bolts not being tight enough. It can also be cause by a new chain not being worn in enough, worn down sprocket teeth, having too tight of a tension, or having the wrong size of chain installed.
How do you tighten a motorcycle chain without a stand?
0:263:35How to tighten a motorcycle chain without a stand on my ducati 900ssYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipMoving back and forth. And you just screw the stud out so loosen it to apply attention to the chain.MoreMoving back and forth. And you just screw the stud out so loosen it to apply attention to the chain. You'll be able to see it tighten up some.
How do I know if my bike chain is too loose?
To find out whether your chain is too long take a look at it from the side with your eyes being level with the chain. A loose chain will sag close to or below the chainstays as the chain hangs between the rear cogs and chainring. The chain might skip as you pedal, or even drop off the gears.
Can a loose motorcycle chain cause vibration?
Chain getting tight then loose then tight then loose means time for new chain and sprockets. Excessive noise or vibrations indicate time for new chain and sprockets. Things like this indicate time to replace the chain and sprockets.
How do you check bike chain tension?
0:114:14How to check for bike chain wear and slack: Pro tips for looking after your ...YouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo straight away that gives me a little window in the top of the tool here which gives me a readingMoreSo straight away that gives me a little window in the top of the tool here which gives me a reading it says point two five at the moment which is as I would expect this is a very new bike.
How to keep a chain from slipping?
Measure the slack after every change. When the chain is within factory specifications (usually around 1.2–1.5 inches), tighten the axle nut to keep it from slipping.
How to clean a chain?
When your chain is cold, measure the slack halfway between the sprockets by moving the chain up and down. Press down on the chain slightly to make sure it is at its lowest point. To get an accurate reading, hold ...
How to read a chain link?
To get an accurate reading, hold a tape measure in front of the chain and look across the top of the links . Adjust your line of sight until the tops of both sides of the chain line up, which assures your eyes are perpendicular to the chain and parallel with the top of the links. Next, move the tape measure so that one of ...
Can you move the axle away from the countershaft sprocket?
With the exception of eccentric adjusters, you can only move the axle away from the countershaft sprocket via the adjusters. So, don’t get carried away or you’ll have to start all over from scratch.
Can you knock a rear wheel out of alignment?
Loosen the axle nut just enough to enable the chain adjusters to move it. If the axle nut is loosened too much, you can accidentally knock the rear wheel out of alignment, adding extra work to the task. For now, assume that your wheel is properly aligned and make the same adjustments to both chain adjusters.
Do you need to adjust a chain when you lubricate it?
However, you still need to make sure that the chain’s slack is within specifications. If you lube your chain regularly, you will probably not need to adjust it every time you return from a ride, but as a chain nears the end of its usable life, you will need to adjust the slack more and more frequently.
Step 2
You only require very few devices to change a chain, a couple of spanners and also a ruler, nevertheless if your bike does not have a center stand you may need either a paddock stand or a friend to lend a hand.
Step 3
With the bike’s rear-wheel off the ground, loosen up the axle nut and ease off the adjusters by the very same amount on each side.
Step 4
Examine the chain’s free play by holding the ruler versus the chain at the end of its loop and after that pushing it up and down to measure the activity.
Step 5
Although most bikes have marks on their swingarm to assist you these are infamously incorrect so rather measure from the centre of the axle to a fixed factor on the swingarm.
Step 6
Lastly, prior to tightening every little thing up appropriately, offer the wheel a great celebration inwards to ensure the adjustors are appropriately situated, check the free play once again and after that tighten the axle nut.
How to clean a bike chain?
Step 1 Read the owner's manual for the correct amount of drive-chain slack. Most streetbikes also have a sticker on the swingarm. Step 2 With the engine off, put the bike on its sidestand or centerstand, ...
Does adjusting a bike chain make it faster?
Adjusting your bike’s chain won’t make it any faster, but it’s critical if you want your chain to last. It’s fast, easy, and next to checking your own tire pressure it’s one of the first things any home mechanic should learn. Too tight is as bad as too loose, but it’ll only take minutes to get it right. You should check and adjust your chain every ...
Why is your motorcycle chain tension important?
The tension of a motorcycle chain is an important factor in the smooth running of your bike and its longevity. The purpose of a motorcycle chain is to drive the rear wheel. It is a system of gears that transmits rotation and power from the engine through the transmission and to the rear wheel with as little loss as possible.
What will happen if your motorcycle chain is too tight?
If your motorcycle chain is too tight it will put more strain on the drive train components which will lead to increased wear and tear.
What happens if my motorcycle chain is too loose?
A loose chain will do exactly what you expect it to do! To go back to our car analogy, think about driving without putting your seat belt on – you could get in serious accidents if anything were to happen! Not only does a sliding chain mean that your motorcycle will not be running in the most efficient manner, but it also means that your sprockets can end up getting damaged or worn down..
How long does a motorcycle chain tension last?
The average new motorcycle chain tension will last 3000 miles but for an older chain, you would want to check tension every 750 miles.
How do I keep my motorbike chain tension optimal?
Keeping a check on a motorcycle’s chain tension means checking it before every ride. The best way to do this is to push down on the rear suspension as hard as possible just before you jump on your bike.
Can I adjust my own motorcycle chain tension?
You can definitely adjust your own motorcycle chain tension. Adjusting your own motorcycle chain tension is not as easy as putting up an Ikea bookshelf but it certainly isn’t hard either.
Conclusion
Keeping your bike chain tension in check is essential for keeping your motorcycle in top condition! Remember that too tight is bad and too loose may cause damage, so by checking it before every ride you are being proactive about the longevity of your motorcycle.
