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+--- Thread: chain slack (/showthread.php?tid=4600)
chain slack - the Ferret - 04-22-2021
When I started riding motorcycles in the mid 60's we learned how to adjust a chain by finding any tight spot in chain, putting it in the middle of the lower run, then push up on the chain to measure slack.
In fact when I wrote the "How To adjust the chain on your CB 1100" for that section of the forum 6 years ago, that is how I advised doing it.
http://www.cb1100forum.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=7158
I've never seen a factory trained mechanic do anything other than push up from the lower run to gauge chain tension.
It seems now the procedure calls for starting out the same way but instead of pushing up to measure slack, now it seems they want you to pull DOWN first, then measure slack up from there. On a chain like the CB's which calls for 1"-1.4" that could make a heck of a difference in tautness.
I know chain tension isn't "critical" and we've always believe "a loose chain is happier than a tight chain", but was wondering which procedure you guys are using, and if any of you have tried to measure the difference using both methods?
something new to discuss.
RE: chain slack - dave - 04-22-2021
(04-22-2021, 01:07 AM)The ferret_imp Wrote: When I started riding motorcycles in the mid 60's we learned how to adjust a chain by finding any tight spot in chain, putting it in the middle of the lower run, then push up on the chain to measure slack.Chain slack means the total up and down movement "free play" of the chain. This total movement should be measured with only a very small force applied to the chain during the measurement. Chain tension is critical. A too tight chain will cause the countershaft to break off at the engine case - I know this from experience.
In fact when I wrote the "How To adjust the chain on your CB 1100" for that section of the forum 6 years ago, that is how I advised doing it.
http://www.cb1100forum.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=7158
I've never seen a factory trained mechanic do anything other than push up from the lower run to gauge chain tension.
It seems now the procedure calls for starting out the same way but instead of pushing up to measure slack, now it seems they want you to pull DOWN first, then measure slack up from there. On a chain like the CB's which calls for 1"-1.4" that could make a heck of a difference in tautness.
I know chain tension isn't "critical" and we've always believe "a loose chain is happier than a tight chain", but was wondering which procedure you guys are using, and if any of you have tried to measure the difference using both methods?
something new to discuss.
RE: chain slack - Jfro5687_imp - 04-22-2021
I have always done the pull down and push up-to measure the full slack TBH. It was only reading this very forum that I thought maybe I was doing it wrong? I always figured there’s only a certain amount of slack in a chain so you should get the top chain run taut by doing this. The manual doesn’t seem to be 100% crystal clear. Where did you get the update from ferret?
RE: chain slack - the Ferret - 04-22-2021
Well the pic on the swingarm for one and YouTube vids of course. If you pull down it takes out slack along the upper run and if you push up it takes out slack of the upper run. Seems to me, you'd only need to take the slack out once by pushing up, but I'm old and sometimes what we learned 60 years ago isn't necessarily what is thought of as proper procedure today. Just trying to learn.
RE: chain slack - rickcb - 04-22-2021
(04-22-2021, 02:26 AM)The ferret_imp Wrote: Well the pic on the swingarm for one and YouTube vids of course. If you pull down it takes out slack along the upper run and if you push up it takes out slack of the upper run. Seems to me, you'd only need to take the slack out once by pushing up, but I'm old and sometimes what we learned 60 years ago isn't necessarily what is thought of as proper procedure today. Just trying to learn.
I've seen Yamaha owner's manuals that called for a measurement where you pulled down and then measured up. I assumed Honda's were the same and used that strategy on Jennifer's first CBR500R. The chain didn't even last 10K miles. It was *way* too tight when measured that way. I'm pretty sure Honda's are a push-up only measurement. That's what I've been doing.
chain slack - mvk24_imp - 04-22-2021
I have always gone to the middle of the bottom of the chain.
Put a ruler or tape measure behind it. And give it a gentle wiggle both Up & Down and make sure it falls within the margin.
If it would move 1 inch upwards from baseline, then it would also move 1 inch below baseline (downwards). And that would give you a total slack of 2 inches instead of 1 inch in 1 direction.
This is the way I learned (but it can be wrong and im open to hearing otherwise)
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RE: chain slack - the Ferret - 04-22-2021
2 inches would be a ton of slack in s CB chain. Spec calls for 1 inch to 1.4 inches.
RE: chain slack - GoldOxide_imp - 04-22-2021
Da. Two inches sounds maybe more for a dirt bike chain.
RE: chain slack - mvk24_imp - 04-22-2021
(04-22-2021, 03:43 AM)The ferret_imp Wrote: 2 inches would be a ton of slack in s CB chain. Spec calls for 1 inch to 1.4 inches.O no I know. I was using even numbers as an example
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RE: chain slack - the Ferret - 04-22-2021
(04-22-2021, 04:51 AM)mvk24_imp Wrote:O no I know. I was using even numbers as an example(04-22-2021, 03:43 AM)The ferret_imp Wrote: 2 inches would be a ton of slack in s CB chain. Spec calls for 1 inch to 1.4 inches.O no I know. I was using even numbers as an example
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oh, ok, gotcha