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+--- Thread: Checking Drive Chain Slack (/showthread.php?tid=4869)
Checking Drive Chain Slack - Townie_imp - 07-01-2018
Folks,
Hopefully an easy one for you. I'm checking my drive chain slack, using a vertical ruler roughly midpoint between front sprocket and rear sprocket. I'm measuring the deflection of the lower run. Bike is on the center stand, in neutral.
In measuring the deflection, do I:
A. Pull the lower chain run down as far as I can, then push it up as far as I can. The difference in measures on the ruler is deflection.
B. Push it up from its resting position, measure deflection.
The 2 procedures produce quite a different result, about 2" for method A, 1.25" for method B.
Thanks.
RE: Checking Drive Chain Slack - Lord Popgun - 07-01-2018
Over thinking this Townie. The sticker on the swingarm says to check the owners manual for instructions.
Since I don’t have it handy, I looked in the service manual. It shows your method B.
Check your PM.
RE: Checking Drive Chain Slack - Townie_imp - 07-01-2018
(07-01-2018, 09:18 AM)Lord Popgun_imp Wrote: Over thinking this Townie. The sticker on the swingarm says to check the owners manual for instructions.
Since I don’t have it handy, I looked in the service manual. It shows your method B.
Check your PM.
I don't think I'm over thinking it. If the 2 methods produced a similar result, then I wouldn't be asking the question.One method says I'm in spec, the other doesn't.
And yes, I did check the manual. To me, it's ambiguous.
Here's a decent vid that suggests Method A is what should be used:
RE: Checking Drive Chain Slack - Aussieflyer - 07-01-2018
I use method A aiming for roughly 35 to 40mm of slack and double checking wheel alignment about 100 times before torquing up the axle.
RE: Checking Drive Chain Slack - Lord Popgun - 07-01-2018
Well, I really don’t care about videos, I go by the service manual. YMMV
RE: Checking Drive Chain Slack - Cormanus - 07-01-2018
How do you check the wheel alignment Aussieflyer?
Townie, I use method B, but I've seen method A used and have wondered whether it is actually correct.
Taking Aussieflyer's and my approach may end up producing a roughly similar result. Using method B, I aim for 25-30 mm of slack as my seat-of-the-pants assessonometer tells me the bike's smoother when the chain is tighter. What would that slack then be if I used method A? Possibly about what Aussieflyer aims for. If I used method A and went for 25 mm of slack, would I end up with a chain that was too tight?
Looking at the illustration in the owners manual leads me to the view that Honda recommends method B. Certainly, if I am aiming for 25mm slack I'd be more inclined to use method B.
Not sure that helps really.
RE: Checking Drive Chain Slack - rickcb - 07-01-2018
Yamahas use method A. Yamaha manuals are clear. I ruined my wife's cbr500r chain in less than 10k miles assuming Honda also used method A, which kept the chain too tight. Hondas use method B.
RE: Checking Drive Chain Slack - DaSwami_imp - 07-01-2018
Interesting, I've always used method "B" but I adjusted the chain to 2" anyway. Looks like either way will work!
RE: Checking Drive Chain Slack - KiowaEagle_imp - 07-01-2018
(07-01-2018, 09:24 AM)Townie_imp Wrote:(07-01-2018, 09:18 AM)Lord Popgun_imp Wrote: Over thinking this Townie. The sticker on the swingarm says to check the owners manual for instructions.
Since I don’t have it handy, I looked in the service manual. It shows your method B.
Check your PM.
I don't think I'm over thinking it. If the 2 methods produced a similar result, then I wouldn't be asking the question.One method says I'm in spec, the other doesn't.
And yes, I did check the manual. To me, it's ambiguous.
Here's a decent vid that suggests Method A is what should be used:
I agree, it is ambiguous. It only says “Check the slack in the lower half of the drive chain midway between the sprockets.” It does not specify how to check the slack. In reading that I assumed you would push down then push up to measure the total slack.
RE: Checking Drive Chain Slack - Aussieflyer - 07-01-2018
(07-01-2018, 10:06 AM)Cormanus_imp Wrote: How do you check the wheel alignment Aussieflyer?
Townie, I use method B, but I've seen method A used and have wondered whether it is actually correct.
Taking Aussieflyer's and my approach may end up producing a roughly similar result. Using method B, I aim for 25-30 mm of slack as my seat-of-the-pants assessonometer tells me the bike's smoother when the chain is tighter. What would that slack then be if I used method A? Possibly about what Aussieflyer aims for. If I used method A and went for 25 mm of slack, would I end up with a chain that was too tight?
Looking at the illustration in the owners manual leads me to the view that Honda recommends method B. Certainly, if I am aiming for 25mm slack I'd be more inclined to use method B.
Not sure that helps really.
Just by measuring the axle position in the swing arm.
![[Image: 331bbb2db542f7b7536ff2c1ffd91821.jpg]](https://cb1100forum.net/forum/uploads/imp/201807/331bbb2db542f7b7536ff2c1ffd91821.jpg)
I checked the accuracy of the adjuster blocks when I swapped out the mags for the wire wheels. Fitted the mags back on on the bike with no tyres and used a couple of long straight edges to compare rear wheel alignment to that of the front wheel. Turns out the markings on the adjusters are pretty good but I find them more difficult to read than my trusty steel rule. In this photo you can see the measurement is set to 28mm which is then easily compared to the other side.