chain slack

[dave]

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/showthr...p?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.

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.