Home-made chain adjustment tool

[CB750TOM_imp]

While brainstorming for an easy way to measure chain slack, I came up with this. Scroll down to the last image on the page.

http://faq.ninja250.org/wiki/How_do_I_me...n_slack%3F

[the Ferret]

Great idea. Think I will make one.. Why is the dowel on an angle and not straight up and down ?

[meowguy_imp]

A carpenters combination square placed on the ground works for me. You slide the gauge down to the bottom to form a right angle. Place it on the floor with ruler facing up. Read slack. And you can use it for a lot of other stuff in the workshop. You may already have one in your kit.

Like this:
[url=http://www.restockit.com/swanson-tools-16-comination-square-%28698-tc134%29.html?source=IDx20111014x00001g&utm_source=IDx20111014x00001g&utm_medium=paid&utm_campaign=gpla&gclid=CNLxu9aOvLoCFY6Y4AodNVgAYg]Combination Square

[CB750TOM_imp]

Great idea. Think I will make one.. Why is the dowel on an angle and not straight up and down ?

Only thing I can figure out is that this is a sport bike forum and the bike is at a different angle.

[The Spaceman_imp]

A carpenters combination square placed on the ground works for me. You slide the gauge down to the bottom to form a right angle. Place it on the floor with ruler facing up. Read slack. And you can use it for a lot of other stuff in the workshop. You may already have one in your kit.

Like this:
[url=http://www.restockit.com/swanson-tools-16-comination-square-%28698-tc134%29.html?source=IDx20111014x00001g&utm_source=IDx20111014x00001g&utm_medium=paid&utm_campaign=gpla&gclid=CNLxu9aOvLoCFY6Y4AodNVgAYg]Combination Square

This is a great idea. I have the tool, just need to see if its tall enough to do the job when the bike is up on the centerstand.

While we're on the topic; does anyone else find the CB more sensitive to chain slack than other bikes? I hardly ever adjusted the chain on my Suzuki or Harley, but if I let the CB chain get just a tad too much slack, I really feel it. Especially off-throttle or downshifting.

[rboe]

For combination squares sometimes you can get 18" rulers for them.

An alternative is the old Stanley Odd Job (http://www.garrettwade.com/product.asp?pn=23n02.01) that can be found in larger formats.

[the Ferret]

Great idea. Think I will make one.. Why is the dowel on an angle and not straight up and down ?

Only thing I can figure out is that this is a sport bike forum and the bike is at a different angle.

Only thing I can figure out is that this is a sport bike forum and the bike is at a different angle.
Maybe on the side stand?

Since ours gets adjusted on the center stand, the distance from ground to swing arm will always be the same. Easy to make a piece that slides right under there. Just make the straw piece an inch an a quarter long. It will have to be moved up the dowel with each slight adjustment though.
Ok took some quick measurements...from center of swing arm pivot to center of rear axle is approx 22 inches, so mid way between would be 11 inches. At that point, while on the center stand I have 14 inches of clearance between ground and swing arm. As long as the dowel sticks up no further than that i'd be good to go.

And yes Spaceman I find my CB extremely sensitive to chain adjustment, but still in 6300 miles I've adjusted it twice I think... But it's due again I can tell.

[Deanohh_imp]

Great idea. Think I will make one.. Why is the dowel on an angle and not straight up and down ?

perhaps so that the stick is perpendicular to the run of the chain. Put a couple of small o-rings on the stick and you can roll them up and down for your ref points.

[AzBob_imp]

I just use my hand and my eyeballs. It's actually not that critical in my experience (the chain was ridiculously loose when I got it and rode it for 700 miles, didn't really notice much of a difference when I tightened to within spec). Once you get used to what it's supposed to be, eyeballing it is quite easy, IMO. You just don't want it so tight that you snap the chain, nor so loose that it flies all over the place, hitting things. Kind of reminds me of the elaborate apparatus people use to align their rear tire (not that this is elaborate by any means, just that it seems unnecessary to me).

[rboe]

I tend to grab the chain and wiggle it up and down to get a feel for it. Once it seems a bit loose I tighten it up.