chain tension

geezer · 07-18-2011, 10:26 PM

receintly i have been informed of the negative effects of running your chain to tight. these include output shaft seal leaking, damaged chain and sprokets, etc. obviously if your running your chain to tight there wont be enough slack in it for when the suspension compresses. now what about how loose you run it? now that i know the negatives on to tight a chain i have been purposel running with a loose chain. more than the spec in the handbook of .8 inches but not more than it takes to hit the bottom of the swing arm, that would be wy to loose. i ask you all with more miles on a bike than me. what works the best?

blaine · 07-18-2011, 10:33 PM

I always left about 1/2" of play.

:2tup:

geezer · 07-18-2011, 10:59 PM

how many miles did you get outta your sprokets and chain? i would think that 1/2 in is to tight

blaine · 07-18-2011, 11:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by geezer

how many miles did you get outta your sprokets and chain? i would think that 1/2 in is to tight

I put 30000 kms on a o-ring chain,and front sprocket.They showed very little wear when I sold the bike.I never had any more than 9/16" max.I always cleaned,lubed,and adjusted the chain every 1000 kms.Always cleaned with kerosene and lubed with PJ-1 chain wax.As you can see from my avatar that my bike was well looked after.
:biggrin:

geezer · 07-18-2011, 11:53 PM

so would that be around 22000 miles? well that kinda milage speaks for itself. sorry im american, dumb american at that. im trying to keep mine in great shape too. i just cleaned my chain too, first time ever cleaning a chain and ive been riding for 6 yrs :retard: never saw the need. but when i look at my baby gz all shiney then i see that gross chain i just had too hahaha.
now what about running loose like i am? anyone logged anymiles on a loose chain?

blaine · 07-19-2011, 12:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by geezer

so would that be around 22000 miles?

Closer to 18500 miles. :tongue: :poke2:

geezer · 07-19-2011, 01:06 AM

told you! :biggrin: so no one else has an opinion? i hope you are all just sleeping and chime in the morning :yawn:

Water Warrior 2 · 07-19-2011, 05:11 AM

Very early morning here. The chain is probably best at the max according to the manual. My opinion of course but I don't like the idea of an overly tight chain if it is set at the minimum. Also remember to rotate the rear wheel to find the tightest position and make your adjustments from that position. Really easy to do when you have a lift of some sort or a center stand.

**jonathan180iq** · 07-19-2011, 09:42 AM

A loose chain will chatter and bounce in the sprocket grooves, as it spins, wearing them faster than necessary.
Like you mentioned, a loose chain is just as bad as a tight chain for excessive wear on the driveline parts.

Just set it within the given limits and you'll be good to go for a long time.

bonehead · 07-19-2011, 02:24 PM

Got 24,000 out of my oem chain. I had the 16t sprocket on the bike and it was fubar when I replaced the chain. Now I have a new chain and back to the 15 oem front sprocket. I set my chain at approx. 1/2".

07-18-2011, 10:26 PM	#1
geezer Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: dahlonega GA Posts: 563	chain tension receintly i have been informed of the negative effects of running your chain to tight. these include output shaft seal leaking, damaged chain and sprokets, etc. obviously if your running your chain to tight there wont be enough slack in it for when the suspension compresses. now what about how loose you run it? now that i know the negatives on to tight a chain i have been purposel running with a loose chain. more than the spec in the handbook of .8 inches but not more than it takes to hit the bottom of the swing arm, that would be wy to loose. i ask you all with more miles on a bike than me. what works the best? __________________ 99 gz 250 and a currently dismantled fzr 1000 Login or Register to Remove Ads
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07-18-2011, 10:33 PM	#2
blaine Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: P.E.I. Canada Posts: 3,784	Re: chain tension I always left about 1/2" of play. :2tup: __________________ If at first you do succeed, try not to look surprised.
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07-18-2011, 10:59 PM	#3
geezer Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: dahlonega GA Posts: 563	Re: chain tension how many miles did you get outta your sprokets and chain? i would think that 1/2 in is to tight __________________ 99 gz 250 and a currently dismantled fzr 1000 Login or Register to Remove Ads
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07-18-2011, 11:53 PM	#5
geezer Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: dahlonega GA Posts: 563	Re: chain tension so would that be around 22000 miles? well that kinda milage speaks for itself. sorry im american, dumb american at that. im trying to keep mine in great shape too. i just cleaned my chain too, first time ever cleaning a chain and ive been riding for 6 yrs :retard: never saw the need. but when i look at my baby gz all shiney then i see that gross chain i just had too hahaha. now what about running loose like i am? anyone logged anymiles on a loose chain? __________________ 99 gz 250 and a currently dismantled fzr 1000 Login or Register to Remove Ads
	0

07-19-2011, 01:06 AM	#7
geezer Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: dahlonega GA Posts: 563	Re: chain tension told you! :biggrin: so no one else has an opinion? i hope you are all just sleeping and chime in the morning :yawn: __________________ 99 gz 250 and a currently dismantled fzr 1000
	0

07-19-2011, 05:11 AM	#8
Water Warrior 2 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Squamish B.C Canada Posts: 11,409	Re: chain tension Very early morning here. The chain is probably best at the max according to the manual. My opinion of course but I don't like the idea of an overly tight chain if it is set at the minimum. Also remember to rotate the rear wheel to find the tightest position and make your adjustments from that position. Really easy to do when you have a lift of some sort or a center stand.
	0

07-19-2011, 09:42 AM	#9
jonathan180iq Super Moderator Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Dalton, GA Posts: 3,996	Re: chain tension A loose chain will chatter and bounce in the sprocket grooves, as it spins, wearing them faster than necessary. Like you mentioned, a loose chain is just as bad as a tight chain for excessive wear on the driveline parts. Just set it within the given limits and you'll be good to go for a long time.
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07-19-2011, 02:24 PM	#10
bonehead Senior Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: elgin,tx Posts: 907	Re: chain tension Got 24,000 out of my oem chain. I had the 16t sprocket on the bike and it was fubar when I replaced the chain. Now I have a new chain and back to the 15 oem front sprocket. I set my chain at approx. 1/2". __________________ Standing with the PGR until they stand for me.
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