adjusting chain tension....question

[m130cal]

Howdy, I'm a new FZ6 owner...absolutely love it...its a 2004 with about 2800 miles on it. Anyway, I was reading the manual on how to check and adjust the chain tension and I was a little confused on how to measure if the tension is within specs...the picture shows to measure between two lines drawn in the diagram. The top line is just below the swing arm and the bottom line is at some distance below the chain...I'm not sure what this means. Am I supposed to measure how far the chain can be pulled down and pushed up? Or am I supposed to measure how far from the swing arm the chain hangs? If so, do I measure from the top of the chain or the bottom side?

Thanks in advance for any help you can provide.

[killernoodle]

Put a ruler up against the swingarm hanging down. Push the chain as high up as it can go when on the centerstand. Measure the top of the chain. Push the chain as far down as it will go, and measure the same spot on the top of the chain. Subtract the higher number from the lower one to find the chain slack. This way your measurement isnt changed by the thickness of the chain. Your basically measuring the up and down travel of the chain in mm, it should be between 40 and 55 mm if I remember correctly, but make it as little as you can within spec because it really smoothes roll on-roll off power delivery.

[04Fizzer]

Originally Posted by killernoodle

Put a ruler up against the swingarm hanging down. Push the chain as high up as it can go when on the centerstand. Measure the top of the chain. Push the chain as far down as it will go, and measure the same spot on the top of the chain. Subtract the higher number from the lower one to find the chain slack. This way your measurement isnt changed by the thickness of the chain. Your basically measuring the up and down travel of the chain in mm, it should be between 40 and 55 mm if I remember correctly, but make it as little as you can within spec because it really smoothes roll on-roll off power delivery.

I've found it's easier to push the chain down, pick a point on the chain and set that as 'zero', then lift the chain up and measure to the same poitn on the chain. That's your slack.

[bulldogr6]

Remember if there is any question, It'a better to be a little loose than a light tight.the proof is in the pudding.Too bad the pudding is the output shaft bearing.. :\

Below is a fine example of why you want to check your chain tension every time you can. And when you do it, make sure to rotate the wheel at least one revolution to check the chain tightness EVERYWHERE.

A guy on another board I'm part of, has obviously been running a chain that was MUCH too tight, for far too long. Well, one day he heard a bump and a grinding noise, and started crying.



Too much lateral load on the output shaft pulverized the bearings so badly that it simply crushed them.

Check your chain kids... And remember to take note of the tension while your sitting on it cause it get tighter as the swingarm moves upward.

[FAZR6]

With the bike on the center stand, make it only as tight as it will go and still be able to push the chain up to touch the bottom of the swing arm bumper. When it is on the ground with your weight on it, it will be just right. As your rear suspension compresses, the chain gets tighter so too tight of a chain keeps the suspension from working right and puts a tremendous amount of stress on those drive shaft bearings as the suspension bouces up and down. Better to caution on the side of loose.

[greatzippy]

Originally Posted by bulldogr6

Check your chain kids... And remember to take note of the tension while your sitting on it cause it get tighter as the swingarm moves upward.

Crap man .... that couldn't have been much fun.
I've always put the bike up on a rear wheel stand, not the centerstand, when checking my chain. Usually set it to about 2" slack which is about in the middle of the spec range. Figured that would give plenty slack for swingarm movement while still keeping the chain tight enough.

[killernoodle]

Mine came assembled with the chain WAY too lose. It was unnerving doing any kind of slow speed manuvers because there was so much drivetrain lash. I think I found the sweet spot as of now, but with it really loose the roll on/roll off transitions are absolute crap.