Chain slack - conflict between owners to shop manual

Racer78 · 09-10-2007, 12:19 AM

The owners manual says 30-35mm 1.2 - 1.4"

repair manual says 35-40mm (1.4-1.6") with exceptable range 30-45mm (1.2-1.7")

Which is correct?

Thanks

mandrex · 09-10-2007, 01:08 AM

I keep mine somewhere between 1.25 and 1.5" (probably closer to 1.5") - it's not an exact science - sort of like nuclear weapons - close is good enough.

OreoGaborio · 09-10-2007, 10:12 AM

both... it doesn't have to be exact. Anywhere between 30-45mm of slack is fine.

lecchilo · 09-10-2007, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OreoGaborio

both... it doesn't have to be exact. Anywhere between 30-45mm of slack is fine.

haha well you just added a couple thousand miles to my riding time without adjusting chain
it started at around 33-34, and now, after ~ 1900 miles, it's up to 38ish

RD-350Jim · 09-10-2007, 06:21 PM

IMHO, the adjustment called for in the owners manual is the wrong way to adjust the chain.

They give a measurement with the bike on the side stand.

The problem with that is not all bikes will have the same shock extension at that point, some will be topped out, some (like mine) which have had the spring preload backed off will not be. Your shooting at a moving target if you do the adjustyment this way.

When I adjusted the chain like this I found it basicly had no slack at the middle of the shock travel. You don't want to have no slack, it will strech the chain, and wear the sprockets out much faster. It will also bind up the suspension.

A better way is to sit on the bike, compress the suspension as much as you can (ideally you should get it to mid travel-try bouncing on the seat, or find a fat friend to sit on it, or sit on the pasenger seat), so the chain is a tight as it can get, and measure the travel - you want maybe 1/2 or 3/4" or so. It is better to have too much slack than not enough, BTW.

OreoGaborio · 09-10-2007, 06:55 PM

well said, Jim