Loose drive chain!

[Darlo_biker1973]

Hi everyone I'm a newbie and a bit of a mechcanical idiot so please be gentle! As the subject states my chain is a little loose how do i tighten it? Also there is a whirring noise coming from the left side of the engine!!!! If anyone has any thoughts/thoughts/imspiration I would appreciate it!

Regards

James

[simo]

Hi James welcome to the forum . By your handle can I take it you're from Darlington? Your chain is best adjuster on a paddock stand. Loosen the wheel spindle and adjust with the small bolts located horizontaly in the end of the swinging arm. Not too tight, you want about 10mm up and down movement on the bottom run of the chain . Re tighten spindle. Turn wheel check for tight spots. If you do live in Darlington PM me and I'll help you out .

[simo]

Should read 20 mm movement . There is of course the correct measurement in hand book or on a sticker on swinging arm if its still there.

[VTRDark]

Turn the adjusters clockwise to tighten and anti clockwise to loosen, You have some scribed lines on the adjusters as rough guide to keeping things even on both sides. As for the whirring noise can you be a bit more descriptive as to where it's coming from. Does it get better or worse when you dip the clutch.

(:-})

[lumpyv]

Hi James welcome to the forum . By your handle can I take it you're from Darlington? Your chain is best adjusted on a paddock stand. Loosen the wheel spindle and adjust with the small bolts located horizontaly in the end of the swinging arm. Not too tight, you want about 10mm up and down movement on the bottom run of the chain . Re tighten spindle. Turn wheel check for tight spots. If you do live in Darlington PM me and I'll help you out .

im no expert but I thought the best scenario for adjusting the chain is with the wheels on the deck and someone sitting on it. this enables the suspension / linkages to be in the same position for adjustment as when the bike is being ridden?
its easier on a paddock stand of course but not necessarily as accurate?

[MacV2]

Hi James welcome to the forum . By your handle can I take it you're from Darlington? Your chain is best adjusted on a paddock stand. Loosen the wheel spindle and adjust with the small bolts located horizontaly in the end of the swinging arm. Not too tight, you want about 10mm up and down movement on the bottom run of the chain . Re tighten spindle. Turn wheel check for tight spots. If you do live in Darlington PM me and I'll help you out .

im no expert but I thought the best scenario for adjusting the chain is with the wheels on the deck and someone sitting on it. this enables the suspension / linkages to be in the same position for adjustment as when the bike is being ridden?
its easier on a paddock stand of course but not necessarily as accurate?

+1

Should be done with someone sitting on it to get the correct tension. Without the weight compressing the suspension the tension will be wrong, to tight I think.

BTW these sort of questions should really be in the workshop section, your lucky it was spotted in this section.

Mac

[Wicky]

98-03_VTR1000F_NoRestriction.pdf

VTR1000F Honda Service Manual OCR.pdf

Pg 50 3-14 DRIVE CHAIN - CHAIN SLACK INSPECTION

[simo]

Wow .... Have I been doing it wrong all these years? 24.000 on the original chain, it must be well fkd better have someone check it for me . Lol

[Virt]

Wow .... Have I been doing it wrong all these years? 24.000 on the original chain, it must be well fkd better have someone check it for me . Lol

If you have a Scott oiler or manually oil it, it might be okay as that can increase the chains life massively and stop it needing to be tightened

[VTRDark]

Wow .... Have I been doing it wrong all these years? 24.000 on the original chain

According to the majority of workshop manuals No, but technically Yes as the workshop manuals do not account for different people weight.

I also adjust the chain with the wheel of the ground using my Abba stand, but then I know how slack it needs to be and account for my weight. I don't have an extra hand to check things while I sit on the bike usually, but have done in the past, and jumped off the bike to check how slack it is.

I find having the wheel off the ground makes it easier to adjust as the rear wheel is free to move backwards or forwards. I can even give it a wiggle if I want. with no resistance from the ground on any rubber. Then as the wheel is of the ground, it's the perfect opportunity to give the chain a clean, inspect and re-oil.



(:-})

[tony.mon]

The noise you described may be the chain drooping onto the LH side link pipe near the sidestand.
If too slack that can happen, mostly with aftermarket link pipes fitted.

And I agree, tension is much better done with someone your weight sitting on the bike, and don't forget to revolve the wheel a few times to check for tight spots,

[sirch345]

I wonder what happened to James, I hope he is okay,

Chris.

[darkember]

Chain tension needs to be between 30-40 mm virtical movement. Best adjusted on the did stand unless you have someone to sit on the bike to load it also check it at mutiple locations along its length. A correctly adjusted chain will not touch the link pipe when pushing the forward but will when you push the bike backwards.

The sound you are hearing could be clutch rattle which is quite common on these machines

[tony.mon]

Chain tension needs to be between 30-40 mm virtical movement. Best adjusted on the did stand unless you have someone to sit on the bike to load it also check it at mutiple locations along its length. A correctly adjusted chain will not touch the link pipe when pushing the forward but will when you push the bike backwards.

The sound you are hearing could be clutch rattle which is quite common on these machines

If so he's been hearing it since April......