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How to Measure Chain Slack?


phoenixfire

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Hi all,

How do you measure your chain slack?

Steps I've done.

Set bike on centerstand

Find tightest spot of chain mid-way between sprockets

When I push the chain upwards the chain hits the swingarm. When I push the chain downwards it only moves a few mms.

How are you supposed to measure the slack if the swingarm gets in the way?

I'm riding the 5th gen (99)

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  • Member Contributer

How far is it from the top of the chain measurement when it hits the swingarm to top when you pull it down?It should be 5/8" to 1" if memory serves me right.

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Measure the link pins travel from top to bottom of the chains travel, if it's set correctly it WILL touch the swing arm (just barely).

I set my 6gen at 1 and a quarter inches. Once you get use to it from measuring if you check at the same spot under the swingarm you can check without the tape from how hard/soft it touches the arm. It says to check half way between the sprockets, but moving forward just a little will give you some more clearance ....... Better a little loose than tight.........

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  • 3 weeks later...

Question. Did the adjustment last night. Double check the slack to 1 & 1/4 in (on the center stand). My question is should the chain be tight after riding and parked on it's side stand?

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It's going to be tighter on the side stand, also depends on how weak your rear shock spring is, check on the centre stand......... cold chain.

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After adjusting it, the feel of the bike is soo much smoother vs jerky (Slacky/Slappy). Thanks for sharing the great info! What is the normal life span of a chain. Previous owner installed a new one about 3 years ago and has about 5k miles on it?

Thanks again!

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My method:

1 - Adjust tension on the center stand until it is not too tight and not too loose

2 - put on side stand and kick the chain with foot.

If it just reaches the bottom of the swingarm with some tension on it, call it a day.

Otherwise tighten/loosen as required.

This has worked for me.

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I got some 35,000km of my OEM 4th gen chain. Still on my 2nd chain at almost 70000 kms

I use a scotoiler and rarely check adjust the chain, clean it once every 5 years cane the crap out of it. :tongue:

so unless your chain was never lubed and parked at the seafront, you should be ok with 5k miles

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I've got 20K miles on the OEM chain and sprockets. Have only had to adjust twice. Lube every 500 miles. Looks like it has a fair amount of life left.

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  • Member Contributer

as for the correct slack, a = apprx 1.25 inch

73d67947.jpg

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