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The Pastor
25th May 2010, 18:02
Hi guys.

Bike is a 1988 honda gl145 which is very preloved.

The chain wont retain its tightness. It keeps going slack.

All the bolts are done up tight.

Anyone got any ideas? I don't think the chain is stretching - its a new chain.

Cheers

Rm

Mom
25th May 2010, 18:04
It's a new chain. It will stretch. Are you sure you counted the links right?

AllanB
25th May 2010, 18:26
Stop doing wheelies and burnouts..............

Racey Rider
25th May 2010, 21:37
Just looking at it from another angle. Are you sure that what you call 'slack', isn't just 'the right amount of slack' for that bike/chain setup?

I've had chains before that I thought were loose, but every time I ajusted - the swingarm/suspention movement would force the chain to streach back to it's 'slack' look.

Crasherfromwayback
25th May 2010, 21:40
Hi guys.

Bike is a 1988 honda gl145 which is very preloved.

The chain wont retain its tightness. It keeps going slack.

All the bolts are done up tight.

Anyone got any ideas? I don't think the chain is stretching - its a new chain.

Cheers

Rm

Are you sure it's not just going tight-loose-tight-loose? If so...the chain is fucked, or the rear sprocket is not right.

Crasherfromwayback
25th May 2010, 21:42
I've had chains before that I thought were loose, but every time I ajusted - the swingarm/suspention movement would force the chain to streach back to it's 'slack' look.[/COLOR]

Jesus Christ mate...that's nasty! You'll tear the front countershaft out of a bike one day adjusting the chain that tightly! The tightest point for the chain...is when the swingarm is parallel to the ground!!! Adjust it with one of your mates sitting on the bike if you must...but NEVER over tighten it FFS.

davebullet
25th May 2010, 21:48
You sure the axle isn't slipping along the swingarm? If you don't have adjuster markers - use a pen / pencil and see if the axle bolt is in the same position. Same slackness all the way around? Checked the front sprocket for any bad / uneven wear?

bogan
25th May 2010, 21:49
Are you sure it's not just going tight-loose-tight-loose? If so...the chain is fucked, or the rear sprocket is not right.

+1 also be sure to check the tightness after you tighten all the bolts, many bikes I've owned have tightened the chain significantly when the axle nut is done up.

The Pastor
26th May 2010, 08:46
It's a new chain. It will stretch. Are you sure you counted the links right?

yes im sure its the right amount of links :-P Maybe its just new chain stretch? I've had a new chain before.


Stop doing wheelies and burnouts..............

Now what would be the point of a motorcycle if i couldnt do wheelies and burnouts?


Just looking at it from another angle. Are you sure that what you call 'slack', isn't just 'the right amount of slack' for that bike/chain setup?

I've had chains before that I thought were loose, but every time I ajusted - the swingarm/suspention movement would force the chain to streach back to it's 'slack' look.
Yes, the correct ammount of slack is 1inch (2.54 cm) which is what i tighten it to, after a short ride it goes to about 4inch.


Are you sure it's not just going tight-loose-tight-loose? If so...the chain is fucked, or the rear sprocket is not right.

Are you refering to tight spots? there are no tight spots.


You sure the axle isn't slipping along the swingarm? If you don't have adjuster markers - use a pen / pencil and see if the axle bolt is in the same position. Same slackness all the way around? Checked the front sprocket for any bad / uneven wear?


+1 also be sure to check the tightness after you tighten all the bolts, many bikes I've owned have tightened the chain significantly when the axle nut is done up.

Not quite sure what you are saying here, could you please explain it a bit more?

Cheers

Rm

The Pastor
26th May 2010, 08:46
It's a new chain. It will stretch. Are you sure you counted the links right?

yes im sure its the right amount of links :-P Maybe its just new chain stretch? I've had a new chain before.


Stop doing wheelies and burnouts..............

Now what would be the point of a motorcycle if i couldnt do wheelies and burnouts?


Just looking at it from another angle. Are you sure that what you call 'slack', isn't just 'the right amount of slack' for that bike/chain setup?

I've had chains before that I thought were loose, but every time I ajusted - the swingarm/suspention movement would force the chain to streach back to it's 'slack' look.
Yes, the correct ammount of slack is 1inch (2.54 cm) which is what i tighten it to, after a short ride it goes to about 4inch.


Are you sure it's not just going tight-loose-tight-loose? If so...the chain is fucked, or the rear sprocket is not right.

Are you refering to tight spots? there are no tight spots.


You sure the axle isn't slipping along the swingarm? If you don't have adjuster markers - use a pen / pencil and see if the axle bolt is in the same position. Same slackness all the way around? Checked the front sprocket for any bad / uneven wear?


+1 also be sure to check the tightness after you tighten all the bolts, many bikes I've owned have tightened the chain significantly when the axle nut is done up.

Not quite sure what you are saying here, could you please explain it a bit more?

Cheers

Rm

Crasherfromwayback
26th May 2010, 08:56
yes im sure its the right amount of links :-P Maybe its just new chain stretch? I've had a new chain before.

Are you refering to tight spots? there are no tight spots.

Rm

If there are no tight spots...then it'll just be the chain bedding in to the rear sprocket, or it's an inferior quality chain that's stretching.

The Pastor
26th May 2010, 09:29
If there are no tight spots...then it'll just be the chain bedding in to the rear sprocket, or it's an inferior quality chain that's stretching.

it is a heavy duty standard chain, cost me $20. But the bike only has 16hp (which i think is very genours)

I'll keep tightening the chain and see what happens.

Crasherfromwayback
26th May 2010, 09:57
$20.00? There's ya problem!

bogan
26th May 2010, 10:06
Yes, the correct ammount of slack is 1inch (2.54 cm) which is what i tighten it to, after a short ride it goes to about 4inch.

you setting it at the correct position? could be you need someone to sit on when adjusting it to that slack.


Not quite sure what you are saying here, could you please explain it a bit more?


as you tighten the axel nut, the chain generally pulls tighter, some bikes a lot more than others. Make sure to measure after you tighten the nut as well.

Sentox
26th May 2010, 12:37
$20.00? There's ya problem!

I'll say. That'd be hella cheap for a chainsaw, let alone a motorbike...

bogan
26th May 2010, 12:40
I'll say. That'd be hella cheap for a chainsaw, let alone a motorbike...

you can get well cheap industrial chain, think the one on my electric was bout 30bucks, is as big as the one on my bros too! I'm running bout 5mm slack on it too :shit:

Ixion
26th May 2010, 13:16
Check your wheel bearings and swing arm bushes.

MSTRS
26th May 2010, 13:24
New chain + worn sprockets =:no:
maybe you know why, now?

glegge
26th May 2010, 13:24
Check your wheel bearings and swing arm bushes.

+1, also check the adjuster cam's or whatever you bike has, are working as they should to hold the wheel in the correct position.
in a nut shell, things that can effect chain tension.
gearbox output bearing
front sproket
swing arm bearings
chain itself (wearing quickly)
rear sproket
rear wheel bearings and chain carrier bearings (often seperate with rubber blocks between them for a smooth ride)
adjusters (the cam or nut and bolt arrangment that holds the rear axle and allows you to more it forward and back)
also - adjustment method. IE ensure you check before and after adjusting, also ensure after tighetning axle that the adjusters are snug.

F5 Dave
26th May 2010, 17:23
Industrial chain is meant for running low powered machinery at a constant speed. Not the abuse a bike with a constant gear changes & acceleration goes through. + as MSTRS sez the sprockets are worn to the old chain so will stretch teh chain to that point in fairly short order.


Jesus Christ mate...that's nasty! You'll tear the front countershaft out of a bike one day adjusting the chain that tightly! The tightest point for the chain...is when the swingarm is parallel to the ground!!! Adjust it with one of your mates sitting on the bike if you must...but NEVER over tighten it FFS.

Yeah that's one of the reasons I don't trust shop mechanics to work on my bikes, an ex's GS was particularly prone to that & it came back from 1st service with a chain like a bowstring when compressed.

Crasherfromwayback
26th May 2010, 17:30
Aye. Better too loose than too tight!

MSTRS
26th May 2010, 18:00
Well, chains, anyway...