GS500 chain tension?

[MystikEagle]

Hey guys, I'm a bit stuck on this one... :confused:
I had just washed my bike and was oiling the chain and noticed it looked a tad loose (I'm talking around the 2 inches of play mark :shit:). Then the chain went around maybe half a revolution and was seriously tight (maybe 1cm of play, tops).
It got a new set of tyres about 3 or 4 weeks ago now and had the chain adjusted and oiled then.
Any ideas? Did he maybe not put the chain back on right? What can I do to fix it?

[BigAl]

Most likely the chain is worn ME, although the shop should have checked this out.

2" inches is about max for free play and the tight spot of 1cm is too tight.

If you are in Ham tomorrow I'd happily check it for you.

[Geeen]

Sounds to me like your chain has been stretched and is almost done.

Be a good idea to take Al up on his offer

[MystikEagle]

Chain and sprocket seem to be in good condition but I'm not really too sure what I'm looking for...
I am planning on doing the christmas ride and bbq tomorrow with LOR if you are going along to that?
What are the dangers of riding with a stretched chain/loose chain/too tight chain???

[BigAl]

There is a danger of the chain coming off if severely stretched/worn.

Also the tight section can cause unnecessary wear on gearbox bearings.

Do you have anyone nearby that could check it before the ride?

I'm not going on the Xmas ride but am in Hillcrest near uni if you wanted it checked.

[MystikEagle]

There is a danger of the chain coming off if severely stretched/worn.

Also the tight section can cause unnecessary wear on gearbox bearings.

Do you have anyone nearby that could check it before the ride?

I'm not going on the Xmas ride but am in Hillcrest near uni if you wanted it checked.

That would be great if you don't mind??? I could meet you in Hillcrest before the ride if that would work for you???

[Warr]

Chain and sprocket seem to be in good condition but I'm not really too sure what I'm looking for...
I am planning on doing the christmas ride and bbq tomorrow with LOR if you are going along to that?
What are the dangers of riding with a stretched chain/loose chain/too tight chain???
Hi ME, I'm planning on doing the LOR ride tomorrow. What time are you planning on being over in Hams?
What you are experiencing is not uncommon,, Its not ideal to continue to ride with a stretched chain. When you do get a new one fitted you will be surprised on how smooth the bike then goes !

[BigAl]

Yeah no trouble ME, I'll pm you my address.

[FJRider]

(I'm talking around the 2 inches of play mark :shit:). Then the chain went around maybe half a revolution and was seriously tight (maybe 1cm of play, tops)

On each side of the rear axle is an adjuster. Both adjusters need to be set at the same distance from the axle center. There are usually marks on the adjuster body to assist with this. I am not sure about your bike though. A careful study with a tape measure will confirm if the axle is offset on one side. The chain tightening suggests the adjuster on the chain side of the bike is further back than the other.

That amount of difference SHOULD be obvious anyway. I'm betting the adjuster on the other side has come loose.

[bsasuper]

On each side of the rear axle is an adjuster. Both adjusters need to be set at the same distance from the axle center. There are usually marks on the adjuster body to assist with this. I am not sure about your bike though. A careful study with a tape measure will confirm if the axle is offset on one side. The chain tightening suggests the adjuster on the chain side of the bike is further back than the other.

That amount of difference SHOULD be obvious anyway. I'm betting the adjuster on the other side has come loose.

No thats wrong, this is not going to fix it, think about it.

You need new chain/sprockets.

[FJRider]

No thats wrong, this is not going to fix it, think about it.

You need new chain/sprockets.

If it was just a stretched chain ... it would be slack for the full revolution of the chain.

She said the chain was slack (2 niches of play) ... then tightens to 1 cm as it revolves.

There is something more serious than stretched chain.

[bsasuper]

Chains and sprockets wear in different spots, it doesnt take much wear on one part of the chain, and another part of a sprocket to get a big variation.

I have seen a bent output shaft with the same problem though, unlikley on a 500, so I would still point to a shagged chain/sprockets.

Last chain and sprockets I put on had this much variation from new, was a dodgy front sprocket not machined concentric, and it was only 0.2mm out.

[paturoa]

If it was just a stretched chain ... it would be slack for the full revolution of the chain.

She said the chain was slack (2 niches of play) ... then tightens to 1 cm as it revolves.

There is something more serious than stretched chain.

Nope.

Myth here is that the chain stretches. It doesn't, well at least the plates don't. What happens is that the pins and the holes they go through wear. The net result is that these small wear dimensions add up over the length of the chain so that it gets longer and we say that it has stretched. Incidentally you can also make it shorter than a new chain as well.

It is also common for a chain to "stretch" unevenly. Particularly common for non o-ring chains when left exposed to the weather as the chain guard, gear box etc shelters part of the chain and it is exposed else where to water. Another common cause is the retards at the bike shops who know better and water blast your bike when you get it serviced. Or those at home. Never water blast a chain.

Anyhoo, the net effect is that as the chain rotates it gives the appearance of tight, loose, tight, loose etc.

To see if this has happened and it isn't something else, mark a chain plate with something visible, white paint or such like, and see if it happens at the same location as the cahin goes around every time.

No fixing is possible. Time to buy new chain and probably sprockets too (which is why I think the bike shops do this!)

[bsasuper]

Nope.

Incidentally you can also make it shorter than a new chain as well.

.






Yeah!, must be those little elves that come out at night with tig welders and cut and shut the chain links!

[nzspokes]

Chains rooted. Get a new one and sprockets. It aint gunna fix itself.

[BigAl]

Chains rooted. Get a new one and sprockets. It aint gunna fix itself.

Yep that is my verdict after checking for ME, it was exactly as she described.

What is frustrating is that the bike has just had new tyres and the mech didn't inform her of this, yes bike taken in not just rims.

Good for her that she picked it up, how many newer riders would not have noticed.

Hopefully ME will give them a serve on Monday.

[SMOKEU]

Replace the chain and sprockets, or just the chain if and only if the sprockets are still in a very good condition.

[nzspokes]

Replace the chain and sprockets, or just the chain if and only if the sprockets are still in a very good condition.

No, change chain and sprockets. Used sprockets with a chain that worn will be stuffed.

[SMOKEU]

No, change chain and sprockets. Used sprockets with a chain that worn will be stuffed.

Not always. The chain on my GSXR was completely fucked, and had major tight spots. The sprockets were in a very good condition, and I even took it into a reputable bike mechanic who suggested I leave the existing sprockets on since they were in such a good condition. That is the exception, however, and usually I would replace the chain and sprockets all at the same time.

[bsasuper]

Yep that is my verdict after checking for ME, it was exactly as she described.

What is frustrating is that the bike has just had new tyres and the mech didn't inform her of this, yes bike taken in not just rims.

Good for her that she picked it up, how many newer riders would not have noticed.

Hopefully ME will give them a serve on Monday.

He probibly did pickup on the shagged chain/sprockets, but the problem is in some cases the customer turns around after the new chain sprockets or whatever are fitted and accuses the shop of doing it for extra $$$$, this would happen quite a bit at a shop I worked in, so the bosses instructions were do only the work the customer wants, even though several other faults were noticed.

[F5 Dave]

ok there's been some advice missing here.

Get someone to sit on the bike & then check.

On some bikes the chain tension changes quite dramatically. Once you know how much your bike does you will know how much to compensate for.


As it happens an old GF had a GS500 & man it changed heaps. Bike shop had changed the tyres once & adjusted the 'loose' chain, but when riding it was bowline tight.

Sounds like your mechanic was aware of this.

However yes tight spots are a bitch.

[BigAl]

ok there's been some advice missing here.

Get someone to sit on the bike & then check.

On some bikes the chain tension changes quite dramatically. Once you know how much your bike does you will know how much to compensate for.


As it happens an old GF had a GS500 & man it changed heaps. Bike shop had changed the tyres once & adjusted the 'loose' chain, but when riding it was bowline tight.

Sounds like your mechanic was aware of this.

However yes tight spots are a bitch.

Yep did this Dave and made tight spot even tighter, if mech knew of this and he must of as he had to put the wheel back in, then he is negligent imo.

[MystikEagle]

He probibly did pickup on the shagged chain/sprockets, but the problem is in some cases the customer turns around after the new chain sprockets or whatever are fitted and accuses the shop of doing it for extra $$$$, this would happen quite a bit at a shop I worked in, so the bosses instructions were do only the work the customer wants, even though several other faults were noticed.

That is a good reason for not changing the chain and sprokets but it still would have been nice to know about it. Or even a simple phone call to ask if I wanted them changed. Better yet, I was at the shop while waiting for the tyres to be fitted so he could have shown me the worn chain and asked me personally if I wanted him to fit a new one.

[\m/]

That is a good reason for not changing the chain and sprokets but it still would have been nice to know about it. Or even a simple phone call to ask if I wanted them changed. Better yet, I was at the shop while waiting for the tyres to be fitted so he could have shown me the worn chain and asked me personally if I wanted him to fit a new one.
What bike shop was this? I'm guessing that it wasn't Boyds as I've found them to be pretty good at pointing out when things need replacing.

[FJRider]

That is a good reason for not changing the chain and sprokets but it still would have been nice to know about it. Or even a simple phone call to ask if I wanted them changed. Better yet, I was at the shop while waiting for the tyres to be fitted so he could have shown me the worn chain and asked me personally if I wanted him to fit a new one.

If the apprentice did it (still at the $60 an hour charge out rate) ... he wouldn't know. Just following his instructions ...

[MystikEagle]

If the apprentice did it (still at the $60 an hour charge out rate) ... he wouldn't know. Just following his instructions ...

I beg to differ. Because he is an apprentice, he should know to look for these things. If he had just started then fair enough but he seems pretty clued up. Personally, I think he should have known better.

Ps. I have been taking the bike to Hamilton Motorcycles but thinking of going to Boyds seeing as they are the Suzuki specialists...

[FJRider]

I beg to differ. Because he is an apprentice, he should know to look for these things. If he had just started then fair enough but he seems pretty clued up. Personally, I think he should have known better.

Ps. I have been taking the bike to Hamilton Motorcycles but thinking of going to Boyds seeing as they are the Suzuki specialists...

It's not uncommon to have a "lad" work in shops after school/weekends that are not hired as an apprentice.

If you have issues with Hamilton Motorcycles ... take it up with them sooner, rather than later.

Suzuki dealers ... or Suzuki specialists ... ??? (they may not be one and the same) Often no real advantage going to the respective bike dealer.

[BigAl]

Suzuki dealers ... or Suzuki specialists ... ??? (they may not be one and the same) Often no real advantage going to the respective bike dealer.

Of course there are advantages in going to a shop that sells and services the particular brand you own/ride.

They work on them day in/day out and therefore get to know certain model idiosynchrosises(sp).

At the end of the day ME is learning about bikes real fast, all credit to her.

[MystikEagle]

Of course there are advantages in going to a shop that sells and services the particular brand you own/ride.

They work on them day in/day out and therefore get to know certain model idiosynchrosises(sp).

At the end of the day ME is learning about bikes real fast, all credit to her.

My thoughts exactly! Although I must say, Hamilton motorcycles finally did a thorough job on my bike and it is finally all fixed (even though it took three visits and numerous breakdowns). It all came down to a misaligned spring in the carb...

Ps. Thanks for the compliment! I love learning new things, it's something I'm good at :)