Chain Tightening

**Sniper** · 16th February 2005, 14:50

When do you guys tighten your chain? How many kms?

**Yokai** · 16th February 2005, 14:51

Originally Posted by Sniper_CBR

When do you guys tighten your chain? How many kms?

You have to tighten it? eep.... I only just found out that I need to lube it! good grief!

**Sniper** · 16th February 2005, 14:52

Hehehe, you said lube.

I check and tighten my chain every 500km or so, is that ok?

**MrMelon** · 16th February 2005, 14:53

Just check it every 1000km's or so and if it's got more than 25mm of free play then tighten it till it's got 20-25mm. It shouldn't need tightening every time.

Some more info here with pics

**BM-GS** · 16th February 2005, 14:57

Depends how many kms you do. If I was doing 100km/day, I'd check it when I checked my tyre pressures/condition - every week. If I was doing 10km/day, probably every coupla weeks.

Or if I'd been riding in the rain a lot, or in the dust, or if the gearchange gets loud/difficult/whatever (check others with your type of bike to find out the peculiarities), then at the weekend or when I was fiddling with something else on the bike.

However, I'm a smug, shaft-driven bugger now - so I don't care... until service time...

**bugjuice** · 16th February 2005, 14:58

depends on what bike, how old the chain is, the weather, and how you ride..

EG - a new chain in the summer on a kamakasi rider on a Busa will need tightening more often at the beginning of the chains life, cos it'll stretch heaps..
On the other hand, if it's on a CBR250, the chain has been on for donkeys years, but still free to move (no stiff links) and lubed up well, and isn't overly stressed, you'd probably forget it needs doing!
That's what I've been led to believe

Just check it every so often. I tap my foot under the chain, see how loose it is, and how much slaps the swing arm. If it's heaps, might be time to tighten it.. Should be like MM said, about 20mm or so from top to bottom at the tightest point of the chain..

**Sniper** · 16th February 2005, 15:03

Yep, my manual says 20-25mm of slack

**MikeL** · 16th February 2005, 15:57

I have just tightened my XJR chain at 30 000 and it was only just nearing the maximum play (30mm). The last time it was done was at 23 500. With the Scottoiler you tend to forget about chain maintenance...
But it's a good idea to check it at least every 1000 km anyway.

**vifferman** · 16th February 2005, 16:03

Originally Posted by Sniper_CBR

When do you guys tighten your chain? How many kms?

When it needs it.

**Motu** · 16th February 2005, 16:27

And I sold my shaft drive bike,damn,that was dumb!

**scumdog** · 16th February 2005, 16:30

Chain? wassa chain? They had them at the freezing works when I was there!

**Biff** · 17th February 2005, 15:12

I'm with the, "when it needs it" gang. Read your bike destruction manual and it'll tell you what kind of slack there should be.

On average I believe that it should be between 1-1.5". Don't forget to turn the back wheel in order to check the chain in different sections; you'll be surprised (I was) how much difference there can be in some areas compared to others.

If anyone can explain why this I'd love to know.