Slack chain.

[The Pastor]

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]

It's a new chain. It will stretch. Are you sure you counted the links right?

[AllanB]

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

[Racey Rider]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

$20.00? There's ya problem!

[bogan]

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]

$20.00? There's ya problem!

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