How often do you adjust your chain?

[Thorby]

Speaking of medications needed ..

Last few days a noise came up on my bike with an occassional clunk.  It's driving me nuts, I need to check the chain for too much slackness, as soon as I get back home to my bike (I drove my car today due to a chance of rain).

[Cabreco]

Thorby wrote

Speaking of medications needed ..

Last few days a noise came up on my bike with an occassional clunk.

I'll bet you have a chrome/metal chain guard?

[Thorby]

I do, Cabreco.  I did check the chain and it was too loose.  I tightened it and now... it's too tight, bringing a whole new different noise like I'm messing up the drive sprocket bearing.

[Cabreco]

Thorby wrote

I do, Cabreco.  I did check the chain and it was too loose.  I tightened it and now... it's too tight, bringing a whole new different noise like I'm messing up the drive sprocket bearing.

This are the videos I used to tighten mine. This is actually more suited for you since it's a 1975

[Cabreco]

Thornby,

it's better off too loose than too tight! - The chain that is (lol)

[shinyribs]

Andy,you are having too much fun with this thread! I did find this cool pic while googling for chain info during all of this

"Is my clutch slipping....????"

[Cabreco]

I would hate to be the guy behind him!
Imagine getting slapped across the chest with that thing at speed???

& I though dragonflies hurt! (lol)

[wes]

thanks for psting that video cab. ive been havin problems with my chain, noise, goin slack, etc... i see that fellow in the video adjusted his with the bike on the center stand. i tried to do mine with the kick stand. ive orderd a center stand from a really cool fellow here on the forum.  i wonder if the center stand or kick stand makes a difference. im also wonderin if i might have over tightend the axle bolt. i would think you really wouldnt want that thing to come lose. maybe i over did it and thats where the latest noise is comin from. any thoughts from the board???

[Cabreco]

wes wrote

 i wonder if the center stand or kick stand makes a difference.

On the center stand, the weight is off the wheel thus the swigarm is full extented. On the side stand the swing arm is compressed tightening the chain. & when you get on, you change the slack of the cain again. I usually have someone check the slack with me on the bike off the stands BEFORE I lock down the axle.

wes wrote

im also wonderin if i might have over tightend the axle bolt. i would think you really wouldnt want that thing to come lose. maybe i over did it and thats where the latest noise is comin from. any thoughts from the board???

I tighten it just past snug to the 1st avaible notch the cotter pin goes into without forcing it. (make sure the pin is good)  I avoid using a ratchet & use a box wrench with 2 fingers on it.

[Thorby]

Cabreco wrote

I would hate to be the guy behind him!
Imagine getting slapped across the chest with that thing at speed???

& I though dragonflies hurt! (lol)

Coincidentally I caught my first dragonfly yesterday, on my visor, at 55 mph.  It spooked me a good bit.

[wes]

i have a small crack in the front window of my truck from a rock. i imagine that thing would have taken an eye out, easily taken ut a tooth. im scared to ride on the highway without  a full face helmet. this year we also have those giant cicadid bugs. i probaly spelled that wrong, its the bug that lives in a tree for like 11 yrs before it sprouts wings and flies. i do love the noise they make at night though.

[Truck]

Lets hear it for shaft drives!!!  No muss, no fuss

[Piute]

    From Aug 1st
  to 16th tightened chain bit more then 1/4 turn,at work seemed to tight loosened even 1/4 now.

[sgtslag]

Shaft drive is nice, but belt (final) drive is my favorite...  Looked into a conversion kit for my 750, the second year I had it, but it would have cost around $500.  Each drive mechanism has its qualities, and they each have their drawbacks.  Belt, though, is da' bomb, Baby.  Wish it was more common -- or easier to convert to, from chain!    Cheers!

[shinyribs]

Sarge,I looked for a very long time for a belt conversion for a SOHC 750. What I came up with was that when Gates had it in R&D that they had problems with the belt lasting only a few hours. Apparently the tension required to make a belt drive operate properly is too much of a side load for the output bearings for a SOHC 750. In an attempt to develop a system that would work with lighter tension,Gates found it impossible. And they know belts. Some of the stuff I found was written by an employee who actually worked on the project personally. He guaranteed that Gates tried diligently to make the system work because of the demand for a SOHC 750 belt drive,but that it was just not possible with things being what they were.

That being said,if someone offers a belt drive for a DOHC 750... I'd jump on it with both feet!


Oh,and FWIW,the FSM for the SOHC 750 calls for the chain to be adjusted while the bike is on the center stand. I use the side stand personally. If it really concerns you,adjust it on the center stand according to the FSM,then drop the bike onto the side stand. Take note of the slack you have and just go with that from now on. Lazy guy not wanting to use the center stand trick. Plus,clubmans make for horrible leverage when attempting to center stand your bike. You'll strain your pudding...

I'm at around 600 miles on my new chain and have not adjusted it one bit. You have no idea how happy I am with that.

[Piute]

   Looking at New Chain N Gears during down time,Staying with the 630 chain,You know me over kill on everything,Will not have A chain break on me again,
   My chain is stk. seem to have plenty of life left.But see what the new 15T does over time to it ,Should be fine,