Re: Tips for installing a new chain

Posted by Peterwh on Sep 29, 2011; 10:45am
URL: http://vintage-and-classic-hondas.81.s1.nabble.com/Tips-for-installing-a-new-chain-tp3378183p3378928.html

Don't make it too tight.  It's a fine balance.  You could look at the post I made a couple of weeks ago.  I made just about every mistake possible.  The main one was that I gauged the length of the chain with the bike on the centre stand.  I cut the chain to the length I thought I needed then, when I tried to put it on, it was too tight.  So, I removed the axle and rotated the chain tensioners out of the way to get the chain on.  Then, when I got the chain on, I couldn't get the axle in, nor could I rotate the tensioners back into position.  I took the bike off the stand and it was even worse because of the effect of rotation of the swing arm.  At 10 pm Saturday night I ended up re-breaking the chain and adding a link back - not a particularly easy task.  The problem is, you don't want it too tight but you don't want it too slack either.  With the link added back I'm almost fully extended on the chain tensioner again.  I must have fitted and removed the forward sprocket guard and the gear shift cover three or four times that day.