Chain Adjustment

[TusherTLR]

Hey guys/gals,

When I was out for a ride on the weekend with a fellow TLR owner, we noticed that his chain was WAY too loose. I knew that I had recently adjusted mine...after installing the 16t front sprocket . So after feeling his sloppy chain, I proudly brought him over to mine to show him how it shoud be...voila...TIGHT AS HELL!! I mean 1/4 inch on the sidestand! I proceeded to adjust it when I got home, and this is what I found out...

Once I loosened the axle bolt and spacer lock nuts, I gave the adjusting screw 1 flat spot looser. I then felt the chain, and it felt too loose, so I put the adjusting screw back to where it was. It still felt too loose! So I put the axle nut back on, and torqued 'er up...checked the chain...way too tight! I loosened the axle nut, and due to the number of turns that there was pressure on the nut, my conclusion is that there is a lot of flex/movement in the swingarm. After I loosened the nut again, I checked the chain...loose! Basically, it took me quite a few times of trial and error to get it right. It was wierd havin it way to loose, and still loosening (basically guessing) it in order to have it tighten with the main nut.

Anyone else find this, or is mine just wierd?

[kevh]

it isnt the swingarm that is causing this. look at the block on the side that the axle tightens on. the hole is way too big so whn you tighten the axle, it moves in the hole (towards the rear of the bike since that is the direction of force) causing the chain to tighten. there is at least 1/4 in of play because of the size of that hole. basically, your chain adjusters arent doing crap. i have heard of some peeps swapping the axle around so the nut is on the brake side and it helps. or you could do like i did and get the rear axle spacer from intuitive race products. it is a replacement block with the correct size hole. whalla...problem fixed

[TLR67]

Great tip.. I'm going to try that tonight.. I have to adjust my damn 520 every 3 rides or so... But then again I have to change tires by then anyway...

[TusherTLR]

That explains the picture that someone posted a while back entitled 'What's Different' or something like that. I think Fabri-Tech had an eagle eye to notice this...when I asked him about it, he just said that it made it easier as he was right handed...this makes more sense to me now

[wreckah]

i guess it's a combined thing: the swingarm does 'compress' when you tighten the axle bolt. the last ten turns or so you really have to put some force into it...

[klhoskins]

Flip it

Flip that axle ASAP. I used to fight with chain tension everytime I took the wheel off. SD said to flip it now it's no problem...

[N2wheelies]

or do what i do and simply adjust your chain tension by counting how many flats you turn the adjusters. one flat usually is enough or slightly too much when i think its time for adjustment.

what is the reasoning behind flipping the axle bolt?

[Steve TLS]

Originally posted by N2wheelies
what is the reasoning behind flipping the axle bolt?

With the nut on the left side, when you tighten it up, the axle wants to rotate and move back, when you put it in the other way around, the axle tries to move forward as you do it up so it stays firm and snug on the adjusting blocks.


How many of you guys use a torque wrench when doing the axle nut up?

[N2wheelies]

ive always just kicked the tire a few times when the nut would start to firm up. ill give the flip deal a try.

i use a torque wrench

[russomf]

torque wrench? one grunt=80ft*lbs

[Steve TLS]

Anyone seen or used the nifty little laser alignment tools? Hold it flat on the rear sproket and use the beam to align the sprocket straight with the chain?

I've seen them in mags for about $135AUD or something. I was thinking of making one, I can get a laser pointer pen for about $10AUD, and get the guys in the machine shop to mill up a block for me to hold the laser etc.

A quick search found me this one Click here

[SDTLR]

Originally posted by russomf
torque wrench? one grunt=80ft*lbs

Flip it

[TLForever]

Originally posted by Steve TLS
With the nut on the left side, when you tighten it up, the axle wants to rotate and move back, when you put it in the other way around, the axle tries to move forward as you do it up so it stays firm and snug on the adjusting blocks.


How many of you guys use a torque wrench when doing the axle nut up?

Hi, I'm interested to perform this tweak. But I can't really get it. Can someone tell me a step-by-step instruction. That would be very nice! I think I need to perform this because my chain would also get loose very fast. I'm using a DID 520ERV and AFAM rear and front sprockets. ( 17 th, 39 th ) Does the problem of the chain keeps getting loose lies in the chain? I used DID 520ERV because people tell me that they are supposely good for the bike. However the stock size for a TL1000R chain is a 530, am i right?

[Steve TLS]

Seems a few people have to adjust their 520's more often than normal. 530 is the standard size.

The mod?

Remove the axle nut, slide the axle all the way out, it should come out of the brake side. Now insert it from the sprocket side, put the nut on which now goes on the RHS instead of the LHS. It's that simple.


Also remember, when adjusting your chain, it gets tighter as the suspension compresses, allow for this so it doesn't bind when the suspension is loaded up.

[GXRKLR]

German torque, gouten tight.