Hitchcocks Forum

Had a lovely ride today but kept hearing a strange noise on my model G , when getting home seems my chain is way too loose , I believe it should be 1.5 inches of play each way , before adjusting just curious how long should it take to complete this job ?.? Looked on YouTube and read my workshop manual so I will complete this tomoz .

Reds

Hi Reds, 1 1/2" each way [total 3"] is way too much. 1" total is more than enough, assuming your rear shocks are of the correct length. Rigid framed machines can cope with their chains being set a little tighter, if required, but even those need at least 1/2" free play, up and down [total]. Regards, Paul.

I give it about 1.5 inches total which seems to work. You'll find the gear change improves as well if the chain tension is OK.

Just been talking to a old friend who said he tighten,s his bike chain by pulling the wheel back ??? i take it this is not the case as tells me completley different procedure in the workshop manual.?

Reds

Reds, you do tighten the chain by pulling the wheel back, with the adjusters. Also check the slack with weight on the bike. The is someone sat on it with their feet on the ground and the stand(s) up.

Well, you don't pull the wheel back hard, just adjust it back using the snail cams. Those cams aren't accurate by the way. Just because your on each cam evenly doesn't mean the wheel is straight in the frame.

Hello, you don't need to have someone on the bike as it is a rigid frame one, and to settle the wheel' no snails but adjusting screws. One thing to look at is to slacken the brake plate arm, on the frame and the brake plate, before any adjustement. Have a look at the chain tension after you have tightened the wheel, sometimes it needs to be resetted once the wheel is alligned. Hope it helps. Claude

Sorry, so used to discussing Bullets, I must read threads properly!

How long does it take? No idea on a model g, but it takes a few minutes on a modern EFI. The procedure is: loosen brake rod, loosen axle nut, pull wheel back, sorts cams, tighten axle nut, check it runs true, adjust brake rod. First time you do it it will take a while, then eventually you'll do it in five mins...

Quite the same time, helped by the rear stand that clears the wheel off the ground, and the lack of the left toolbox, contrary of the WDCO and the J models that have 2 toolboxes. It helps well the tightening of the ajuster.