Forum

[Scalyback]

I adjusted Tornado's chain and have about 2-3cm slack, Is this to little as today, I got some right vibrations through the footrests when running steady or engine braking.



He ran normally under acceleration.



I did this yesterday, then went for a ride and an engine stud got loose with the nuts coming undone.



The chain does not feel tight, but have i not left enough slack this time? (Moved the snails two positions)













tabellarius de verbis ostensor gaudium

[papasmurf]

Did you check the slack with someone sitting on the bike, with the bike upright and off of the stands?

[Les]

When I was chatting to an Enfield owner some time ago about chain adjustment using the snail cams and the inability to be able to make fine adjustments with that type of system his opinion was if you have a choice of a bit tight or slack near the max allowed go for the slack option, he has found no problems with this and found much less chain wear, I have used this method without issues I have done 1000 miles since the last adjustment and still ok

[PeteF]

I give it 2 inches on the centre stand.

[jaffa90]

As said really, 3cm with somebody your weight sat on bike BOTH FEET UP (chock the side stand until near vertical) this may lead to 2" 5cm on the centre stand with no weight.

[Scalyback]

Sitting on it?



Is this to do with the geometry of the swinging arm?



Damn, I had better go check as I only ever did chains on the centre stand!



So are we saying that sitting on the bike could take all the slack up? Bugger! I will check in the morning, Thanks guys!

[Adrian]

All due to the fact that the swinging arm pivot is not concentric with the gearbox mainshaft but sits behind it! A.

[Thack]

Indeed. The chain is at its tightest when the gearbox sprocket, swing arm pivot and rear wheel axle are all in a straight line.

[papasmurf]

Also never check the slack at one point, because there is no such thing as a concentric rear chain sprocket when it is bolted on.

[Adrian]

Many of us will have bikes with the integral rear brake drum and sprocket, but it still wouldn't hurt to check in several places along the chain run. A