Forum

[Revband]

On most bikes the correct way to adjust the chain is with the suspension compressed, but, most makers give a figure that is looser than required to allow you to adjust it more easily with the bike on the stand, compressing the suspension then tightens the chain.

Velocette chains should be adjusted with the rear shocks removed and a solid bar the correct length in their place,

I guess you removed the chain with the bike in the same condition as it is now so despite everyone's best guess only seeing the bike will determine where the problem lies.Good luck I am sure all will become clear very soon.

PS, I hope it's not possible you had another chain laid around which got mixed up, did you?.

[Revband]

Hi Beamish, it looks like our posts crossed, no I don't have a low opinion of you, but I do sometimes have a low opinion of some of the advice given on here, sorry if I gave that impression.

[Bet]

Reminds me of when a half-link went astray. Loads of head scratching til I looked in the grease pan.

[Scalyback]

Of course they shrink, but only when lubed after being dry. the lubrication gets in between the metal surfaces. When your chain dries out, it will be a tad longer as there is no lube in between the surfaces and they can touch each other and it get's longer! YAY! the shrinking chain!

[Revband]

Gee Scaly, you must use thick oil, but seriously wheel moved forward as far as possible "bow tight", methinks it's not just oil.

[Tim NZ]

How did you managed to remove the rear brake shoes without disturbing the snail cam adjuster?

[Mark M]

I did come across a situation (not mine) when a friend had the chain lock up, it turned out he'd dropped a nut which landed perfectly on one of the gearbox sprocket teeth jamming the chain. From your description that is unlikely but something similar? And confession time, I've just lubed and replaced the chain on my Bullet Trials and that has gone very tight too so I need to investigate....

REgards, Mark

[Dennis C]

As Scalyback says when a chain has been removed and soaked in oil the oil will be in every link and over 100+ links will make the chain a bit tighter.

[beamish]

Roll of drums, trumpet fanfare, bring on the dancing girls - problem resolved. I am so glad that this is a web site and that I am hiding behind a pseudonym so you can't see my blushes! It turns out that I had contrived to thread the chain round the Kick start shaft - a thing that is remarkably easy to do on an EFI - it being very close proximity to the drive sprocket. So as always thanks for all your contributions - I had not anticipated such a lively debate. Revband I really did not take any offence, I was just joshing you a little. So everything in the garden is rosy? Well not quite! In rerouting the chain I have managed to jam a few links behind the drive sprocket which is now proving a problem to free. And the moral of this story? Always have an old chain handy to link into your new chain, and which will later pull the new clean chain back into position. I have known this for decades, but not having such a chain handy thought "What the Hell!" Another fine mess you've got me into!

[papasmurf]

I shouldn't laugh, I really shouldn't, but I suspect when it comes to making the odd stupid cockup no-one here can cast the first stone.