The chain of the motorcycle is one of the critical pieces for it to work correctly. A reason it is essential to perform adequate maintenance. If this has happened to you, inevitably you have asked yourself how to adjust motorcycle chain? Here, we will answer this question and tell you the steps you have to take because the process is not complicated.
Sometimes, like any component, it is damaged or worn out by the use of the motorcycle. These are the most common problems that affect it and are convenient to put a solution to avoid significant issues. And is that, as the chain is worn, the links are separated, producing its stretch. Also, if it is not well tended, it tends to move more and, there is more wear.
How to adjust motorcycle chain yourself?
At the time of tightening the chain of the motorcycle, it is necessary to be clear that there are three types of tensioners, each having some characteristics and differences. Depending on them, some steps must be taken to tighten the chain:
Screw tensioner: As the name suggests, they are based on a screw, which is responsible for pushing the shaft located on the rear wheel towards the tip of the swingarm.
Nut Tensioner: In this case, the screw is located at the end tip of the swingarm, leaving behind so that the shaft is pulled backward. The shaft is stuck in washers.
Tensioners with eccentric systems: Move the axle forward or backward according to the position of the strange. Today, this system is the least used, although it is likely that your bike has it if it is from the decade of the 70 or 80 in which it was widespread.
Tighten the chain of my bike with eccentric tensioners
Once you know the system or type of tensioner that you have on the bike, you can start to tighten the chain. And is that, although they are different, some steps are common because the mechanisms are quite similar. To tighten the chain and have it in perfect condition, you should:
It is advisable that you upload or place the bike on a kind of easel. So, you can quickly tighten the chain. Then, throw the back wheel back and release the shaft. Finally, turn the eccentric tensioners to one side of the wheel, which will go backward and, therefore, the chain will tighten.
Usually, with this system, you have to take a series of precautions. The main one is that, depending on where you turn, the chain will be further relaxed. In this way, check that you are setting the eccentric in the correct direction and that it is tensing. Also, since there is more than one tensioner, it is vital to verify that the two remain in the same position.
How to tighten the chain of the motorcycle with screw or nut tensioners
The system to tighten the chain of the bike when it has a screw or nut tensioners is very similar in both cases. In addition to having the bike placed on the easel, you must do the following :
- Loosen the nuts, locknuts or washers.
- Tighten or release, according to the direction you have to move the shaft.
- Make sure that the wheel is straight and not to one side to properly tension the chain. To do this, help yourself to the scale that usually leads to both parties.
Look at the proper tension that the chain must have, and that appears in the workshop book or somewhere in the string itself. This value is essential because the pressure of the chain is related to the suspension of the motorcycle, specifically the rear. Thus, if it is too much, the chain will reach its maximum extension and will stretch more with the use, apart from limiting the function of the rear suspension on the bike.
When the chain is already well tightened, tighten the locknuts or nuts and the axle of the rear wheel, making sure that everything is fully fixed. It is advisable to always go to the workshop and consult with professional mechanics for proper maintenance.
