In another thread we aligned the rear wheel. http://www.600riders.com/forum/how-tos/40463-how-string-align-your-rear-wheel.html and this gets the rear wheel aligned to the bikes chassis. Because chains stretch and sprockets wear the axle needs moved occasionally to keep the chains slack correct.
With a set of feeler gauges you can easily adjust the chains slack evenly on both sides without having to use the string or the factory hash marks which do not offer proper resolution for the task they were intended to perform!
Prerequisite: The REAR WHEEL SHOULD BE PROPERLY ALIGNED! If this is true, use this method!
That's it! All done and it took less than 10 minutes! Go get yourself a set of feeler gauges!
With a set of feeler gauges you can easily adjust the chains slack evenly on both sides without having to use the string or the factory hash marks which do not offer proper resolution for the task they were intended to perform!
Prerequisite: The REAR WHEEL SHOULD BE PROPERLY ALIGNED! If this is true, use this method!
- Center stand the bike.
- Measure the chain slack. Spec is: 45.0–55.0 mm (1.77–2.17 in).
- Confirm the adjusters are seated against the axle blocks.
- With bikes wheel chocked and transmission in gear, loosen the rear axle nut. Good Practice is to get it off the center stand first.
- Center stand the bike.
- Pull the rear wheel back a small amount and start by sliding in a feeler gauge that appears to properly tension the chain.
- In the example above a 0.016" provided the proper chain slack. Use one gauge of 0.016" and use two gauges that make the same value/thickness. In this case 0.014" plus 0.002" make 0.016" so these two feeler gauges were inserted together between the adjuster bolt and the axle block.
- Firmly push the wheel ahead. Moderate pressure will hold the feeler gauges in place. Measure the chain slack.
- When the slack is correct, tighten the axle nut firmly but don't knock the bike off the center stand...
- Confirm slack is correct.
- Lower the bike and Tighten Wheel Axle Nut to: 120 Nm (12 m·kg, 87 ft·lb).
- Loosen adjuster bolts/nuts and remove feeler gauges.
- Snug the adjusters so they make firm contact with the axle block and tighten jamb nut.
- Done. . . .
That's it! All done and it took less than 10 minutes! Go get yourself a set of feeler gauges!
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