Adjusting Chain
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So yesterday after I installed my new 36t rear sprocket I was out thinking myself and trying to do a super duper rear wheel alignment. The alignment lines on the axle adjusters just did not seem correct for some reason. I had the bike supported from the rafters with the kickstand up and decided the BEST way to ensure the rear wheel was aligned properly was to actually measure the distance between the center of the axles on both sides.
I have a a five foot aluminum ruler so it should be no problem right?
Wife came out to help me and we started measuring. I'g get 47.5 on one side and 47.25 on the other. Make an adjustment and get 47 on the first side and 47.5 on the second. Then I would push the axle forward on one side, measure again and it would be LONGER. WTF? After we did this a dozen times or so I decided I needed a break. I was doing something wrong but did not know what.
So after a bit I came out to try again and my wife came out to help again. Still had the same problem, the measurements kept changing each time we moved to the other side.
Then, my wife, the most non-mechanical person in the world asked.......
Hey if the front wheel turns a little bit when we move from side to side would that change the measurement?
DOAH!!!!!
I used the factory alignment marks and got it right on the money.
LOL
I have a a five foot aluminum ruler so it should be no problem right?
Wife came out to help me and we started measuring. I'g get 47.5 on one side and 47.25 on the other. Make an adjustment and get 47 on the first side and 47.5 on the second. Then I would push the axle forward on one side, measure again and it would be LONGER. WTF? After we did this a dozen times or so I decided I needed a break. I was doing something wrong but did not know what.
So after a bit I came out to try again and my wife came out to help again. Still had the same problem, the measurements kept changing each time we moved to the other side.
Then, my wife, the most non-mechanical person in the world asked.......
Hey if the front wheel turns a little bit when we move from side to side would that change the measurement?
DOAH!!!!!
I used the factory alignment marks and got it right on the money.
LOL
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1,352 Posts
Ouch.
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648 Posts
So after a ride yesterday decided to oil my chain. That went well. The chain also was slightly loose so I adjusted that. Then when I went to tighten the axle nut, it would not tighten. I had somehow stripped the threads well before even torqueing it to specs. Spent about 3 hours trying to get it off....rounded off the left axle bolt in the process. Finally with a breaker bar, penetrating oil, and a torch, I got it off by working first one way then the other. Now I need to replace the axle nut and the axle. I am tempted to put a little copper slip on the threads with the new one even though that is not recommended.
How I could strip threads when the nut was never off is a little unusual. It commonly occurs from cross-threading when you get a nut started wrong, not just loosening, then tightening it.
How I could strip threads when the nut was never off is a little unusual. It commonly occurs from cross-threading when you get a nut started wrong, not just loosening, then tightening it.
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3,802 Posts
I had a Mustang and a Ninja 900 that both came with custom cross threaded nuts right from the factory. It happens.
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648 Posts
I had adjusted mine a couple of months ago since it was too tight. Now it has loosened a little too much and as you know, when you finish tightening the axle nut, it tightens the chain a little more, so I did loosen and tighten the dang nut about 4 times trying to get the tension just right before it screwed up. With this experience, think I will order a couple of axle nuts so I can replace one every time I adjust the chain. That might be better than putting anti-seize on it. An axle nut costs $1.87. The new axle was only $6.03, but I spent hours trying to get the cross-threaded nut off and of course stripped the axle threads too, and would rather not deal with that again.
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648 Posts
My Grom is back on the road. They back-ordered the axle which is now due to arrive any day now, but in the meantime, I went to Lowe's and found a 12 mm. nut with 1.25 fine threads. Even though the axle threads are screwed up (galled, I think it's called), what I did was file the galled areas out, use a die kit to rethread the axle threads, and screwed on the new nut. Since the galled area is not close to the inside threads, there were still plenty of good axle threads engaged when the nut was secured and torqued down. Of course I got the chain adjusted exactly to specs so I may not need to deal with chains and axle bolts for a long time now. I did re-grease the axle while I had the wheel off and cleaned everything up good. When the new axle and nut arrive, I'll just keep them as spares. Planning long ride today. High will be in the 60s.
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618 Posts
If your running stock chain, then you will in few hundred miles
.lol.
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648 Posts
I notice that if you push up on the top section of the chain in the middle between the 2 sprockets and the chain stops just short of touching the chain guide, it will be in specs. It can even lightly touch the chain guide and still be in specs. I don't even need to measure any more.
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302 Posts
If I replace my chain, I want to get a colored one - something like this one in this supermoto forum pic.
![Supermoto Motorcycle Vehicle Racing Motorsport]()
Aprilia sMXV - Page 8
It's totally pointless I guess to bother painting or having your chain painted, but I like it. I've only seen it before on a bicycle, and I think that was just someone using spray paint. I'm going to look into this for whenever I need to replace my chain - if ever. Other places I see 20,000 miles till you replace chain. What do you think?
Aprilia sMXV - Page 8
It's totally pointless I guess to bother painting or having your chain painted, but I like it. I've only seen it before on a bicycle, and I think that was just someone using spray paint. I'm going to look into this for whenever I need to replace my chain - if ever. Other places I see 20,000 miles till you replace chain. What do you think?
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