[tmoreau]

I think I need to tighten up my chain, I did it once going by the directions in the manual but it seemed too tight so I backed off a little. Is it neccasary to compress the suspension like they say? Do you have to uncompress it to adjust then compress it again to check the tightness? Finally, how much slack to you actually leave? I tightened it so that in the middle the chain would only move 3/8" as the book says but that was too tight, is that measurement the slack it has if you pull the chain up/down as far as it will go? Please forgive the ignorance, this is the first chain drive machine I have had and I dont want to ruin it!

 

[razorglare]

I adjusted mine without doing anythign to the suspension. I just tighten up with a little play left in it. I just did the play by feel no measurement. Seems to work fine. I think too tight is bad, like if you tighen until there is no play in it. And too loose it drags on the frame. I just put inbetween that.

 

[powerslider]

You have to compress the suspension until the swingarm is parallel to the ground, at this point in the suspensions travel arc the chain will be the tightest as the axle is furthest away from the countershaft sprocket. If you don't adjust it this way you risk having it too tight which will cause excessive strain/wear on the chain, sprockets, rear bearings and countershaft...

 

[razorglare]

ahh, cool that makes sense, thank man. I'll have to check that on mine.

 

[powerslider]

I just hate to see you guys risk premature wear n tear and your hard earned money, there's usually a pretty good reason why the service manuals put you through the proceedure's they do on adjustments and maintenance items.....