Chain-driven Motorcycles - Question

[Deleted User 287]

My chain on my CBR250R has the proper 1" slack at it's loosest point, but it is pretty tight at the tighter points.

Is this bad news? There is not much over 1000 miles on it. I hope my dealer didn't ruin my chain.

~ Rob, learning in Indianapolis

[Bob Bennett]

To my mind the chain should always have 1" slack no matter, ie' if you spin the wheel the chain should not vary in
tension if it does it's stretched in some part of it's length.
Does it have a center stand? we use 2 milk crates for Alisons bike.

[Zombie Master]

The chain must have the specified minimum clearance at the tightest spot. If the dealer set the chain so that there is less than the specified slack at any point, then yes, the dealer may have ruined your chain and transmission output bearings, not to mention possibly causing you to have an accident. He should pick up the bike and at the very least replace your chain. With 1000 miles, the chain should still be uniform for the full run of the chain. As you farkle out your ride, I hope you would install a chain oiler. The chain on my Shitzuki with over 100HP has 30,000 miles and has no tight spots.

[Major Softie]

An off center sprocket can cause this problem as well, but, whatever the cause, the dealer should recognize it and deal with it.

[Deleted User 287]

I have examined it more closely, and it does indeed have nearly 1" slack around nearly the entire run.
There is one spot where it is tighter than the rest, but there is still @ 1/2" (ish).

The bike does not have a center stand, but I have installed rollers on the swingarm and I have a rear stand.

The Lubeman is on the shelf waiting to go on. I don't mind admitting to being a little intimidated by it's installation.
That will go away after it is installed.

[Zombie Master]

I have examined it more closely, and it does indeed have nearly 1" slack around nearly the entire run.
There is one spot where it is tighter than the rest, but there is still @ 1/2" (ish).

The bike does not have a center stand, but I have installed rollers on the swingarm and I have a rear stand.

The Lubeman is on the shelf waiting to go on. I don't mind admitting to being a little intimidated by it's installation.
That will go away after it is installed.

If the chain has a spot with only 1/2 inch....think about when you hit a bump and the tight spot happens to be at the worse spot when the swing arm needs to move. It could cause handling problems, even the dreaded tank slapper. It's going to yank at your countershaft hard.

The Lubeman can be mounted in many ways. A friend just installed the dual sided delivery by tapping a hole in his swing arm and screwing on a bent piece of stainless. Looks really good and so simple. Make sure the bottle is vented properly!

[Deleted User 287]

Yeah, I'm not riding the bike until I adjust it.

What do you think of this video how-to? http://youtu.be/zB4DsHV8SAQ


We will talk more about the Lubeman as it progresses. I know the bottle needs to go "one way". I'm just not sure which way that is. I haven't looked at the instruction page since last Fall/Winter. I will review them again.

[Zombie Master]

Yeah, I'm not riding the bike until I adjust it.

What do you think of this video how-to? http://youtu.be/zB4DsHV8SAQ


We will talk more about the Lubeman as it progresses. I know the bottle needs to go "one way". I'm just not sure which way that is. I haven't looked at the instruction page since last Fall/Winter. I will review them again.

Video is good. One thing that often happens is that owners adjusting their chains have the axle nut too loose during adjustment, so when the tighten up the axle after the adjustment there can be too little slack. I like to spray some WD40 on the chain adjusters and wipe them off before making the adjustment. The procedure is not unlike adjusting tappets on an R65, as far as getting the adjustment correct.

Once you have checked that the wheel alignment marks are correct, as per video, you can trust them for further adjustments.

When touring and If you don't have a centerstand, you can take a piece of 2x4 and cut it to the correct size so that you can push the bike over the extended side stand to get the rear wheel off the ground and prop the bike up by shoving the 2x4 under the right foot peg or some part of the under carriage directly across from the side stand. Putting a heavy rubber band over the throttle to the brake lever will actuate the brake and keep the bike from moving during the adjustment. Forgetting to remove the rubber band after will assure you a seat in congress.

[Garnet]

My chain on my CBR250R has the proper 1" slack at it's loosest point, but it is pretty tight at the tighter points.

Is this bad news? There is not much over 1000 miles on it. I hope my dealer didn't ruin my chain.

~ Rob, learning in Indianapolis

My CBR125 calls for 30-40mm of slack in the midpoint of the chain. Does the 250 have a shorter chain?
I have just over 1200kms or about 750 miles on it and the slack has hardly changed.

[Chuey]

Honda makes motorcycles with chain drive? Really? They stole that idea from bicycles!

Chuey