Drive Chain Tension

[CDNRatMan]

  Yes I have never been called a gentleman so I know that is not me.

DriftinGirl has it right too

It's not so much flashing as a convienence thing....a roll in the fluffy snow after a sauna, a walk on the beach and you forgot your swimsuit, need to get stuff from the backyard and it is a downpour...Clothing would just be a bother

but then some people are just too uptight about clothing.......

[DC]

now I know that this is not about me, and if you used that word it must be about PC then.....

Are you sure?  Are you quite sure?

[DriftinGirl]

With all this flashing talk around here , you know it's getting very close for the snow to fly in the great north . I was told by Driftingirl it's a Canadian thing ?

It's not so much flashing as a convienence thing....a roll in the fluffy snow after a sauna, a walk on the beach and you forgot your swimsuit, need to get stuff from the backyard and it is a downpour...Clothing would just be a bother.   

[Drift1]

With all this flashing talk around here , you know it's getting very close for the snow to fly in the great north . I was told by Driftingirl it's a Canadian thing ?

as far as the windshield goes I've seen some pics of them done ratman and it looks great imop .

[CDNRatMan]

If a certain gentleman sees this word

now I know that this is not about me, and if you used that word it must be about PC then.....

[DC]

I get flashing when I have low blood sugar....

If a certain gentleman sees this word, I am concerned it will encourage him to perform certain visual spectacles, which are not yet ready for prime time.

[CDNRatMan]

 PC you are now safe, GreenBarn you are just riding the edge now, I make a serious post and you hammer me.....I have a picture for you now......

[greenbarn]

, after my buddy mentioned it as he was riding in front of me, and would get flashes in his mirrors. ....

So after subjecting your buddy with all that flashing, how's he dealing with those images that just won't go away???     Was it the "snow angel suit" again??? 

[Troll]

I get flashing when I have low blood sugar....

[CDNRatMan]

 KW; this is the first bike I have owned with a wind screen, and after this weekend riding in the rain I want to kick myself, (ok no peanut gallery remarks) it is nice to have. Was after I added the spotlights an went for a ride on a really sunny day, noticed the flashing of what I thought was the spotlights on the speed limit signs along the road. So I went and got my manual and made sure that all my lights are properly aligned. Yes peanut gallery was slow on this issue, but saw the flashes on the signs again afterwards, then figured out it is the big chrome piece on the windscreen, after my buddy mentioned it as he was riding in front of me, and would get flashes in his mirrors. But in the same thought wonder if that flashing out front is not a good thing to let people on coming or at an intersection that I am there.....another thought.
I'll have to go and look at all the pics of your bike before and after pictures that you have been keeping.......

[kw-retrorider]

Ratman: A practical reason for blackening within line of sight is that when I first put the factory teardrop windscreen back on, all the chrome and polished aluminum reflected up on the windscreen. Now all I see is the horizontal pieces of chrome handlebar, just above the windscreen crossbar. Have tried the bike without the windscreen for the summer, but like it better on and now happy to have reduced reflected shiny objects, so screen on and game on.

Black powdercoat on the windscreen braces/brackets would look good on your bike.

Chain tension was fine when checked at various spots, and obviously smoother driveability. Thx.

[CDNRatMan]

  Boy should not be surprised at you about that , name like GreenBarn so you would name your son The Boy. But about the chain it sounds like something is moving as you are tightening it up. That is my guess.

[greenbarn]

I've not had too much trouble on the drifter, but we have had a heck of a time getting the boy's suzuki right.  We'll get the chain tension right where we want it but then as soon as we tighten the axle, the chain gets too tight.  Loosen the axle, adjust the chain, tighten the axle, too tight again.

I finally just barely loosened the axle, then adjusted the tension, then re-tightened the axle.  This took several tries to get it right, had to leave it looser than we wanted, then it tightens up a bit to be "just right".

Anybody ever have this problem??

[CDNRatMan]

   Dude that looks almost like mine so cool, Going to replace my windscreen this winter and thinking of removing the chrome on it and getting it powder coated too ....not sure yet will think it over, a few more months to thrash it about.

[kw-retrorider]

Thanks for the additional info. For Ratman; here's the pic of my wanna be blacked out 800...

[CDNRatMan]

  KW just to let you know we are visual people here and need pictures of all changes, additions, modifications......ok....lol.......

I used to do my 750 four on the center stand till a really old guy , rider since the crack of the new world, he was even older then Troll is today. He was the one told me to always do it on a side stand, center stand adds weight to the chain (tension). He also told me to loosen the rear nuts on the adjustment screw first then the axle bolt, this keeps things from shifting on you. Same as for the tightening, he said to get the alignment right and the tension on the chain and correct, then tighten the axle bolt snug to keep it from moving.
I have a buddy who is a machinist and so had him line my adjusters up and make then so close it is hard to tell the difference, so one of the measurements I use is the length of the bolt to the frame, always use a frame part that is not moveable and have one on each side. Just checked the chain and after this week and 1700 kms or 1056.3599 miles the chain is still good and in the right slack adjustment. I also think the quality of chain is a huge issue on the amount you have to adjust it.

[Troll]

I did the chain adj. on the center stand at first, but I was wondering why I was having to do it more frequently than other chain drive bikes I had in the past. I decided to adjust the chain the same way I did on my SuperGlide, and have been able to eliminate half of the adjustments.  I've got 6,000 miles on the Drifter and almost 1,000 on the W so far...and I haven't had to adjust the W's chain yet. I check it every time I ride it, but the slack seems to remain the same..

[kw-retrorider]

Thanks guys. I thought I'd go to the forum before generic internet, but the video was good. So at least I adjusted for total slack. Doing this on the side stand with the rear wheel in a roller, so will go back and rotate the wheel and take measurements in several place before I call it done.

I will say that the adjuster marks are not "exactly" in the same place on both sides. When I got the machine, it went straight to the dealer for carb rebuild and tires, so they did the first adjustment. When I did my first adjustment, I noticed the slight mismatch, but did not work to get them the same; only to adjust the same amount on each side...since I had no driveability issues and still do not see any unusual chain, sprocket or tire wear. So I have dismissed those marks as an absolute check on alignment, but I like the idea of taking measurements on the swing arm. Will try that today if it's possible. The guy on the video was working on a stripped down bike, so we'll see.

Troll: Interesting comment on the W650, because you know I have one too. When I do that next, I'll check the difference on and off the center stand. So you do the W650 on the side stand too?

Ratman: In other news, installed a black top triple tree and risers to my black 2002 and like the look. Trying to keep the chrome reflection down. Have black handlebars, but perhaps a project for another day.

Thanks again guys.

[CDNRatMan]

  I follow that pretty much the same but the part about putting anything in the chain.
I loosen the rear chain adjusters bolts then loosen the axle bolt.
Now according to the book I have it says check the slack with the bike on the side stand, check the wheel alignment, move the chain at the midway point between the sprockets, 0.98 to 1.38 in is the standard. I use the notches as a reference only then I measure to make sure that the adjusters are the same length because I have mine the same size and they ate identical. But like the guy in the vid I use a couple of points to measure from.
once the chain is to the correct tension I then tighten the axle bolt and then the rear tension bolts to ensure the axle does not move as I sung  up the bolts.

[Troll]

My W-650 owner's manual says to adjust the chain with the bike on the center stand...If you do that, it's too loose while it's on the ground. I have always adjusted chains so the total slack, at the tightest point (it is important) is 1 inch, from all the way down to all the way up...not just hanging freeplay, but the amount you can move it using moderate hand pressure...here's a you tube video...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zB4DsHV8SAQ
It's really more of an art than a science...but, what I would do is have somebody your weight sit on the bike and hold it upright, while you check to see how tight/loose it is after you get a feel for that, it should be easier to judge where you're at...

[kw-retrorider]

So, perhaps a rookie question, but as I went to adjust my chain today,  I noticed that there is a difference between the service manual and owners manual in how you check the chain tension. Both indicate the range of  slack is 1 to 1.4 inches.
-  The service manual shows a picture measuring from where the chain is at rest to where you can pull it down to.
- The owner's manual shows it as the distance above and below where the chain is at rest.
Seems to me as I have been measuring, those two adjustments are significantly different.  Since I was looking at the owner's manual this time, I measured the whole distance above and below, which made me tighten the chain significantly (I'll admit, it's been 2500 miles...my bad)...but before I pop the thing because it's too tight....Any thoughts from the more experience Drfiters in the group....or Troll....the Harley ex-chain man?