• Guides
    • Learn to Ride
    • Motorcycle Guides
    • Gear Guides
    • Motorcycle Basics
  • Best Of Lists
    • Best Bikes
    • Best Gear
    • Beginner Bikes
  • Motorcycles
    • Motorcycle Guides
    • All Motorcycle Posts
    • Bike Comparisons
    • Motorcycle Reviews
    • Best Beginner Bikes
    • Best Bike Lists
  • Gear
    • Gear Guides
    • All Gear Posts
    • Product Reviews
    • Motorcycle Helmets
    • Motorcycle Gloves
    • Motorcycle Jackets
    • Motorcycle Boots
    • Motorcycle Pants
  • Learn
    • Bike Basics
    • Learn to Ride
    • Beginners Guide
    • FAQs
    • Guides
    • How To’s
    • Learn to Ride
    • Maintenance
    • eBook
  • Shop
  • Subscribe
Reading
Loose Chain?
ShareTweet
BBM Home
Forums
General
Loose Chain?
  • This topic has 3 replies, 3 voices, and was last updated 14 years, 3 months ago by ilnam.
Viewing 4 posts - 1 through 4 (of 4 total)

Loose Chain?

  • Author
    Posts
  • October 7, 2008 at 2:02 am #2211
    Andrew
    Participant

    So I was cleaning the chain tonight for the first time and after I took off the guard I noticed some shallow grooves under the chain where it passes over the frame just in front of the rear wheel. I don’t think it’s the frame itself but it’s whatever is on top of that. Now that seems to me like it shouldn’t happen. Is the chain too loose?

    October 7, 2008 at 7:25 am #13444
    Rab
    Participant

    The 3 bikes I’ve had all had a plastic rub plate on top of the swing-arm near the “engine end” of the swing-arm. Above the foot peg area.

    It’s plastic, is flat and has a raised bar along the middle which goes in between the side-plates of the chain. If yours is shitted-up with lube and dirt, it might look like it’s grooved.

    Your owners manual should tell you what the permissable chain slack is (measured with bike on side-stand). Usually about an inch of slack is good but check your manual. If it’s near double what the manual says then you must adjust it or risk throwing or breaking the chain (which can be very nasty).

    Most say you should clean/lube your chain every 250-500 miles. I do mine every week-end (at ~300 miles) and paint on (and wipe-off) 80W-90 gear oil for lubrication instead of that sticky spray goo lubricant (which seems to form a grinding paste).

    October 7, 2008 at 1:35 pm #13449
    Andrew
    Participant

    It may be plastic. I’ll have a closer look tonight.

    October 7, 2008 at 2:05 pm #13453
    ilnam
    Participant

    my chain had too much slack, so I checked the manual for increasing the tension. It was not the erector set instructions that I was used to. I figured this is pretty basic maintenance, but I suck. I looked for a service manual for my 07 gs500f, but the ones online are for ’89 – ’06. I’m not sure what’s up with the ’07 and ’08, but there was only one site that listed an ’07 manual, and I wasn’t sure if that was correct or just their typo. So I guess I can call a dealer and get one from them right? I went back to the OM and the instructions regarding cotter pin, axle nuts, and inline sprockets (with no pictures) still seemed too complex for me. It’s currently with the mechanic, but how doable is?

  • Author
    Posts
Viewing 4 posts - 1 through 4 (of 4 total)
  • You must be logged in to reply to this topic.
Log In
  • Subscribe
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Notice
  • Terms of Service
  • Disclosures
  • Shop
Copyright ©, All Rights Reserved
  • Guides
    • Learn to Ride
    • Motorcycle Guides
    • Gear Guides
    • Motorcycle Basics
  • Best Of Lists
    • Best Bikes
    • Best Gear
    • Beginner Bikes
  • Motorcycles
    • Motorcycle Guides
    • All Motorcycle Posts
    • Bike Comparisons
    • Motorcycle Reviews
    • Best Beginner Bikes
    • Best Bike Lists
  • Gear
    • Gear Guides
    • All Gear Posts
    • Product Reviews
    • Motorcycle Helmets
    • Motorcycle Gloves
    • Motorcycle Jackets
    • Motorcycle Boots
    • Motorcycle Pants
  • Learn
    • Bike Basics
    • Learn to Ride
    • Beginners Guide
    • FAQs
    • Guides
    • How To’s
    • Learn to Ride
    • Maintenance
    • eBook
  • Shop
Start typing to see results or hit ESC to close
Product Review honda products tips motorcycles
See all results

SUBSCRIBE TODAY

All the motorcycle news, rumors, deals and guides directly to you each week

Motorcycle Basics