Help with adjusting chain please.

Wepohn

Wepohn

Wepohn

Associate
Joined
15 Nov 2010
Posts
321
Hey guys, I've adjusted the chain successfully before but I'm having problems this time. I can make it looser and tighter but trying to get the notches on both sides to line up for proper alignment is proving tricky.. no matter how much I loosen or tighten on the right side it doesn't move anywhere. Maybe I'm over looking something pretty simple here but I'd appreciate any help.

Thanks.
 
Just reset completely push the tyre as far towards the front wheel as you can. Then adjust each side equally until the chain is at the correct tension. This should bring the tyre out inline.
 
give the spindle nut a tap with a hammer toward the front wheel while undone,it should push the marks inline then
 
what i do is put a screwdriver between chain and sprocket tooth and gently turn the wheel forwards, the screwdriver gets clamped between the chain and sprocket, this then pulls the chain adjuster ends tight with the swingarm and puts the axle in the right place, i then hold it here with the back brake and tighten the axle nut. then release and let the screwdriver fall out
 
If you've got the bike on a centre stand or paddock stand I'd loosen off the right hand side and give the tyre a boot to free the adjuster off and get it moving again.

But if it's that tight it'd be worth whipping the wheel out to sort the job properly getting the adjuster cleaned up and moving freely.

Never used to rely on the marks for wheel alignment as i had it on good authority they were never that accurate. Luckily got a Ronometer in the garage (wheel alignment bars made by Maxton) so I'd align using that then make sure any small adjustments were made equally on each side.
 
Just a thought - what kind of arrangement does your rear brake caliper have for moving with the wheel/locking to the swinging arm??
 
tl45 said:
Just a thought - what kind of arrangement does your rear brake caliper have for moving with the wheel/locking to the swinging arm??
Click to expand...

Yep, a picture would be helpful.

Most conventional chain adjusters on normal double sides swing arms will only pull the wheel back, turning them the other way will not push the wheel forwards. Therefore you have to apply some force to the wheel to push it forwards after slackening the chain adjuster, I usually use a deadblow hammer against the back of the tyre.

The other thing is not to slacken off the wheel spindle too much when adjusting. If it's really loose then it tends to move the wheel when you tighten it back up, messing up the chain tension. Slacken it off so there is still some friction between the wheel and swingarm, but not so much that you break the chain tensioners obviously!
 
If it's set straight to begin with, I normally turn the adjusters the same amount on each side until the chain is tight enough, so half a turn on each side for example.
 
Was wondering if the rear caliper torque arm or sliding bracket was jammed up or similar not the actual adjuster - on the non-chain side you should usually be able to pull the wheel further back on that side once the spindle nut is loosened off.
 
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