Big Problem!!!!!!

[ckirtner80]

Okay so I put a new clutch lever on my 05 and I didn't really know what I was doing but I did unloosen the adjustment cable like I found in the post and tightened it back up to what I thought was good tension (here is a question...if I tighten it up too much is will it do anything)  I went for a ride and my chain came off!   Pushed the mofo back home and looked at it.   The screw you use to tighten the chain...and the piece of metal behind it...well the metal was bent in half and had caused my chain to loosen up!   I took it off bent it straight and went for a ride...all of 5 miles and when I got back I was starting to have the same problem again...i'm worried that I have done something bad

[makenzie71]

okay your chain coming off has nothing to do with the clutch lever.  Not even a little bit.

How much slack is in your chain standing?  If you wiggle it up and down there should only be about 3/4" both ways.

[makenzie71]

by the way, if your bike ran, shifted and moved propperly your clutch lever replacement went just fine.

Do you have a digi-cam?  What piece of metal are you talking about?

[ckirtner80]

the two screws that tighten the chain and move the rear wheel back and forth...it's the cap for the end of the swingarm...i think that is what it's called...bent in half thus causing my chain to loosen

[makenzie71]

that's a pretty hard piece to "bend in half"...especially accidently...without the chain putting tremendous force on the sprocket and one or the other breaking.

Pics?

[ckirtner80]

i just want to know a possible cause...what could have done that?

[NightRyder]

I think I know what you are talking about. There are two real long screws sticking directly back from the bike next to the rear axle. If these are the ones.. You have to tighten up the axle. Thoes are not to hold it; just to set it. The axle should be as tight as you can get it. (dont go jumping on it, but you get the idea)

A friend had this problem too (not tight enough axle nuts) and it caused his chain to wear (stretch) alot and his rear brake was on a bit for a week before he started hearing a screeching sound.

[ckirtner80]

Yes, I know  that and I had the axle nut tight...I still don't know what would casue it to pull the piece of metal into the tube

[makenzie71]

Chain could have been too tight or something got caught in it and travelled around the sprocket.

[EDub]

This happened to me also a while back, it was caused by the chain being too tight and ...  clutch wheelies

[Jace009gs]

If it makes you feel any better I shattered mine in about 5 little pieces when I was out "pushing" the bike's limits in the deserted parking lot....I think the combination of abrupt power and quick stopping lead to the part's failure.....it's gets stressed when you apply the rear brake [duh rear disk is on the right] then quick throttles slam the plate back up into swing arm....but ya get the new part and adjust the chain to your body weight....


ok modified this part....
theory 1-snappy throttle and braking
theory 2- chain super tight and someone of heavy mass  or you of light mass jumping up and down on the bike over stressed the part to failure...

geeesh i'm such a science nerd

[ckirtner80]

i don't think my chain was too tight...maybe...how do i fix it

[Alphamazing]

If it's too tight, tighten the nuts on the back of the swingarm to push the rear wheel forward, thus shortening the wheelbase (negligably) and allowing more slack in the chain. Check chain tension with the bike on the side stand.

[RVertigo]

Uh...  Opposite...

When you tighten the two nuts on the back it moves the wheel towards the back...  To add slack to the chain you want to loosen those nuts and the axle and push the wheel forward.

If you have someone that can help, put the bike on the Center Stand and have your buddy hold the thing up (TIGHTLY) while you tap (kick) the wheel forward...  If you have no one to help, try putting the front wheel against a wall...  Be careful to watch for tippy-tippy action.

But, before messing with all that, check the chain slack...  Should be .8-1.2 inches of slack (when warm).  Make sure the axle nut really was tight and the cotter (sp?) pin was in place to keep the axle but from moving.

[NightRyder]

Aren't you suppose to check the chain when you sit on the bike?

[scratch]

No.  As per the manual, the bike should be on the sidestand, unladen (without rider), when measuring or adjusting chain slack.  Now, a racer told me once to measure when the chain is warm, so I went out and measured the slack now, and will measure when I get home.

[RVertigo]

Aren't you suppose to check the chain when you sit on the bike?

On the side stand... When it's warm.  But, you adjust it on the center stand.

Oh... Scratch already said that.

[scratch]

You can adjust it on the sidestand.  I've been doing it that way for years (How do you think Harley riders have been doin' it?).

[RVertigo]

I thought Harleys owners spend most of their time polishing their chrome and waiting for the next broken part to come in...  I mean...  You don't have to adjust your chain when you can't ride...   

[jeast]

i had the same problem so i bent them back with a hammer. then i put them back on slightly tilted. so far they haven't bent anymore.