HELP- DESPERATE!

[Its Just Me]

Just adjusted my chain for the first time, really f-ed up.  I managed (being the noob I am) to bend one of the end plates (I dont think the axle nut was loose enough, I know... Im an idiot!) got it straightened out and i think ive got the chain and alignment close but now I can hear the chain running onto the rear sproket... this might have always been the case but ive never ridden the bike w/o a helmet.  Is this normal or do I have the alignment off?

[dgyver]

Look down the the chain from the rear. You can easily see if the sprockets and chain are not aligned properly.

[Its Just Me]

OK, I took a look like you said, but I cant tell... I do see that the teeth of the sprocket are not dead centre in the gap on the links, but they are just barely off.... this might be a normal noise, but like I said, ive never heard it before, possibly because of the helmet.... the indicators on the swing arm are pretty well dead on even... and now the slack is right in the middle at 25 mm (book has 20-30mm) 

To top this stress off, someone raided my tools on the sidewalk in front of my house while I was down typing the first message... must have been a grab and dash since only a few grew legs....

[dgyver]

There will be some side-to-side play of the chain on the sprockets, this is normal. If the chain was out of alingnment enough to make noise, you would see it. From what you have said, it looks like it is correct. There is normal chain noise, usually from it being worn.

Sucks about the tools. People will steal anything from anywhere.

[Yankee Punker]

   Were you on the side stand, you should have. You would think being on the center stand would make more sense, but the chain adjustment is done better on the side. And yes the axle nut should be very loose, adjust each side so that the alignment plates line up evenly on the alignment marks on the swing arm, this is probably the hardest part of adjusting the chain, but most important, and after a few times it will get easier, you might have to play around with them for a bit, but once you get those plates evenly aligned then just use 1/8 turn equally on both sides moving  the rear wheel forward or back until you have the chain at a 8/10" to 1" deflection then tighten the axle nut making sure you have a wrench on the break side of the bike to hold axle and then tighten on the sprocket side to 47 ft lbs and try not to go over 50 ft lbs if you have to get the cotter pin hole to line up. Re-check chain deflection after short ride, and you'll probably notice smoother shifting keeping your chain adjusted with in these specs. And yes it will make a little more noise than a loose chain, just make sure you keep your chain clean and lubed. 

[FearedGS500]

if your really worred about it . grab a tape mesure and make sure there the same distance from the end of the swing arm to the center mark works for me when i dont think i did any thing right

[Its Just Me]

I did the adjustment from the side stand. I think it looks ok, still has a lot more noise from the rear sprocket than I seem to remember, took it for a ride to the end of the street, feels good enough that Im willing to go down to the local bike shop and have it check out by a non-noob like myself.  I will post when I get back to let everyone know how bad I screwed up!!!!

[Its Just Me]

Got back from the shop and it looks as though Ive done everything right.  The sound of the chain running over the sproket is still there, as I said it might always have been there but I wouldn't notice inside the helmet...  Checked it all over (including the torque on the axle nut) and I guess it all checks out, so thanks all for the help.

[Yankee Punker]

 That's great! And its never wrong to be concerned when something just does not seem right, exceptionally when it comes to mechanical devices, and your personal safety. Or in other words better to be safe than sorry. 

[Lukewarm Wilson]

To top this stress off, someone raided my tools on the sidewalk in front of my house while I was down typing the first message... must have been a grab and dash since only a few grew legs....

________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What is happening over there  I come from a country founded by criminals and its not that bad and I live in an area thats suppose to have a high crime rate and that sought of thing rarely ever happens, have to say that sucks because its sounds like nothing can be left on the street for 20seconds in the US with out someone claiming it. I hope they weren't expensive tools like snap on or such.
Just a thought leave some tools on your foot path hide behind a bush with a baseball bat and punish the next theif who comes along it may not be the original thief but you may feel better after it 

[aaronstj]

Hopefully they were the imperial tools.  If anyone steals mine, they can keep 'em.  Never use 'em.   

[Its Just Me]

They were metric... Huskeys.  Took a bit of an inventory after I put everything away and only one ratchet and a few sockets gone.  Luckily they didn't take my torque wrench that was right beside the socket set case... that one cost a good chunk of change.

What is happening over there  Shocked I come from a country founded by criminals and its not that bad and I live in an area thats suppose to have a high crime rate and that sought of thing rarely ever happens, have to say that sucks because its sounds like nothing can be left on the street for 20seconds in the US with out someone claiming it. I hope they weren't expensive tools like snap on or such.
Just a thought leave some tools on your foot path hide behind a bush with a baseball bat and punish the next theif who comes along it may not be the original thief but you may feel better after it  laugh Thumbsup cheers

I live in Canada, in Mississauga (next door to Toronto) and that kind of thing dosn't really happen here... I think it was some kids passing by, just because of the time of day and year, and besides, any adult would've taken the whole damn set, not just this and that.  I was hoping that I just misplaced them, but I looked everywhere and nothing, even where I rode the bike up and down the street hoping they were on the seat or something... no luck.