How to loosen chain

[masalma]

Hi again

Well i put about 19,000km this summer and never tightened my chain, so i thought this is a good time to, never done it before, i seen the video on youtube and read around the forum, but my problem is that i tightened the chain too much, and can't figure out how to loosen it from both sides.


any ideas or tips?


thanx in advance.

Nas   

[ohgood]

Get a 12' piece of string. And heavy tape.

1) losen the axle
2) get her up on the center stand
3) loosen the adjusters the same number of turns each side 4-5
4) if the tire won't bump forward and rearward, the axle needs more loosening
5) tap the string onto the rear of the rear tire, towards the bottem.
6) adjust until you can string and measure the same distance on either side of the FRONT tire, while pulling the string taught from the REAR tire. (this is why you wanted the tape earlier)
7) check tension
you have 19K on the original chain ? better make sure it hasn't stretched too much !
9) tighten it all up, ride a little, let it warm up. (i said a little, not all day)
10) recheck tension, stretch, and lube it all up right. enjoy

[masalma]

You the best man i am gonna try it.

GSTwins never let me down 

[ben2go]

Hit it with a BIG hammer. 

[DrtRydr23]

Loosen the axle first, then loosen the adjuster nuts on the end of the swing arm.  I usually use a soft face hammer and tap the axle ends until the adjuster nuts are flush against the end of the swing arm.

[gsJack]

After backing off the adjuster screws I just grab the passanger grab handle from the rear to make sure I don't knock the bike off the centerstand and I kick the back of the tire to move it forward.

Also if it's not too tight you can grab the bottom run of the chain halfway between sprockets and push down to move that side forward and then hold it down while you hit the rear of the tire with your hand to push the other side forward.

I've always used the marks on the swingarm to align the rear wheel after making sure the indicator plates are biased in the same direction,.  Turn the left one clockwise because tightening the axle nut tends to turn it that way and turn the right one counterclockwise to take up the slack.  Then snug down axle nut a tad to hold things in place and then make your adjustments.  Works for me.