Couple of noob questions - need some answers please.

[O.C.D.]

Hey all.  Been riding non-stop for almost a week, lol.  I can admit I love the bike and am getting to understand the good and bad aspects.  Many good, some bad.  Alas, I have received my new 15t for the front.  So that is to be changed tonight.

Before I catch too much flack I will state that I have read and found so many conflicting and indeterminable answers for this stuff:

My bike is a '92 and it has just over 10,000 miles.  What should I look for as far as chain wear?  Should a chain that old have more issues than a chain with the same miles that is newer?

And to confirm, with a 15t I can reuse the stock chain if it is wearing well and the tensioners are not maxed out?!

Am I to tension the chain on the center stand or the side stand?  From what I have been reading the side is the way to go as it maintains pressure on the arm as it sits which is more akin to the way it should be when resting or under load.

I have read the "string method" of aligning the tires properly.  I am no rocket scientist neither am I an idiot but is this really needed for a GS500?  Can you not simply tension and align the rear wheel by duplicating tensioners?  I understand the intricacies of properly aligning a wheel but I just don't know yet.

The axle nut should be given 36-58 pounds of torque.  I understand the large window so I will go half way as I have read, ie.e 47 lbs.

Lastly, the slack when the bike is on the side stand should be 7/8" - 1-1/8" total.  Or 20-30mm.  


I can rebuild my Jeeps suspension in a weekend but a bike is new to me so I want to be sure I don't hurt the chain mainly.  

If you can answer with verification of these questions it will help me a lot.  I am waiting for my manual still.  

Thank you all!

Jon

[bassmechanicsz]

As far as chain wear i don't know about that one. 

Yes you can use the stock chain with the 15t front sprocket assuming the tensioners aren't maxed out.

I adjust the tension of the chain on the centerstand and have had no problems.  I also use the chain tension guides that are on the swingarm to check to see if the wheel is aligned correctly.  I always look at the bike from the rear once i have it adjusted to make sure nothing looks out of whack but just make sure that both tensioners are tightened with the same angle.  Mine are both a tad loose and can rock left and right if the axel is loose so i just make sure they are both rotated to the same angle and use that to measure against the marks on the swingarm.

I torque the rear wheel closer to the 58lb. limit since when i bought mine the PO apparently didn't tighten the rear axel properly and bent one of the adjuster plates for the guides. 

Also the wiki is full of answers if you ever need something.

[O.C.D.]

Thank you for your response.  Since I had none yesterday I just went ahead and did it.  All pretty simple actually.

I asked all the questions as it is easier than having to read through 90% of reposts and 10% of knowledge gained.


AS for the wiki I have it memorized I think, lol.  I just like to be thorough as I have no manual yet.


Now I just need to learn the carbs as it is running rich I think.  I know I can read through 1000's of posts, but is there anywhere where the carb setup is diagrammed or instructions on how to do it properly?

Thanks.
Jon

[bassmechanicsz]

best way to learn about your carbs and adjust them would be to read the poor mans rejetting pictorial on the wiki.

http://wiki.gstwins.com/index.php?n=Upgrades.Rejetting

Those should the same carbs you have on your bike and is very thorough.