chain slack...drive chain tension(er)

[daski-emt]

so I have a '94...and i have put 2 chains on it in ~14,000 miles this year.....this last chain stretched so fast that it jumped off the rear gear just 3 days after adjusting it.......yes I ate asphalt and broke a rib ....thank God for lortab....anyway I digress....is there an issue here?...do some chains stretch faster/or less than others?.......is then a drive chain tensioner that I can install to prevent eating pavement again? thanks

[weedahoe]

Are you sure you're torquing the rear axle at around 47 ft lbs? If not, maybe it isn't tight enough and is pulling the rim forward.

[xunedeinx]

Check your tq specs, and than take it to a shop to do an alignment on it for 30 bucks...

They will be more than happy to tell you if something is off to try to get more money, and you can take the knowledge here.

[ThatOtherGuy]

by a laser chain aligner and make sure your axle is tightened correctly.

[XLAR8]

over adjusted chains stretch quick.


set it and forget it

[Bluesmudge]

Maybe you are buying cheap roller chains and not lubing them? Non-oring chains can wear out in a few thousand miles.

[daski-emt]

Maybe you are buying cheap roller chains and not lubing them? Non-oring chains can wear out in a few thousand miles.

hmmm....I do use D.I.D. roller....not the cheapest but cost effective...should I reconsider?

as far as the lube, alignment, slack and torque:I keep it lubed with tri-flow, I use the notch guides on the swing arm, about .75-1.0 inches of slack, and I just crank down, definitely more than 47lbs...

[gsatterw]

I'll put it this way, you've bought 2 roller chains, busted both of them in not so many miles, probably both of them cost about the same as a good o-ring chain...I'd say step it up to an o-ring chain...lube it every few hundred miles and you're good to go.

I've got this one, and its treated me well so far. Matches the rest of the bike too

http://www.ebay.com/itm/520-Volar-O-Ring-O-Ring-Chain-with-110-Link-Blue-/110811291535?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item19ccde1f8f&vxp=mtr

[ThatOtherGuy]

doesn't matter what chain you buy, if its not aligned correctly its going to wear prematurely and worse as you've found out, throw itself off the sprockets.  The notches are okay for rough alignment, but you need a proper alignment to make sure the rear sprocket is dead straight to the chain line.  no chain whether its roller. o ring or x type will survive long if incorrectly aligned.  not to mention that a properly aligned rear sprocket will also mean you front/rear wheels have a chance of tracking straighter (ie parallel) making the handling that much better.

[rharding91]

by a laser chain aligner and make sure your axle is tightened correctly.

where would i get one of these and you should post a video of you using it.

[ThatOtherGuy]

this is my local supplier which is okay if you're in Australia, though I'm sure Steve would ship O/S.

http://www.moto-tech.com.au/profi-laser-cat-dot-laser/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=uCkB4uB_Kws

everything you need to know.