Quote from: bremsstrahlung.positron on October 22, 2013, 12:04:38 PM
My head is all woozy after watching vidz, reading posts here... Please anyone help me out with the simplest way of wheel alignment and chain tightening. I've gone  after excessive visual and literature review on internet. Regards.

wheel alignment - the string thing is my goto. rolls up in a pocket. no batteries.
chain adjustment - loosen axle nut, 10mm box wrench on adjuster, 1/2 turn for each adjuster. kick rear tire as hard as is comfortable to seat the adjusters. snug axle nut. kick again. tighten axle nut to spec. snug adjusters just a little so they won't rattle if one/both need it.



then mark the adjusters and axle nuts with a odd-color paint pen. you'll know it in 2 seconds if anyone has messed with things.



want it even easier, faster, dead simple ? pin the swingarm for a dirt bike axle:

thanks a bunch guys, will go easy on my marlboros now whilst working at my bike  . will post pics if i screw up again which is like... very likely 

When I'd do mine, I'd always move the adjusters one turn at a time. 1 turn on the left, 1 turn on the right, and repeat. When I put on my new chain I just put the adjusters in all the way to their stops and then methodically worked them back out. Of course at that point I was doing 3 or 4 half turns per side to take the slack out faster. Then got more technical. Never had any issues 

Having never bought a new bike and not knowing the exact history of most of them, I use the string first time to make sure I don't have a bent frame, tweaked forks, or other serious problems that need to be addressed to be safe. Once I have done this and corrected all possible issues, then a chain tension adjustment is a piece of cake. I generally run them slightly loose and make 1/4 turn (each adjuster) adjustments when they get slightly more loose. Both my GS500E chians are original, one is 20 years old with 13k miles. The other is 25 years old with 11k miles. Neither was well cared for and I am getting front sprocket noise and it's close to replacement time.
About one in five bikes need the front forks and triple trees and fork brace loosened and then twisted to get the handlebars to line up properly when the front and rear wheels are aligned properly.

regards
Mech