Hey guys,

My chain (to my rearwheel) seems to lose tension so quickly.

For example:
last week i tensioned the bike, when i was mounting my new handlebar, and when sunday came around with good weather, after a 1HR drive its slacking again! And this hasnt been the first time! Like i said, the bike loses chantension very quickly. Usually around every 2 weeks (of driving about 10 KM a day) i have to put extra tension on the chain.

How i do it:
since the alignment seems to be good, i tension my chain like this.
1. Put the bike on centerstand.
2. Unbolt the bolt on the rear axle about halfway (i don't take it off fully, just to release the tension.)
3. turn both chain tensioners an equal amount of turns (to not mess up the alignment.) until the slack on the middle of the hanging part of the chain is about 3CM.
4. Tighten the bolt on the rear axle again, VERY STRONGLY!! MUCH TIGHT!!
5. Check again on the tension of the hanging part of the chain.
6. If good, im done! if not gho back to step 2.

Am i doing something wrong?

Yes, you are doing it wrong!

I suggest you read the manual!  (unlike others may say on this group)

Then follow the manual word for word

Your method for checking the slack by measuring how much the chain "hangs" is all wrong...

You need to put the bike on the SIDE stand.  Then you need to "flex" the chain up and down at a point 1/2 way between the front sprocket and the rear sprocket....push with your finger...Look at drawing in the manual!!!

This "play" needs to be between .8" and 1.2".....if not, then you must loosen the axle nuts, and set the adjusters. 

Before you do the final check, and tighten the axle nut...you must make sure the rear wheel is fully forward against the adjusters........if it is not fully forward against the adjusters, it can easily slide forward later, during riding...no matter how much you torque down on the axle nut...

Do not over-tighten the axle nut!!!!!!!!  Get a torque wrench and set axle nut to proper torque spec range....It is the adjusters which actually keep the wheel form sliding forward during riding...

What kind of chain are you using?  what brand name?   How long before the chain gets loose?

Cookie

Quote from: Krav on April 07, 2015, 12:35:38 AM
Hey guys,

My chain (to my rearwheel) seems to lose tension so quickly.

For example:
last week i tensioned the bike, when i was mounting my new handlebar, and when sunday came around with good weather, after a 1HR drive its slacking again! And this hasnt been the first time! Like i said, the bike loses chantension very quickly. Usually around every 2 weeks (of driving about 10 KM a day) i have to put extra tension on the chain.

How i do it:
since the alignment seems to be good, i tension my chain like this.
1. Put the bike on centerstand.
2. Unbolt the bolt on the rear axle about halfway (i don't take it off fully, just to release the tension.)
3. turn both chain tensioners an equal amount of turns (to not mess up the alignment.) until the slack on the middle of the hanging part of the chain is about 3CM.
4. Tighten the bolt on the rear axle again, VERY STRONGLY!! MUCH TIGHT!!
5. Check again on the tension of the hanging part of the chain.
6. If good, im done! if not gho back to step 2.

Am i doing something wrong?

Quote from: twocool on April 07, 2015, 04:46:08 AM

...

Before you do the final check, and tighten the axle nut...you must make sure the rear wheel is fully forward against the adjusters........if it is not fully forward against the adjusters, it can easily slide forward later, during riding...no matter how much you torque down on the axle nut...

...

What kind of chain are you using?  what brand name?   How long before the chain gets loose?

How do i make sure the wheel is fully againste the adjusters? I mean, the left adjuster screws back WAAAAAAY easier then the right one. So i guess this could be it. but how do i fix it? just turning and turning untill it can turn no more on the left adjuster seems a bit to harsh to me. + it will mess with the alignment.

I have no clue what chain im using. It came with the bike. I guess, just to be safe, i could buy a new chain and sprockets. its not that expensive really.

Thanks for letting me know im doing it wrong though I guess i've been having to much slack on the chain all along then!

OK....with the axle nuts loose....not off...just loose...and the adjusters where you think they should be...

you take a tool..like a thick screwdriver, or allen wrench....and run it between the chain and the rear sprocket....in effect this lifts the chain up off the sprocket and puts strong tension onto the chain...which in turn, pulls the wheel fully forward against the adjusters....

Once you do this...your chain slack may have changed...so you may have to set the adjusters again...and repeat the whole procedure.

Once you are good with this...you tighten down the axle nuts....but this may also cause a difference in the chain tension...so you may have to again re set the adjusters...and do the whole deal one more time..

I will locate a video to show you this.

Cookie

Quote from: Krav on April 07, 2015, 06:18:56 AM

Quote from: twocool on April 07, 2015, 04:46:08 AM

...

Before you do the final check, and tighten the axle nut...you must make sure the rear wheel is fully forward against the adjusters........if it is not fully forward against the adjusters, it can easily slide forward later, during riding...no matter how much you torque down on the axle nut...

...

What kind of chain are you using?  what brand name?   How long before the chain gets loose?

How do i make sure the wheel is fully againste the adjusters? I mean, the left adjuster screws back WAAAAAAY easier then the right one. So i guess this could be it. but how do i fix it? just turning and turning untill it can turn no more on the left adjuster seems a bit to harsh to me. + it will mess with the alignment.

I have no clue what chain im using. It came with the bike. I guess, just to be safe, i could buy a new chain and sprockets. its not that expensive really.

Thanks for letting me know im doing it wrong though I guess i've been having to much slack on the chain all along then!

Your explaination is very clear! Thank you! A video would be nice, but not necesary.

I will be trying this and see if the issue persists or not

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zB4DsHV8SAQ


Look at this video minute 4:25 to see how the wheel is pulled fully forward against adjusters.

Also this whole video is pretty good to see how to do everything....

Only difference is GS500 needs the slack to be checked when bike is on the side stand....not on center stand as shown in this video...(each bike is slightly different in specification)

Cookie

Quote from: Krav on April 07, 2015, 06:34:25 AM
Your explaination is very clear! Thank you! A video would be nice, but not necesary.

I will be trying this and see if the issue persists or not

Awesome information... I knew about using the side stand but I was wondering some of these other things myself just yesterday. Thank you Cookie 

Very helpfull vid! Thanks man!

I tensioned the chain again a bit on the sidestand. Also i did what the guy in the video did, plus i pumped up my tires (rear had 1.1 bar :0 )

Ill report back in a week or two (if i think of it) with my findings

I've always adjusted my chains on the centerstand and wouldn't consider doing it on the sidestand regardless of what Suzuki has to say about it.  I align the wheel when I put a new chain on and it stays aligned for the life of the chain.  When making a chain adjustment I take equal turns or half turns of the adjusters on both sides to bring the chain into adjustment while maintaing the wheel alignment. 

It's important to maintain the pull of the adjuster on the axle at all times during adjustment to maintain wheel alignment so after loosening the axle nut for chain adjustment I snug it back down a bit so there is some resistance to the adjuster pull on the axle keeping it all tight up.

When the bike is back down on the sidestand I do give the chain a quick check for freeplay in that position.

if you don't have the center stand [like some of us..] a regular car scissor jack works, plus they can be had for free or cheap. just put it where the center stand would normally bolt too. I use a few pieces of scrap wood to keep everything level/non wobbly..

Quote from: Krav on April 07, 2015, 12:35:38 AM
Hey guys,

My chain (to my rearwheel) seems to lose tension so quickly.

For example:
last week i tensioned the bike, when i was mounting my new handlebar, and when sunday came around with good weather, after a 1HR drive its slacking again! And this hasnt been the first time! Like i said, the bike loses chantension very quickly. Usually around every 2 weeks (of driving about 10 KM a day) i have to put extra tension on the chain.

How i do it:
since the alignment seems to be good, i tension my chain like this.
1. Put the bike on centerstand.
2. Unbolt the bolt on the rear axle about halfway (i don't take it off fully, just to release the tension.)
3. turn both chain tensioners an equal amount of turns (to not mess up the alignment.) until the slack on the middle of the hanging part of the chain is about 3CM.
4. Tighten the bolt on the rear axle again, VERY STRONGLY!! MUCH TIGHT!!
5. Check again on the tension of the hanging part of the chain.
6. If good, im done! if not gho back to step 2.

Am i doing something wrong?

a chain that looses tension in less than 800 miles is a worn out chain.

Im going to see if this helps.

If not, then i'll change the chain and sprockets.

When I service a bike/chain adjust, I always use the center stand, I have never figured out any advantage to using the side stand?? I am too old to be kneeling down anymore anyway, I bring the bike up to my height 
Personally I don't trust the marks on the side of the swing arm either, I remove the chain guard then sight through the top link to the bottom link, it's aligned when the forward tooth of the rear sprocket is in the middle of the two links. After I get the alignment determined, I just count wrench turns for chain adjustment until the next time the wheel comes off.
CCPRYMMV