So I tried to tighten the chain on my 2004 GS 500 and made the mistake of only partially watching a you tube video.  I loosened the bolts down by the axle, one on both sides a half turn each.  The chain was still very loose.  I then did another half turn.  The chain was still just as loose.  So then I did a full turn on both and the metal piece that is on the end became loose too.  I realized I was dumb and had not loosened the axle.  So the tire was stuck in place and was not moving the sprocket at all.  I tightened back up and loosened the axle but the tire is still not moving on the right side.  The left side moves up and down a little, but the right side does not move at all.  Am I doing something wrong?  Should I just push harder?  I don't normally work on the bike myself but I am tired of paying someone to do it.  I don't know how much to push and don't want to break anything.

Thanks!

You shouldn't have to "push" anything while trying to adjust your chain, unless I misunderstood...  Also, once you have loosened the axle bolt, you need to tighten the adjuster nuts in order to bring the wheel back and remove slack, or "tighten" the chain.  It sounds like you are loosening the nuts, instead of tightening them.

It sounds like you are confused or misunderstanding HOW to adjust the chain...

You need to find somebody to SHOW you how to do it, at least once, then you will understand....

Watching only PART of a video is a bad thing to do...watch the whole video, and be sure you understand what is going on , mechanically...

But way better if you can get a friendly mechanic to show you how...Or a fellow rider who can show you the right way..

Cookie

I figured it out.  Thanks guys.  Yes watching only part was bad.  They were talking about lining up the sprockets so I skipped forward to the chain tightening part.  I was loosening the bolts.  I went back and watched the whole video.  It didn't really explain what was going on but I figured it out. As I watched what he was doing and after I read I might be loosening them instead of tightening them.  Definitely learned my lesson.  Quite simple to tighten it.  Now I don't have to wait to take it in to tighten it.  Probably sounds lame to some people on here but that was the first time.  Trying to learn about it so I don't have to take it in for much. 
Thanks!

If you're new to working on your bike, be careful to pay attention to the rear wheel alignment now that you've tinkered with the adjusters.  I learned this lesson the hard way not so long ago. 

Do I have to buy one of those lasers to check the alignment? I saw that in the video and was hoping to find an easier way to check it.
Thanks!

You can do a search for the "string method" for rear wheel alignment, but I struggled doing it without a partner to help.  I ended up using a ruler to measure how much of my adjuster bolt was exposed from the nut to the end of the bolt.  (See red line below)  Get them as even as you can on each side.  If you're off by too much, you'll notice next time you ride.   

Thanks!

Quote from: dk31285 on August 05, 2015, 10:10:51 PM
You can do a search for the "string method" for rear wheel alignment, but I struggled doing it without a partner to help.  I ended up using a ruler to measure how much of my adjuster bolt was exposed from the nut to the end of the bolt.  (See red line below)  Get them as even as you can on each side.  If you're off by too much, you'll notice next time you ride.   

What exactly will you notice?  I just replaced my chain and both sprockets and I only really checked my chain alignment (got the fancy laser tool from Amazon).  My chain is in perfect alignment all the way up to the front sprocket.  I ballparked it with the markings and somehow had perfect alignment my first try (probably would have been way off if I didn't have a cool new toy to check it with).  Are the chain and wheel alignments linked?  I've already ridden maybe 350 miles on it, so I assume nothing is too off 

Quote from: DoktoroKiu on August 06, 2015, 07:30:52 AM

Quote from: dk31285 on August 05, 2015, 10:10:51 PM
You can do a search for the "string method" for rear wheel alignment, but I struggled doing it without a partner to help.  I ended up using a ruler to measure how much of my adjuster bolt was exposed from the nut to the end of the bolt.  (See red line below)  Get them as even as you can on each side.  If you're off by too much, you'll notice next time you ride.   

What exactly will you notice?  I just replaced my chain and both sprockets and I only really checked my chain alignment (got the fancy laser tool from Amazon).  My chain is in perfect alignment all the way up to the front sprocket.  I ballparked it with the markings and somehow had perfect alignment my first try (probably would have been way off if I didn't have a cool new toy to check it with).  Are the chain and wheel alignments linked?  I've already ridden maybe 350 miles on it, so I assume nothing is too off 

When I neglected to properly align my rear wheel, the bike felt terribly unstable while riding.  The rear tire felt like I was riding on ice...  Going around corners was frightening.  It felt like the back end of the bike would just wander off when I didn't want it to.

When it's all aligned properly, or at least very close, everything just feels right.  The bike feels planted to the ground and handles very well.

Quote from: dk31285 on August 06, 2015, 07:51:52 AM

When I neglected to properly align my rear wheel, the bike felt terribly unstable while riding.  The rear tire felt like I was riding on ice...  Going around corners was frightening.  It felt like the back end of the bike would just wander off when I didn't want it to.

When it's all aligned properly, or at least very close, everything just feels right.  The bike feels planted to the ground and handles very well.

Ah, that calms the nerves then.  At some point it doesn't make sense that the front and rear wheels could be out of alignment if the chain is in alignment (unless the Suzuki engineers screwed something up or you use the wrong sprocket).