It appears as if I've got a good amount of slack in my chain. The bike in question is a 2004 GS500F with a little over 1,000 miles on it. I heard some "extra curricular" noise from the drive train on the last ride so today I was examining the chain slack. It's definitely too loose! I looked at the area where the adjuster is(bolt on the back of the swing arm), and the plate that it is on looks to be bent! In other words, on the swing arm(which is black), there's an unpainted metal piece that holds the bolt you adjust the chain with. This plate looks to be bent! This can't be normal?? Please help I'm panicing over here, wondering what's wrong with my new bike  

Thank you in advance,
Steve

I bent one of mine trying to tighten the chain too much. It still works though and I'm not worried about it. I've rode it 10,000 miles and have completed a number of sucessful chain adjustments with it; no problem.

Just remember to loosen the axle before you tighten the adjusters.

The chain adjuster is just there to help you position the wheel to get the proper chain tension and alignment.  Once the axle bolts are tight, the chain adjuster is not doing much.  It shouldn't cost too much to get a new one from the dealer and replace it, or see if they will do it under warranty or good will.

Rob

Thanks for the input guys.

Now I'm freaking because my brother decided to be an idiot and wrench the crap out of the one side and now the chain is too tight! How do you fix an overtightened chain?

   

Quote from: Steve500FHow do you fix an overtightened chain?

Well, you loosen the chain adjusters ... and then KICK the tire from behind to get it to slide forward again.  (If there's a better method, I'd love to hear it!)

About your brother:  Yeah, it's easy to go overboard with those adjusters.  I tend to turn the nuts 180 degrees at a time at the most, and even then I sometimes "overshoot".

Once you get

* the wheel lined up right, and
* the chain tension correct, and
* the axle tightened down again,[/list:u]be sure to snug both of the chain adjuster plates up against the swingarms.  This will do 2 things:
1) Prevent a loose adjuster plate from rattling around back there and driving you nuts (don't ask how I know) and

2) Make it a lot easier to keep everything lined up in the future.  Anytime you adjust the chain from now on, always turn both adjuster nuts the same amount.  (You probably already do this.)[/list:u]Good Luck!

if its that new just take it back to the dealership and make them fix it

Quote from: KerryWell, you loosen the chain adjusters ... and then KICK the tire from behind to get it to slide forward again.  (If there's a better method, I'd love to hear it!)

I use a 10 pound dead blow mallet.

Quote from: Steve500FThanks for the input guys.

Now I'm freaking because my brother decided to be an idiot and wrench the crap out of the one side and now the chain is too tight! How do you fix an overtightened chain?

   

0. Loosen the axle nut.
1. Loosen the brake's draglink(Beam connecting the caliper to the swingarm) at both ends.
2. Loosen the chain adjusters.
3. Slide the wheel forward.
4. snugg down the Draglink bolts.
5.adjust chain adjsuters.
6. torque down the axle nut.
7. torque the draglink bolts.

Thank you all! And Kerry, good info as always!


The bike is happily being ridden tonight.

Steve