Kawasaki Sportsbike Riders Club - Australia - Online Forum

Hi, just tensioning my chain and I note there are graduation marks, I have never used these before, however, if I do, then there is a difference between the end of the adjustment part and the end of the fork for both sides. Should I use these marks or simply use a steel rule such as I have been doing in the past?

Thanks
ben

Technically, you should use the markers if they are accurate and even on both sides. Often however, they are not accurate. If so, then it's best to string line the bike, work out what the distance difference is and mark the swingarm with it.

EG: My race bike when I strung lined it, if I had the axle locked into the correct marks on each side of the swingarm, the wheel pointed slightly to the left. So, when refitting or adjusting the axle, I always add 3mm to the right hand side to ensure it is straight.

I hope that makes sense, I am back on painkillers and a little wobbly........

Unless you're going to string line it, then Japanese engineers put those marks there for you to use so why wouldn't you trust them and use them - they did design and build your bike after all. Who's to say they made the swingarms the same length on both sides.

tim wrote:Unless you're going to string line it, then Japanese engineers put those marks there for you to use so why wouldn't you trust them and use them - they did design and build your bike after all. Who's to say they made the swingarms the same length on both sides.

They designed and built Zero's too....
look how that turned out for them

I picked up a chain aligning laser and it seems to work perfectly. Cost about $80 and cut down aligning the chain to 2 min.

Where did you get your laser from?
Thanks

tim wrote:Unless you're going to string line it, then Japanese engineers put those marks there for you to use so why wouldn't you trust them and use them - they did design and build your bike after all. Who's to say they made the swingarms the same length on both sides.

Don't trust them, most are inaccurate. Remember they are engineered to a budget and mass produced, so precision and accuracy is not as high a priority as profit. The best bet is to stringline it to make sure it's straight.

Nelso wrote:

tim wrote:Unless you're going to string line it, then Japanese engineers put those marks there for you to use so why wouldn't you trust them and use them - they did design and build your bike after all. Who's to say they made the swingarms the same length on both sides.

Don't trust them, most are inaccurate. Remember they are engineered to a budget and mass produced, so precision and accuracy is not as high a priority as profit. The best bet is to stringline it to make sure it's straight.

Yep, on my ZR7 left is out by 3mm

just buy an old Beeser...no worries about these newfangled convoluted marked swingarms

Thanks everyone, chain adjusted properly and using the graduation marks would mean the the tyre is about 3mm out!! the japs should have paid more attention

supposedly the back wheel's slightly offset on my ZRX1200 to accommodate the chain with the larger tyre than the 1100

The marks are close but off. Get a three foot lenth of angle aluminum, (90 degree) and run it along the chain and measure the distance between the angle aluminum and the front of the rear tire in comparison to the distance between the rear of the rear tire. Easy and cheap and it does not require batteries. Jim Beam is however a necessity.

now there's a good idea...wonder where i put that broken 4' level

Pictures for those such as myself who are mentally impaired.

how true are Kawi mags?...i've never taken a dial-gauge to 'em