Kawasaki Sportsbike Riders Club - Australia - Online Forum

Ok, I decided to check the chain tension on my gpx250 and the manual says there should be movement of between 35 and 45mm. When I pull the chain down to the ground it moved about 5mm but when I push it up it moves roughly 50mm. How do I check the chain to see if it has the correct tension? Am I checking it correctly? I bought the bike ~3 weeks ago from a dealer (its 2nd hand) and rode it for the first time yesterday. Should this be something I should get the dealer to tightten for me or is it a regular maintainence thing I should learn to do myself?

just reading on chain tension. Maybe I should have me sitting on the bike when checking the tension. Apparently thats when it's tension is the greatest. So maybe it is ok after all. I dunno...

Also, I was measuring from the section of chain closest to the ground. Is this right?

For a start, visit this website.

http://www.reginachain.it/eng/use_and_maintenance/

http://www.reginachain.it/eng/use_and_m ... 5.shtml#01

I'd suggest getting your hands on a Haynes manual or similar - it'll show you how to do lots of things. Good value, I reckon, and it'll save you heaps of $$$. The first decent job you do, it will have paid for itself.

wazza1234 wrote:Ok, I decided to check the chain tension on my gpx250 and the manual says there should be movement of between 35 and 45mm. When I pull the chain down to the ground it moved about 5mm but when I push it up it moves roughly 50mm. How do I check the chain to see if it has the correct tension? Am I checking it correctly? I bought the bike ~3 weeks ago from a dealer (its 2nd hand) and rode it for the first time yesterday. Should this be something I should get the dealer to tightten for me or is it a regular maintainence thing I should learn to do myself?

wazza
the measurement is taken (with NO-ONE sitting on the bike)
by pushing the chain ..in the middle of the bottom run..UPWARDS
that is...
loosen off the axle and rear wheel adjusters and then
adjust the position of the back wheel (using the adjusters)
until you can push the chain up towards the swing arm
....say 40mm (½ way between 35 and 45mm) from its lowest resting position


hth

cheers

Try this.......
Instead of reading, fiddling, getting frustrated and being uncertain. Go back to where you bought it from. As a new rider with your first of hopefully many bikes the dealer should be happy to assist you. It is easier to see and do and ask questions directly. This can also be a good guage of service from your dealer. If they are happy to help you out then they may be worth building a raport with and continuing your custom with them, if not then source someone that is.
While you are there you can also ask about how to check your oil level, coolant level, tyre pressures, etc all the simple stuff that should be done regularly.

Smitty..
close but no banana......
If you check your adjustment. particulary a 250, with the axel nut loose you will find that when you tighten the axel again it will be over tight. When you tighten the axel it "clamps" the swingarm thus moving the axel rearward. We all have different methods and ideas used to achieve the same result. lets not confuse they new guy.

This is why I suggest wazza have someone experienced show him how it is done and how the chain should appear when correctly tensioned.

We just done my GPX the other day, yeah and nobody sitting on it. If ya get stuck with anyting PM myself or Tones I also have the manuel on PC so if needed just let me know.

Cheers (or ya could always ride it over here happy to help out)

LOL.
Toowoomba to Melb on a GPX 250......

ouch

lmao I know was kiddin' but i think will do it just fine. EVENTUALLY

wazza1234 wrote: ... or is it a regular maintainence thing I should learn to do myself?

Yes, definitely it is something you should learn to do yourself.

If you set the tension with no-one sitting on the bike, then set it towards the 'higher' end of the range (ie 45mm) - when you sit on the bike, your weight will cause the chain to tighten a little, you should find the tension when seated on the bike is then reduced to around the 30-35mm mark, which is fine.

Most important thing is to keep the chain lubricated properly and regularly.

Chain tension should be checked at mid-point of lower run.

Doing your own servicing and basic maintenance is one of the most rewarding aspects of owning a motorcycle - dealers are there to sell you the bike, service it under warranty, and sell you good bits . Don't rely on them for the simple things. (eg chain tensioning, oil changes, inflating the tyres to correct pressure etc etc.)

Slow and wobbly wrote:LOL.
Toowoomba to Melb on a GPX 250......

ouch

Thought you might be interested in this if you havent seen it already...


http://members.optusnet.com.au/~za2bb/o ... index.html

around australia on a gpx250.

hehe, go BTH, top bloke, semi obsessed with his GPX's, not that it's a bad thing

Slow and wobbly wrote:Smitty..
close but no banana......
If you check your adjustment. particulary a 250, with the axel nut loose you will find that when you tighten the axel again it will be over tight. When you tighten the axel it "clamps" the swingarm thus moving the axel rearward. We all have different methods and ideas used to achieve the same result. lets not confuse they new guy.

This is why I suggest wazza have someone experienced show him how it is done and how the chain should appear when correctly tensioned.

huh..???
you only loosen the axle nut enuff to allow you to move the wheel
back or forward with the adjusters
..which allow you to set the chain slack correctly

if tightening the axle thru bolt is causing some sorta binding or
other adjustment hassles, i would be getting that checked out.


cheers

Slow and wobbly wrote:......When you tighten the axel it "clamps" the swingarm thus moving the axel rearward.....

I struggle with this description as well Smitty, and could not make any sense of it ??

Only *remote* possibility is referring to eccentric chain adjusters ? but even then, once chain tension is set correctly, the eccentric pinch bolts either side should have only been loosened enough to allow the axle to rotate to the position required for correct tension......then the axle should not move 1 iota when you tighten the pinch-bolts ??