drive chain slackness

okay, my chain (has about 15,oooKms on it) has been getting loose really quickly as of late, luckily there is always SOMEWHERE close by to quickly go in and get it tightened back up (with a new cotter pin! )......
my questions are:
1> anyone know the size of the socket that fits on my bike? is it 32mm?? oh, on the rear axle nut-sorry
2> why, oh why, is it needing tightening after like about every week?!
3> looked down at it after yesterdays tightening (wheel being pulled back-obviously), and the scales don't match up! but i am thinking that the "mechanics" i am taking it to are atleast doing the exact equal number of turns on each side... therefore they may not match up?? or SHOULD THEY always 100% match up??
if so, i need that 32mm socket for myself to fix yet ANOTHER shops farck up on my bike!!! (but i'm not getting upset yet, until i hear what ya'll think)
oh, btw, this last place i took it (my local where i bought this damn last chain) well, they said that it has a tight spot in it!!!! WTF??? it's hardly even a year old and less than 20K..... wtf?!
okay, rant over-ish.... no, i'm going back there today to get them to align that rear wheel... it can't be right... right?!

have a look from the front at your front wheel and see if the back one lines up ok like they are in a straight line.

Could be all the wheelie poping you do lurpee...it does shag out the chain.

the only other thing you can do to make them last longer is every time the chain looks dirty was it with kero and clean it with a tooth brush then rag till its spotless and relube.

Of course with the price of lube you have to weigh up the benifit of spraying 20 cans of lube on you chain over 18months versus the cost of a chain but you probably wont get tight spots this way.

okay, my chain (has about 15,oooKms on it) has been getting loose really quickly as of late, luckily there is always SOMEWHERE close by to quickly go in and get it tightened back up (with a new cotter pin! )......
my questions are:
1> anyone know the size of the socket that fits on my bike? is it 32mm?? oh, on the rear axle nut-sorry
2> why, oh why, is it needing tightening after like about every week?!
3> looked down at it after yesterdays tightening (wheel being pulled back-obviously), and the scales don't match up! but i am thinking that the "mechanics" i am taking it to are atleast doing the exact equal number of turns on each side... therefore they may not match up?? or SHOULD THEY always 100% match up??
if so, i need that 32mm socket for myself to fix yet ANOTHER shops farck up on my bike!!! (but i'm not getting upset yet, until i hear what ya'll think)
oh, btw, this last place i took it (my local where i bought this damn last chain) well, they said that it has a tight spot in it!!!! WTF??? it's hardly even a year old and less than 20K..... wtf?!
okay, rant over-ish.... no, i'm going back there today to get them to align that rear wheel... it can't be right... right?!

Getting loose quickly u say, hmm maybe its been overtightend and being stretched. Sit on the bike and lean over and wiggle the lower rung of chain u should get a good 20mm to 40mm max' movement. IMO a chain is better off on the loose side rather than too tight, reason being it effects your suspension travel (dont go thinking about that too much) and will stretch the chain and render it farked...Keep the sucker clean and lightly lubed and it should last you many km's, btw too loose will flog and wear the sprokets, too tight you CAN cause major damage to bearings on the drive shaft and in the extreme crack the housing.
Measure accross the flats of the said rear wheel nut, thats your socket size, Adjusters are a guide only, best way to align the wheels is using the straight edge or string line method. I can come and help you with that as I want to do mine.

(u can buy a box of those split pins for 5 bucks.)

Last edited by Jonno on Wed Aug 03, 2005 8:59 am, edited 1 time in total.

Hey Yankee, I have the exact same problem.

I have been adjusting my chain on weekly basis now . Can understand that they do stretch but surely NOT THAT QUICK

What is going on here? Is it time to replace chain and sprockets (hope not)...

When you put the new chain on originally, did you change the sprockets as well?

umm i dunno..i just ride my bike...
actually u should have a spanner to fit in ur tool bag, otherwise use a big shifter (i kno, last on the list of tools to use)...tightening a chain is a 3 min job..a piece of piss..im sure one of the boys can show u how to do it urself...that way u kno its done properly...

Actually Marty, whats the brand of that chain?

Oh, if you get the socket size I can prolly give you one of the many thousands i have here.

hehe I can see a workshop day at Yankee's, get that BBQ out, make room in the fridge and send the missus to her parents in Tas. All good

...my old 9 and the 10 both have a 27mm for the rear wheel nut, so my money would be on your one being the same.

When you put the new chain on originally, did you change the sprockets as well?

I was hoping no one would ask that, cuz, I DIDN'T at the time (i was suffering from a common disease that keeps popping up with me: Fundslow Disease= $$$$$ )

Anyway, yeah, that is what I am jotting it down to.... not changing the damn sprockets as well, cuz i oil/clean the bastard like there is no tomorrow. oh, while we are on the subject, and this go around I WILL change all the drive chain gear....... what's the story with 520 V 525???

cheers all, yeah, still have no idea what that axel nut needs... it's huge, cuz i had a honda one for the cbr, but this one is bigger!

cheers all, yeah, still have no idea what that axel nut needs... it's huge, cuz i had a honda one for the cbr, but this one is bigger!

Talk to your local 'friendly' kwacky dealer, should be too much $$$ for a new one.

And after that try talking to miss cheeky she can probably do a good price as well

Not that i am not fussed on the local kwacka dealer mind you.

i told ya mate..not much a large shifter wont fix...

When you put the new chain on originally, did you change the sprockets as well?

I was hoping no one would ask that, cuz, I DIDN'T at the time (i was suffering from a common disease that keeps popping up with me: Fundslow Disease= $$$$$ )

Anyway, yeah, that is what I am jotting it down to.... not changing the damn sprockets as well, cuz i oil/clean the bastard like there is no tomorrow. oh, while we are on the subject, and this go around I WILL change all the drive chain gear....... what's the story with 520 V 525???

cheers all, yeah, still have no idea what that axel nut needs... it's huge, cuz i had a honda one for the cbr, but this one is bigger!

hehe I fully understand, but it is most likely the reason for the short life of the chain. A mate of mine did the exact same thing, including cleaning and oiling, and still couldn't understand where all the noise was coming from and why it had so many tight spots. I could see and hear his problem riding behind him but he still took some convincing that his chain was actually stuffed, cause it was still "new" in his books.

I had exactly the same just a month ago, I found a taght spot eventually. The problem was that when you adjusted the chain it seemed OK, but you then rolled the bike forward and the tension changed. It drove me crazy for a week, then I got a new chain & sprocket set. Loads of dough, but instantly solved the problem. All I need to do now is get a smaller front sprocket for track days, as I don't need one for commuting.

yup, Mick_C, you totally hit the nail on the head. (I sound just like your friend) thought that it wouldn't matter.... damn i was wrong...
EVERYONE LEARN FROM MY MISTAKE!!!! (the damn thing scratched the top of my rear swing arm due to the excess slack then tightness whipping around )
i'll go get some new sprockets and chain SET asap!!

having said that..... i'm off to make a new thread..... (after i search for the forums first for 520/525)....