is the chain my problem?

[steppen22]

I've been riding my er5, and it was fun getting up to 85 (on the back of course, as it's not yet restricted) but it still feels a little rough, especially up to 40.

Is my chain likely to be the problem? Thing is, I can't get the slack out of the chain without having it too tight at other points. So I have a slack spot of 2-2.5 inches (rather than 1.4 which it what it should be and what it is at the tightest point after adjustment)

video
View My Video

thanks.
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[Timmeh]

fuck me.

You only have to watch the first 10 seconds of the video to see the chain practically falling off the sprockets.

That chain is fucked, the links are either seized, dead or dying. 2.5 inches of freeplay is dangerous, bordering on stupidity.

My advice (and probably everyone else's) is to buy a new chain (and new sprockets for good measure) and get them fitted properly, before we get your next thread from your hospital bed where you were out riding your bike, the chain wrapped itself round the rear wheel and it spat you down the road, snapping your left ankle in the process.


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[steppen22]

[steppen22]

[steppen22]

[Timmeh]

[Finglonga]

[steppen22]

[carlperkins00...]

get a new chain and sprockets and chain adjusters. if the problem is still there after that, then god help you.

[boundy]

I know what your talking about mate, my new bike had a shagged chain, If you set the slack then turned the wheel the chain would then go really tight or really loose. ie, it would not maintain a consitant about of slack through a full rotation of the chain, this was caused by a few tight links, due to the bike being lest standing for months before I got it. new chain sorted it right out

[boundy]

[Ingah]

It's probably quite clear by this point, but i'd like to +1 what many have said/implied:

Your chain is probably knackered.

The reason for this is that it sounds like you are describing multiple tight spots on the chain (places where there is far less freeplay), and this is a pretty clear sign of a chain that needs to be replaced. One thing you could try is to check the whole chain for any seized links and work them free with chain lube to see if it helps. But failing that it's urgent new sprocket and chain time (it's recommended you do it all as a set otherwise your new chain will be swiftly ground down by your old sprockets).

I haven't been able to see more than the first 5 seconds of the video because i'm using a machine which really isn't capable of playing it, but from what i saw the chain was bouncing (for want of a better word) way too much. I would expect to see this as that's what was happening when my chain was also knackered.
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-- Ingah

[salty21]

some people really shouldn't post replies to problems they clearly know fuck all about, how the hell can tight spots in a chain be impossible???

i sense a cookie hunter
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04 NSR 125(sold) ---- 03 CBR 600rr(sold) ----90 pan euro ST1100 '' ----02 CG 125
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[Noxious89123]

CHR15, you are being a noob

If there is that much difference between the tightest and loosest part of your chain, it is fucked and must be replaced. Replacing the sprockets is also recommended, as old sprockets will quickly wear a new chain, and vice versa.
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[ms51ves3]

CHR15 you spazzer

[Blau Zedong]

CHR15, hurry up and self pwn ASAP plox.

If there was a poll for most retarded advice given in the workshop section you'd of just won it by a country fucking mile.
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[Mr Hammers]

As I understood it, CHR15 was trying to say that if he was measuring the most amount of slack at the bottom, and that was 1.5, then it would be impossible for it to be 2.5 at the top.

That is what you meant, isn't it, CHR15?





Throwing you a lifeline here, bud!

Edit:Oh, and I can't see the vid, but from what steppen has said here, that chain is most definitely fooked. What he describes is the very definition of a knackered chain.
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[lightfoot256]

LOL.

Chains are expensive, I used to go through new chains and sprokets every 3 months or so due to this same problem on one of my older bikes (~£90 a time!!); I think it might have been due to something else causing the issue or maybe just too much hard acceleration away from the lights?

My chain was never even... I used to think it was more to do with really slack points as opposed to tight ones. The key was finding the tightest spot and literally stretching it by extending the wheel while at it's tightest. I had chain issues for the life of the bike and apart from noise and slack issues it was never much of an issue but I kept check of it nearly every day and adjusted as necessary - Admittedly I was clocking up ~150 miles a day but never had any issues or felt any danger; Many might say I was just lucky and it was an accident waiting to happen but ah well, moved up to a newer bike now and never had any issues with the chain and I rag this one even harder. .

Somone once told me when you adjust your chain you're supposed to find the tightest spot (put it where the red mark is in your diagrams) and stretch there to ensure the chain stays "even" all the way around. You also need to adjust on a main stand to get the full benefit?

[lightfoot256]

As a side note; I actually lube the chain nearly _every day_ before I leave for work so maybe that's the real reason why they're lasting longer; before I'd go months without lubing it.

I got some fair priced gear oil (thick) and a nice applicator to squirt precisely between the links (not the rollers where everyone thinks it goes), leave it to soak it, wipe off and ride away - It also keeps the chain looking really nice and clean; If you're chains going rusty then it definitely needs more lube.

[Kickstart]

Hi

Chains wear in allowing some slack. Normally a tiny amount of wear on the pins which adds up (ie, 0.1mm wear on each pin on a 100 link chain means the chain is 1cm longer). Unlikely this wear will be totally even, and then links stick as well, and "appear" to make the chain shorter.

You should adjust the chain to be the right amount of slack at the tightest point. But if there is too much variation then it is time for a new chain.

[lightfoot256]

[lightfoot256]

[Kickstart]

[lightfoot256]

I'd always put off adjusting the chain on the GXSR as it only has a side stand but when I came to check (having to roll it half way down my drive a couple inches at a time to check the chain at each point - it was perfect all the way around; But as I said, I lube nearly every day so it seems to be keeping it in check.

I did find a rear paddock stand on ebay for ~£40 but money's tight at the minute so rolling it down the drive is all I have :-p

Thanks for the info. Makes me less worries about ruining my nice even chain :-p

[Mr Hammers]