My mates chain....

skippy · Borekit Bruiser Joined: 23 Jan 2003 Karma :

Right, my mate has a hereford 125 (i think its a hereford or sumthing - i'd never heard of it before - anyway its a 125 crosser)
The chain keeps loosening up - and i mean it gets really loose. When he is at a stop the chain touches the swing-arm! Whenever we tighten it up within 2 or so weeks its that loose again. (He does about 400miles a week on it) We have changed the chain, and the same thing happened with the new one, i think he has even changed the sprockets just to be sure its not them.
Anyway, anyone got any ideas on what it could be thats causing it?

Cheers
Chris

Ste · Not Work Safe Joined: 01 Sep 2002 Karma :

Well, are you doing it back up to the correct torque setting?

I tighten mine up about it must be about 600miles maybe?

How many miles has he done on the chain? And has it been lubed?

btw: if u want an nsr, but mine, put it in the garage, and then you have one ready for may/june Very Happy

Kris · World Chat Champion Joined: 03 Feb 2002 Karma :

you sure you're not over-tightening it? This can be worse than tightening it up.

oh and keep it oiled, that way it'll last longer.

Anyways, he could have quite a small, cheap chain on it, and if he's a bit hamfisted with it (always trying to pop wheelies etc) then it will need tightening more often.
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skippy · Borekit Bruiser Joined: 23 Jan 2003 Karma :

Yea we are setting it to the correct settings etc etc
Not a cheap chain (i dont think)
I wudnt be surprised if he was pulling wheelies and stuff, but hes a very careful / sensible rider, never mucks around on it
He took it into a garage about a month ago to have it tigtened professionally incase we were doin sumthing wrong, but the same thing happened....took it back to the garage and they are just as confused....

Phoenix · Twisted Firestarter Joined: 01 Aug 2002 Karma :

G · The Voice of Reason Joined: 02 Feb 2002 Karma :

Kickstart · The Oracle Joined: 04 Feb 2002 Karma :

Hi

If you are doing 400 miles a week, and the chain needs doing every 2 weeks then that isnt too bad

Check the chain is lubed. Check the chain is a decent size chain, and matches the sprockets.

Think the bike you mean is Hartford.

There are things that will wreck chains. Get the real wheel alignment wrong and it will wear the chain (either by not keeping it in line, or mixing up the spacers either side of the wheel hub). Worn cush drive rubbers will shorten the life. Putting a new chain on worn sprockets will mean the chain wont last long. Overtightening the chain will wreck it (and maybe the bearing behind the front sprocket as well).

All the best

Keith
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Robby · Dirty Old Man Joined: 16 May 2002 Karma :

chains do just stretch, and crosser chains are meant to have a lot of free play when your not sitting on them - to correctly adjust it you need to be seeing how slack the chain is while sitting on the bike, cos crosser suspension sinks a lot more when someone sits on it.

so you are probably overtightening it. plus if its a standard (non O ring) chain then it will just stretch for the first 1000 miles or so.