Chain Adjustment

[ScaredyCat]

Hot on the heels of my "You fukin' n00b" never adjusted a chain before thread, I went out and bought myself a Sealy torque wrench, 27mm socket and some spanners and have now attempted the chain tightening for the first time. Everything seems ok except for one thing that's niggling me.

The rear plate, pictured below, on one side is no longer tightly fitting against the rear of the swingarm:

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/188253/_bcf/saplate.png

It's by no means flapping about, it's just not snug and has a little movement. Is this normal? Have I done goofed?

I've used measurements from the rear of that plate to the end of the adjusting nut on both sides and the distance is the same.
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Honda CBF125 ➝ NC700X
Honda CBF125 ↳ Speed Triple

[RhynoCZ]

Once you're done with setting the adjusters, knock the rear wheel forwards, until the chain is tight/lose enough and those plates are firmly on the swingarm. This is a typical Noob mistake, they fiddle with the adjusters and not with the wheel. Also, do both sides simultaneously and the axle will move as you tighten the axle nut.

[ScaredyCat]

Thanks, all sorted now. Undid the axel bolt, gave the wheel a shove and then tightened it up. All snug now. Thanks for the help.
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Honda CBF125 ➝ NC700X
Honda CBF125 ↳ Speed Triple

[Fizzer Thou]

I have seen photographs of people using a spanner jammed in between the chain and the rear sprocket in order to tighten the wheel spindle against the adjusters.But I prefer to use some oily rag because of damage that might occur to the Renthal ally sprockets that I use.

Once the wheel spindle nut has been tightened,double check that nothing has moved.Then check that the chain has sufficient slack,according to the owners manual.

Adjust cold.Lubricate hot.
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Just talk bikes.What else is there?

Always have a 'Plan B'

[mauzo]

This will only happen if you make the chain looser, which isn't usual. Chains get longer as they wear; if it starts getting shorter you've probably got a tight link, and you should replace the chain or at least sort out the tight spot.

If it's just because you've gone too far with the adjustment and needed to back off a bit, I generally back off a bit too far, give the wheel a good shove, and then tighten up again more slowly. That way the adjusters seat themselves, and you know you're checking the tension with everything in the right place.

It's a good idea to give the wheel a decent push forward before you do up the axle bolt, in any case.
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'04 CG125, '07 CBF500

[Pete.]