QuestionToday, I gassed up the cycle after it sat unused for three weeks or so, and prepared to ride it 40 miles to work. As I passed the coffee shop and paused, looking for a parking space, a nice guy ran over and cautioned me that my chain was loose...that he thought it could wrap around the drive. I took the bike home and opted for the Toyota today. I am wondering if I can tighten the chain WITHOUT having a stand or blocks to put it up on. Or is this something that I MUST take to a motorcycle shop to adjust. I've got enough socket sets that I feel I could do it, but BALANCING THE BIKE? I'm worried. Can you advise me?
AnswerHi Kirk,
Technically you could adjust the chain while the bike is on the ground. But its going to be harder to get it aligned strait and its going to be harder to get the proper tension.
Ideally, you want the rear tire off the ground so you can measure a good inch in free play, while there is no weight on the back tire.
And for the alignment, while you can use the markers on the side of the swing arm, they really should be used more as a guide, rather then precise aligning measurements.
When I adjusted the chains on my bikes, I would get it close using those aligning marks (and sometimes a Vernier Caliper) and then I would give the back tire a good spin. When it stopped spinning I would look at how the chain link sat on the teeth on the rear sprocket. The teeth should be in center of the chain link, not off to one side or another.
Is there anyway to get a jack under your bike without damaging the exhaust?
I know that when I need to take the front tire off my Nighthawk, I use two scissor jacks (I borrow them from my car and my wife's car) and I put one under the bottom left side of the frame and one under the bottom right side of the frame and slowly crank them up, back and forth, on each side.
You can put a rag or a piece of wood between the jack and frame.
Ideally, if you have a hydraulic jack or two, then that would be best.
