Motorcycle Safety & Driveability: Chain adjustment, left hand thread, honda shadow vt750

Question
I own a 2003 Honda Shadow VT750 and the chain always seem to be too loose. I need to learn how to make the adjustment myself. I tried to loosen the nuts but they were too tight. Is the thread a normal right hand thread or is it a left hand thread? Is it difficult to adjust the rear break if I ever do manage to adjust the chain?

Answer
Tony,

The threads turn in the normal directions. Use a high-quality box wrench (not a crescent wrench) to turn them. Use an exact matching size. If you round the adjusting nuts (strip them), a service dealer will have to remove them, so be careful. Threads turn tight-to-the-right. When you adjust the chain, it is simple to adjust the rear brake. Just take the bike for a quick ride and if you have to push the brake pedal down real far to get braking power, just tighten the adjustment nut on the rear brake arm (at the wheel) until the pedal feels normal again to you.

A local shop may give you a quick turorial on brake and chain adjustment, don't be afraid to ask them, especially if you bought the bike there.

Good luck!

Bill Roberson