'02 chain keeps loosening up

I have a Honda service manual for an '02, page 3-19. Procedure says to put bike on center stand, loosen pinch bolt, use spanner wrench to tighten the chain to 1 - 1.375", then tighten pinch bolt to 54 ft lbs. I do this according to this procedure, then drive the bike for a few miles, and the chain is excessivly loose. Its like the pinch bolt loosens up. Anyone else experience this? If so, what was the fix? Thanks Chris

 

Faulty torque wrench? I've seen it happen before and I know for a fact that one of my two is off and I just haven't had a chance to take it in to have it dialed back in. Just a suggestion.

Pull the pinch bolt out and clean the threads....maybe that is part of your problem. The next time you adjust the chain, mark the adjuster and the swingarm and then go ride... see if the adjustment is changing or if something else is going on, such as your chain stretching.

Is the chain new or old? Are your sprockets in good shape or badly worn?

 

chain

Mark the eccentric with a sharpie to insure it is not backing off and then I say bad chain or bearing. You should inspect all related items.

 

time for a new chain my friend!

 

just bought the bike this year with 12,000 miles on it. I just checked the threads on the pinch bolt, they are clean and not stripped. I just added some purple locktite to the threads (the removable kind). I also, as suggested, marked both the pinch bolt and the adjuster. Sprockets look to be OK, they don't have a "sawtooth pattern" on them. Thought about the torque wrench giving me faulty readings, but its reasonable new, but still not a bad idea to have it checked out. I can take it to work to check on a calibrated bench. I feared the new chain idea. Bad bearing? I assume the rear hub bearing. I can check that as well. Suppose I'll go ride and check the marks. If loose again, I'll then replace the sprockets and chain as a pair. THanks again! Chris

 

you need a new chain

 

You use a torque wrench? :tongue: God gave me two torque wrenches. They've worked great for 48 years. :biggrin:

My 2006 VFR has 27,000 miles on it. I've adjusted the chain TWICE. No, I don't ride it like it's a scooter, but on the other hand, I don't take it to the track on weekends either. From the lack of wear, I'd say I have a good 10,000 more miles to go before I get a new chain and sprocket set. When I do I am going to go wiith Honda OEM. Damn sturdy stuff.

 

Honda doesn't make chains. If you look closely at it, it'll probably have DID, EK, Tsubaki stamped on it or something to that effect.

 

Thanks for the info.

 

I have heard of those 37k mile chains. Is it true they are $999.95 each? Do they glow in the dark?

 

Heh-heh-heh...:smile: All I know is that it's working fine and it's still in great shape. You can see it in the pics I have posted. I posted in a chain lube thread a bit ago. The chain still looks the same. Once a week I wax the chain and wipe it down. I ride daily, rain or shine. I also go joy riding on weekends or travel across Florida to visit family. I average at least 15,000 miles a year. I've had the bike less than two years so far. Whoever manufactured the OEM chain, I'll stick with it when the time comes, unless my mechanic recommends something better.

 

Maybe a class on remedial arithmetic?

 

My chain looks new and clean (Original DID 530 chain and never replaced) but i do have some small sections that seem like the chain gets slightly tighter and looser as i rotate the wheel. I got about 15.5K miles

 

Chris:

Inquiring minds want to know! Have you any results to report since you added the locktite and marked the bolt heads and eccentric?

Good luck,
Bob S.

 

Same mileage and symptoms here with a kink or two as well, it's time for a new chain . . .

 

Well, I did the locktite thing and marked both the pinch bolt and eccentric. No movement on either, but the chain was loose. That was late last year, then had to put the bike away in storage for the winter. I just ordered a new chain and sprocket from sprocketcenter, so I'll get them on as soon as the bike is out of storage, hopefully in the next week or so. After some miles, I'll repost results. Thanks Chris

 

When adjust the chain you should rotate untill you find the tight spot on the chain then make your measurement at that spot. If the chain is badly kinch time for a new chain and sprockets

 

just a follow up, got around 200 miles on the new chain, no issues. Chain still tight! Thank you!

 

New Chain and Sprockets

Just bought a chain and sprocket set from Sprocket Center and decided to go with a -1(15t) up front, now I have to decide which speedo healer to get . . .