Chain adj not that easy to figure out!

On the vfr 800, chain adj is 1-11/3 inch slack,you can only do this adj with the tire up in the air with the spanner tool and a 16mm socket and 56 ft pounds or 74nm torque wrench. I think , I set it to one inch slack. When shifting you should feel some slack in the chain and not much. It makes a huge difference having it set right. Mine was too loose, Too tight maybe even worse-really hard on sprockets and chain or way too loose-hitting the frame. I don't think most people bother to make sure the chain is working right.:spider:

 

incorrect as always. You do the adjustment with the wheel on the ground.

 

the owners manual says on center stand adj chain

 

You read it wrong.

 

no on a 2006 check on center stand and the slack is measured by up and down slack added together something I didn't know, I thought slack was measured one way-no wonder it was too loose-it maybe simple but the bike shop set it too loose-I knew it was not right after a while. I will check it again and the bike shop torqued it way too tight the pinch bolt too. Two wrong settings from the bike shop. I think it is working correctly-may have set it right by accident.

 

It pains me to say this but SOW is correct, manual states to check chain slack on center stand. And pinch bolt is 54 ft. Lbs. Your bike shop probably used an impact gun. Hate those things!

 

SOW is correct.

 

The reason you must run slack on the center stand is because the upward travel of the swing arm tightens the chain and if you are too tight and go over a bump the chain gets wacked with a massive impact load and the countershaft takes a mighty hit as well

 

You run the risk of overtightening if doing the adjustment on the center stand.

On the center stand the rear wheel is unloaded weight wise and suspension fully extended, if you tighten the chain on the center stand, and then put the bike down the chain is now tighter than your adjustment. Which is why I leave the bike's weight on the swingarm. If you use a SSA rear stand, then this isn't an issue.

I just adjusted the chain slack on my 99 with nothing but the side stand.

loosen the pinch bolt, wedge the spanner between the adjusting ring notches and a sprocket bolt, turn the tire by hand which will leverage on the adjusting ring. tighten pinch bolt. Done

 

I tend to think that the owners manual gives the correct advice, you know, engineers and all that...

 

These are the same engineers that put a molex connector between the stator and R/R I take it?

 

I very much doubt it is the same engineers, the principle of adjusting chains on swing arm bikes was worked out and adopted over 60 years ago and nothing has changed and there is nothing special about a VFR swing arm that would change the basic principle, it just goes up and down in an arc same as every other bike

 

My manual sort of contradicts itself. Which only adds to the confusion.

Mine states to have it on the side stand for the inspection and centre stand for the adjustment. The tolerance is the same for both methods.

For the record, I did it on the centre stand the first time and switched to the side stand after that. I found it was too tight, when done on the centre stand.

 

I do both ways, 1st on the center stand & then on side stand. Unless I measured wrong but I seem to have the same slack for both...

 

For the record, I did it on the centre stand the first time and switched to the side stand after that. I found it was too tight, when done on the centre stand.

And that is how it should be because the swing arm has moved closer to its greatest axis point and in reality it should be checked with the rider sitting on it because the swing arm comes up higher again. And then chuck on a pillion and the chain needs adjusting again for the same reason, the swing arm has come up to probably it's full travel extent

 

:banana: well this just adds to confusing chain adj -I too think the center stand way makes the chain a bit too tight because it now has little movement while on side stand, but when I was riding it, I noticed it did have some chain slack, but maybe it needs to be a bit looser. I try the side stand way next, I also think the manual is wrong but only partly-maybe 1/2 off when don on center stand-set it at 1.5 inch's. With a expensive 520 chain set, you don't want to wear it out being too tight. That's why I said chain adj is simple, but correct adj isn't. So there you have the Gold chain story.

 

This.

And with chain slack it's better to err on the side of a bit more slack. Which you will do if the rear suspension is compressed a bit while making the adjustment.

 

This is actually the best way. Especially seeing that one rider is 120 lbs and another is close to 300. That is a big difference in adjustment.

 

I agree, side stand is better and more easy too than the center stand. I think it was maybe 1/2 inch too tight-i just adj the chain again. Why does the manual give such poor info? adj on side stand and set at 1 3/8 inch. Its very fast and easy.

 

That's why there is a variation in measurement. If 1" is too tight, slack it off to 1 3/8". Haynes also says to check on center stand. I have always checked slack on center stand and am on I think my fourth set of chains and sprockets. In over 116,000 miles, I guess that is not bad service from chain and sprockets considering what I used to ride in. Think I will stick with what worked for me. That happenes to be what the manual says. But if you prefer the side stand, and that works for you, then fill your boots.