First chain tension adjustment REVISIT/HElP!!!

Hey all, so after having adjusted my chain tension for the first time, I checked it again today just on a whim, and it was tight. Like really seriously tight, maybe a half-inch of play. I threw it up on the centerstand and it loosened up quite a bit, but not to the point that I had adjusted it. I span the wheel and I have come to find that half of my chain is pretty loose and half is pretty tight, so on the looser portion of the chain the tension was just about perfect. Now I followed the instruction manual to the letter when I adjusted it the first time, leaving an inch and a quarter measured right behind the angle in the swingarm where it shows in the diagram. Now I know that the chain tightens up when it's off the centerstand, but I'm a mechanical moron and I know too tight when I see it. So what should I do? Run measured on the centerstand and tight on the wheels, or loose on the centerstand and measured 1.25" on the wheels? Help!!!

 

Time for a new chain.

Tight spots in the chain are a sure sign of wear. I wore my first chain out pretty quick with a lot of jack rabbit starts and learning to be smooth on the clutch/gas.
I would replace it pretty soon as a stretched chain can wear out your sprockets in a hurry.

 

I'm planning on replacing the chain at my 4k mile service, I just rolled over 2k so I shouldn't be riding on that chain any more than a month, two months tops. I don't really have a heavy hand on the throttle and I never "launch" the viffer but I do have what I guess one would call an "aggressive" passing maneuver, so that might be the cause of it. Otherwise it may have just been the chain was too tight and it wore funny. At this point though I just want to make sure that I am adjusting the chain right from now on, so any advice anyone could give on how they set their chain tension, where they measure from, etc. would be greatly appreciated. Thanks though drewl!

 

Edit - Changed my mind, am already taking the bike in to get it's chain replaced. Unfortunately it has to be after a 500 mile trip to Los Angeles, so hopefully it doesn't do anything screwy with me... Any idea how much $$ I'm looking at for a new chain and sprockets?

 

Your chain is worn out at 2000 miles? That's got to be a new record.

 

@Yamarocket630 You're telling me and I'm the one that has to pay for it. Broke college student FTW

 

You could do it yourself with quality parts for about 250
At a shop...well over 300
I just did mine. Chain was an RK 530 o-ring for 79 bucks on Amazon, the sprockets were about 150.
The job took me a couple hours, but not difficult at all.

 

Right !! That makes no sense.............unless the chain came from China.

Maybe he meant to type 20,000 instead of 2000 ??

A chain with loose and tight spots should always be adjusted for proper slack at the tightest spot.

 

My chain has had a tight spot in it for about the last 8K miles. I've found that a little extra lube - say every 250 miles versus 500 - and it loosens up enough. No grinding, now worn teeth. 15K miles on the chain and sprockets, and without any setbacks, I can easily see getting another 5K or more out of it.

 

Every chain has a tight spot, it may be subtle on new chains, but its there. Set it to the right slack at the tightest point, lube it weekly and keep on riding. You'll be fine.