How often do you need to adjust your chain?

[Sossige]

I'm trying to get a feeling as to what's normal in terms of adjusting the chain tension on a bike.

I had my Hornet serviced 700 mile ago, when I'm sure the chain/sprockets condition and chain tension would have been checked.

I keep my chain well lubed by lubing the bottom run of the chain after every ride (oo-er); my theory is that over time, the whole chain gets a good lubing without having to put the bike on a stand (I save that for a periodic chain clean and complete relube).

I keep an eye on my chain tension but I've never had to adjust it. Obviously it will have been looked at as part of the last service, but even now it's well within the slack range specified in the manual (30-40mm).

Generally speaking, how often does a well cared for chain need to be have its tension adjusted?

Cheers,

Soss

[mitzy]

Had my chanin adjusted at the weekend, we didnt have to tool to do it so too it down to MAC and flashed my eyelashes!

First time since buying which was sept time.

[Sossige]

How many miles have you done since September Mitzy?

Soss

[mitzy]

Sossige said:

How many miles have you done since September Mitzy?

Soss

You know what I'm not sure, will have a look and let you know later.

[y2blade]

mine doesnt need adjusting very often tbh...prob once every 1000miles i guess (the fireblade)

the DRZ one is pretty much the same tbh it's only needed doing three times in the 4000miles its now done from new

[Mr OCD]

Chains are supposed to be checked every 600-1000 miles and if necessary adjusted... mine used to need adjusting every 1000-1200 miles until I installed a Scottoiler... now its done 3k miles and still doesnt need adjustment and its cleaner than its ever been

[Stu R]

I check mine regularly, but it rarely needs adjusting, twice in 10k miles iirc. Clean the bike thoroughly and regularly degrease and lube the chain and it's been fine. I only use decent chains and sprockets.

For what it's worth if you're after a good chain lube I've found the Wurth chain wax performs best, better than the Castrol I swore by until I changed to it.

For the few minutes it takes to clean and lube, I'd sooner waste the money a scottoiler costs on something else.

[RizzoTheRat]

I need to tighten mine this week but I think it must have been 3-4000 miles ago I last adjusted it. Scottoilers rock!

[Hooli]

scotoiler in use here.
so far in 10k since fitting new chain & sprockets i adjusted it after about 500miles when it bedded in & not since. its nearly at the point i'll adjust it but it can wait for the service in a few hundred miles. still within the spec for freeplay though.

[black-k1]

Chain? Oh yes, that nasty oily thing that makes your back wheel filthy. Sorry, got the upgrade so don’t need one!

[y2blade]

black-k1 said:

Chain? Oh yes, that nasty oily thing that makes your back wheel filthy. Sorry, got the upgrade so don’t need one!

lol

[Twit]

It depends on the bike. When I had my Triumph Daytona I had to adjust it just about every thousand miles, I never adjusted my XT chain in all the time I owned it and I ran 25000 miles round the world before I adjusted the chain on my KTM, although by then it was hanging off!

So, just keep an eye on it and give it a nip up if its looking a bit slack!!

[Sossige]

Thanks all - the Haynes manual says check every 600 miles (in reality, I'm checking every time I lube the bottom of the chain or clean/lube the whole chain as it takes seconds to check).

I was more curious as to how often it is likely to actually need adjusting - and by the sounds of it, the more you look after the chain, the less often that it will need adjusting.

Soss

[Roger McLittriss]

Never. Never ever.





Shaftie

[Chilli]

Roger McLittriss said:

Never. Never ever.





Shaftie

Same here. Ok, I have a chain, but how the hell do you know if it needs seeing to?

[Stu R]

Chilli said:

Roger McLittriss said:

Never. Never ever.





Shaftie

Same here. Ok, I have a chain, but how the hell do you know if it needs seeing to?

lift the bottom of the chain about half way between the sprockets. If it moves excessively (how much depends on the model, anything over 2 inches would be excessive typically but some bikes have much slacker chains than others I've found) it needs adjusting, which is also a piece of the proverbial.

[Chilli]

Stu R said:

Chilli said:

Roger McLittriss said:

Never. Never ever.





Shaftie

Same here. Ok, I have a chain, but how the hell do you know if it needs seeing to?

lift the bottom of the chain about half way between the sprockets. If it moves excessively (how much depends on the model, anything over 2 inches would be excessive typically but some bikes have much slacker chains than others I've found) it needs adjusting, which is also a piece of the proverbial.

Got ya. I'll get the tyre man to do it!!

[Stu R]

takes literally seconds matey, a minute tops so can't see them being bothered about doing it, my tyre fitter always checks it for me but it rarely needs doing

Just back the spindle nut off on the wheel, adjust as required on both sides making sure to keep it even (best off using a caliper / steel rule rather than use the swingarm markers but I'm guilty of using the latter when feeling lazy) tighten, check slack, enjoy.

[catso]

Rarely but then it is quite loose.....

[StevRS]

st. Just off into the garage, BRB!