Rookie chain adjustment question.

Aceofspades
My 14 rmz450 says to have 1.7 to 2 inches of freeplay at the midpoint of the swingarm between the end of the slider and the rear sprocket, measured on the bottom side of the swingarm. Ive also heard to use the old "3 fingers under the chain at the top rear of the slider". Since I cannot get an accurate measurement using the service manual method, is the 3 finger method adequate?
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Paw Paw 271
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Paw Paw 271 4/12/2017 8:17pm
4/12/2017 8:17pm
Yes...To get the very best chain adjustment requires a bit of work the first time and then can be done very easy after that.
If you have the bike on a center stand with the shock loose from the lower link, you can raise the swing arm until the countershaft. swing arm pivot and rear axle are in a straight line with each other. You can the adjust the chain to where it is just snug with just a bit of movement up and down.
Then lower the swing arm and replace the shock on the lower link. At this point remove the bike from the stand and
have someone hold it up right and the measure the chain movement up from the swing arm at the rear of the top chain slider. Record that measurement. Then at any time in the future you can adjust the chain to that measurement to have it adjusted perfectly.
Or you can just use the 3 finger method you described.

Paw Paw
Aceofspades 4/12/2017 8:30pm
4/12/2017 8:30pm Edited Date/Time 4/12/2017 8:32pm
Thats a great idea! Thanks! Ill do that technique first. Need to lube my linkage anyway
sandman768
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sandman768 4/13/2017 4:27am
4/13/2017 4:27am
Always error on the side of loose than too tight...if you ride sand or mud, little loose is also better as the sand & mud will tighten the slack...rear wheel alignment is also very important, make sure rear wheel is even & not crooked,
mxtech1
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mxtech1 4/13/2017 8:07am
4/13/2017 8:07am
Paw Paw 271 wrote:
Yes...To get the very best chain adjustment requires a bit of work the first time and then can be done very easy after that. If you...
Yes...To get the very best chain adjustment requires a bit of work the first time and then can be done very easy after that.
If you have the bike on a center stand with the shock loose from the lower link, you can raise the swing arm until the countershaft. swing arm pivot and rear axle are in a straight line with each other. You can the adjust the chain to where it is just snug with just a bit of movement up and down.
Then lower the swing arm and replace the shock on the lower link. At this point remove the bike from the stand and
have someone hold it up right and the measure the chain movement up from the swing arm at the rear of the top chain slider. Record that measurement. Then at any time in the future you can adjust the chain to that measurement to have it adjusted perfectly.
Or you can just use the 3 finger method you described.

Paw Paw
I highly recommend this method. It is a fool proof way to ensure the chain is proper throughout the entire path of the swingarm arc.

It will take some extra time the first few times you do it, but once you see how accurate it is you will never want to go back to the finger method.

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Aceofspades 4/13/2017 10:32am
4/13/2017 10:32am
On my old bikes, I would lay my body down on the seat and press hard enough to almost bottom the shock, checking chain tension the whole way. This new rmz is so stiff i cant get it compressed. I guess it needs time to break in. Ill lube the links and swingarm and use the paw paw method lol.
Acidreamer
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Acidreamer 4/13/2017 11:21am
4/13/2017 11:21am
Ronnie macs tech tips is really helpful for this exact thing.
Knoby
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Knoby 4/13/2017 4:23pm
4/13/2017 4:23pm
Paw Paw 271 wrote:
Yes...To get the very best chain adjustment requires a bit of work the first time and then can be done very easy after that. If you...
Yes...To get the very best chain adjustment requires a bit of work the first time and then can be done very easy after that.
If you have the bike on a center stand with the shock loose from the lower link, you can raise the swing arm until the countershaft. swing arm pivot and rear axle are in a straight line with each other. You can the adjust the chain to where it is just snug with just a bit of movement up and down.
Then lower the swing arm and replace the shock on the lower link. At this point remove the bike from the stand and
have someone hold it up right and the measure the chain movement up from the swing arm at the rear of the top chain slider. Record that measurement. Then at any time in the future you can adjust the chain to that measurement to have it adjusted perfectly.
Or you can just use the 3 finger method you described.

Paw Paw
mxtech1 wrote:
I highly recommend this method. It is a fool proof way to ensure the chain is proper throughout the entire path of the swingarm arc. It...
I highly recommend this method. It is a fool proof way to ensure the chain is proper throughout the entire path of the swingarm arc.

It will take some extra time the first few times you do it, but once you see how accurate it is you will never want to go back to the finger method.
X3. Use a ratchet strap around the seat to bring the swing arm up. It'll save some time.
Aceofspades 4/13/2017 8:28pm
4/13/2017 8:28pm
Paw Paw 271 wrote:
Yes...To get the very best chain adjustment requires a bit of work the first time and then can be done very easy after that. If you...
Yes...To get the very best chain adjustment requires a bit of work the first time and then can be done very easy after that.
If you have the bike on a center stand with the shock loose from the lower link, you can raise the swing arm until the countershaft. swing arm pivot and rear axle are in a straight line with each other. You can the adjust the chain to where it is just snug with just a bit of movement up and down.
Then lower the swing arm and replace the shock on the lower link. At this point remove the bike from the stand and
have someone hold it up right and the measure the chain movement up from the swing arm at the rear of the top chain slider. Record that measurement. Then at any time in the future you can adjust the chain to that measurement to have it adjusted perfectly.
Or you can just use the 3 finger method you described.

Paw Paw
mxtech1 wrote:
I highly recommend this method. It is a fool proof way to ensure the chain is proper throughout the entire path of the swingarm arc. It...
I highly recommend this method. It is a fool proof way to ensure the chain is proper throughout the entire path of the swingarm arc.

It will take some extra time the first few times you do it, but once you see how accurate it is you will never want to go back to the finger method.
Knoby wrote:
X3. Use a ratchet strap around the seat to bring the swing arm up. It'll save some time.
Very good idea! I cant believe I never even thought of that. I was getting hernias pushing down.on that damned seat lol.
PFitzG38
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PFitzG38 4/17/2017 9:20am
4/17/2017 9:20am
Paw Paw 271 wrote:
Yes...To get the very best chain adjustment requires a bit of work the first time and then can be done very easy after that. If you...
Yes...To get the very best chain adjustment requires a bit of work the first time and then can be done very easy after that.
If you have the bike on a center stand with the shock loose from the lower link, you can raise the swing arm until the countershaft. swing arm pivot and rear axle are in a straight line with each other. You can the adjust the chain to where it is just snug with just a bit of movement up and down.
Then lower the swing arm and replace the shock on the lower link. At this point remove the bike from the stand and
have someone hold it up right and the measure the chain movement up from the swing arm at the rear of the top chain slider. Record that measurement. Then at any time in the future you can adjust the chain to that measurement to have it adjusted perfectly.
Or you can just use the 3 finger method you described.

Paw Paw
^^This. Don't read to the manual - know for sure. Then cut a piece of wood the correct size and you can always stick it in to see where you are.
smoothies862 4/17/2017 6:34pm
4/17/2017 6:34pm Edited Date/Time 4/17/2017 6:34pm
also measure the axle blocks off the back. have seen the lines match but they aren't true. if you have anal ocd like meWhistling its a weird thing. same with forks - triple clamps. 5.15--5.75....damn. move it a touch,lol.

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