Adjusting Chain Slack

[jeremy_283]

So my chain is taught but with a little bit of force it has 20mm of freeplay. Is this the incorrect way to adjust a chain? Cause it's like tight but still has 20mm of freeplay.

 

[twotonevert]

It should have a little more than that. 1.2 to 1.8 inches. Yours has about .7 inches at 20mm. I like to keep mine around 1.2 to 1.5.

 

[Tufbusa]

If ever in doubt, adjust it on the loose side rather than the tight side.

A tight chain binds your rear suspension restricting it's movement! BAD!

A tight chain also wears faster and is actually easy to break if you happen to smack a chuck hole in the pavement.

 

[outlawbusa]

Just an added note to what others have stated...your chain will also act like a braking force to some degree being too tight. Loosen it and feel how much more free the rear tire rotates.

 

[jeremy_283]

Can't it bend the output shaft too?

 

[Tufbusa]

Can't it bend the output shaft too?

That shaft is as hard as a Ho's Heart and it won't bend but on rare occasions it can break the case.

 

[dadofthree]

Not the answer to your question, but your questiob has been answered. I always rotate the chain around and check a number of spots just in case and I'll check why I'm sitting on the bike, because that changes things also, and we normally ride while sitting on our bikes. Well that should be good for some flaming

 

[chrisjp]

i always adjust while on the kickstand and with 1.2-1.5 inches of play.