Can some explain why my chain has gone tight after changing the rear tyre? This is the first time the rear wheel has been taken off so the adjustment bolts were still in the same position with the manufacturers dab of paint on and yet the chain only has about 15mm of slack even though the axle is tight up against the adjusters and is even both sides? I'm a little confused and of course concerned that I might have done something wrong?
Is it all turning freely even though it is tight ? Chain seated properly on the sprockets ? Daft question but did it definitely have alot more slack before ?
The chain is seated properly and it does move freely, however it sound tight. I'm going to take it all apart again to see if I.ve done something wrong. I didin't check the chain before hand so thats a perfectly reasonable question but the wheel has never been off before even though its a 55 plate and I can't imagine it would have left the dealer this tight. I must have done something wrong albeit I can't see what?
I really don't see what could be wrong apart from the wheel maybe slipping back when you tighten the bolt. I always jam a sew driver in between the rear sprocket and turn the rear wheel to pull the wheel in tight and guarantee the chain will have slack when i release the screw driver ( old motocross technique ) otherwise take the chain off and check for tight spots if its the original as its a few years old now, align it all up from scratch and jobs a gooden
Sorry for going back to basics but... Surely the adjustment bolts need to be loosened in order to remove the wheel (I do that anyway). When you refit the wheel, you just adjust it using the bolts which move the blocks so that the chain slack is correct?
I've never had to back off the adjusters when changing wheels unless i was chaining sprockets at the same time (going to wets on the track and changing gearing etc) have you got the adjuster blocks the right way round? they should be bang on centre but maybe they're slightly out? also are the wheel spacers in right way round? also the OE chain on my fire blade was pretty poor to be honest. only chain I've ever had with tight spots and it had a few! really hard to adjust properly.
Yeah makes sense. I think I must just do it out of habit (ie, I always readjust chain tension when refitting the wheel)
The 190/55 is almost 10mm taller than the 50, so it would tighten the chain a fair bit, it also alters the gearing slightly like a bigger rear sprocket would!
It does not make the chain move thou does it ? lol the tyre may make the wheel sit higher of the ground but the chain is around the sprocket which is attached the the centre of the wheel , tyre or no tyre fitted the centre does not move man . the only affect it could have is if he had to move the wheel back to clear the swing arm which he has not as the wheel is still butting up against the adjusters which have not been moved .
Honestly, a 190/55 will affect the chain, may only be slight but it can be enough. When you sit on the bike, the chain tightens slightly due to the upwards movement of the swingarm. A taller rear tyre will also move the swingarm up, and it tightens the chain. The tyre on Carl's bike may still be a 190, was just a thought!
ok what you are suggesting is true . the swing arm will lift a little higher but this would have a tiny affect on the chain and a million miles from the cause of this problem . I know as i have fitted a 55 tyre on my first tyre change , made no adjustments to the adjuster bolts and my chain is at the same tension as it was with the 50 .
Dan have you noticed any difference with the 55 profile? Are you pleased with the handling now or is it not much of a difference?
The chain adjsutment would be effected when putting on a new tyre, the chain would have to be adjusted to compensate for wear on the old tyre
Didn't affect mine . My original 50 tyre was screwed , proper flat spot . Upgraded to a set of spotsmarts with a 55 profile rear and the chain was exactly the same .. The swinger goes up when you sit on the bike anyway . the problem in this thread is that the chain now only has 15mm movement after having a new tyre when no adjustments have been made . there is no way a 55 tyre is the reason why it has gone so tight otherwise it would have done it to mine .
