Techtip

TECHTIP

When adjusting a motorcycle’s drive chain, the way in which you tighten the axle nut can be almost as important as the method you use to achieve proper chain and rear-wheel alignment. Once you have satisfactorily aligned the wheel with the adjusters, always tighten the axle nut by pushing the wrench forward. Chain adjusters work by forcing the axle rearward, so pushing the wrench in that direction can shift the axle farther to the rear, away from the adjuster. If the nut is on the left side of the swingarm, start with the wrench in approximately the 4 o’clock position and turn it only to 8 o'clock, then move it back to 4 o’clock and repeat the process until the nut is tight. If the nut is on the right, follow the same procedure, starting with the wrench at 10 o’clock and turning it only until 2 o’clock. If you have to hold the other end of the axle while you tighten the nut, position both wrenches in this manner. Then, once the axle is tight, snug each adjuster’s bolt/nut/locknut (unless, obviously, they are cam-type adjusters) just enough to keep the axle from shifting forward during normal use. -Paul Dean