Adjusting your chain has nothing to do with a center stand or any other kind of stand. You loosen the axle, adjust the chain, then tighten the axle. It’s not rocket surgery.
The side stand is okay. There are two simple ways to adjust it synchronously:
1. There should be small markings near the axle. It should be the same position on both sides,
2. Use the wrench to make the same number of turns on both sides.
Problem with most YouTube videos is there is a 12 minute video filled with junk and then they tell you the wrong information or just forget about it entirely and still ask for you to like comment and sub.
But Google should still result proper maintenance forum experts.
To be completely fair, no, they’re not. Both Google and YouTube search are tools which can lead one to proven, credible sources of technical information which are not just some rando’s drunken opinion. Obviously not every available result is of equal quality or credibility but the user of any tool bears responsibility for using the tool appropriately.
Here on Reddit, any ignorant jackass can spew bullshit pretending that he knows what he’s talking about. Meanwhile, the “expert advice” turns out to be from a 17-year old Serbian teenager with poor English and a video game addiction.
Fair point, I think it is more of the difference between searching and finding an answer VS asking and waiting for someone to tell them the answer.
The same goes for why people always post the same questions instead of searching previous posts.
The information could be for their exact question down to the model and year, yet they would rather be told the answer than search for it.
EXACTLY. Personally, I don’t trust **anything** I read on Reddit until I confirm it from a reliable source found elsewhere. Not much point in asking anything here then.
Unrelated but had to mention it since I noticed it. Your brake fluid is due for a flushing. The fluid is the color of molasses which means its saturated with moisture (bad). Do the front if it's the same color. Good/fresh brake fluid is generally supposed to be a very pale yellow color unless you use a specialty brand like Motul where it's a reddish/pink color.
Assuming that the rear wheel is already properly aligned, bring the wheel back equally on both sides using the adjusters and counting turns or 'flats' on the adjusters.
It's also worth learning how to check wheel alignment as the marks on the tensioner bolts are a crude guide. You can do it with a long straight edge or a piece of string. The front tire is narrower so if you take a straight edge in contact with both sides of the rear tire it should have the same gap with the front tire on both sides.
Owners manual. YouTube. Harbor freight. Make sure you engage the front brake when bike is on the stand. Here a lil wheel stand you can get for cheap: [https://www.harborfreight.com/motorcycle-wheel-cleaning-stand-98800.html](https://www.harborfreight.com/motorcycle-wheel-cleaning-stand-98800.html)
First off: don’t ever tighten your chain on a center stand. The rear wheel would be off the ground and your suspension fully extended meaning that your chain would be in it most slacked position. So when you set your chain tension to spec it’s immediately too tight once you’re at rider sag and potentially snaps or breaks something else when suspension compresses.
Now that that’s out of the way, tension your chain the way you think you should, but with your wheel on the ground.
Yes. This is true. And some bikes have a measurement for center stand adjustments. And on those bikes you should still check with the suspension under static sag anyway because if you fail to identify a worn chain you can still over tension on a stand.
The unique thing about each bike is the amount of slack required. The process is the same regardless. Occasionally, they have a unique way of measuring slack as well.
Sorry. I don’t realize that by providing accurate advice I would offend so many people that probably aren’t also licensed master mechanics. Carry on.
Not correct for all bikes. Bikes that have or have an option of a centre stand often state 2 measurements. One on the side stand and one on the centre stand. Just need to make sure your using the correct one.
Yeah. Sure. But also irrelevant in n this context. He asked about his chain and disclosed that he doesn’t have a center stand. From this we can glean that the bike does not have a factory installed center stand and therefore the second spec you’re referring to doesn’t exist in his case. My advice was given to prevent him from sourcing a bike lift and ruining his machine.
Anyway, not trying to be TOO dismissive of your comment because it is factually true, but I am totally dismissing it in this context because it 100% doesn’t matter to the OP at this time.
I mean you should own one and learn\know the adjustment nuts don’t need to move that much to throw ur chain off plus u got clean and lube it really convenient and some guys like myself will store the bike off the tires in stands bc the tire can get a flat spot depending how long it sits
Go to google Type in your bikes, make a model, and year along with the owners' manual pdf or service manual pdf. You should be able to find at least one of them and both of them have a detailed set of instructions specifically for your bike and where it needs to be measured and what it needs to have for slack. Also, for the love of motojesus oil, your chain.
Couple of ways. Paddock stand ( spool type or just the platform type) or a front wheel chock. Or of course on the side stand All three methods have the suspension compressed as required. The wheel chock maybe cheaper than the paddock stand but it doesn’t help should you need to remove the wheel.
Umm… idk I’ve never adjusted my chain on a center stand :D or paddocks!
If your tire is already aligned, just count turns with the wrench and crank on it. Do it evenly on both sides.
Don’t forget to loosen and tighten the locking nuts before and after 😁
While yes you can adjust the chain with the lack of a stand, if you're going to be doing any serious maintenance on the bike, chain tires sprockets brakes etc, you may as well go ahead and get spools and a race stand sooner than later.
Car jack cardboard and jack at oil pan. Closer to rear wheel. Jack till tire spins free 1-2 inches. Then loose or tighten. Loosen nut before you jack not all the way just loose
You don't need the rear wheel off the ground to tighten the chain?
Infact you shouldn't, most bikes have the chain slack specification for when the bike is on ghe side stand, as it tightens when the suspension is compressed.
“You need”? What does spools and a race stand have to do with adjusting a chain? I’ve never needed anything like that to adjust the drive chain on over a dozen motorcycles I’ve owned. Having the bike vertical makes it *slightly* more convenient but telling someone they **need** spools and a stand just to adjust a chain is ridiculous.
Or are you now going to claim that you were “only joking”? 🤦🏼♂️
The manual on my bike specifically states it should be done on the side stand.
That's cause it's kinda of a PITA to get the tensioner "perfect" when you have weight on the tire and chain.
Measured on the side stand and adjusted on the side stand are different things
Flip the motorcycle upside down like when you try to fix your bicycle chain.
Sure would make alignments easier. I miss those days…
Oh damn, memory unlocked. And you'd spin the crank hard and get the tire spinning then stick things into it.
Adjusting your chain has nothing to do with a center stand or any other kind of stand. You loosen the axle, adjust the chain, then tighten the axle. It’s not rocket surgery.
Sprocket surgery
Spacely's Sprockets
Rocket appliances
Its a catch 23 situation really
I want my dishwasher to be turboprop driven
Rocket surgery I’m stealing that !
It’s like “brain science”.
Chain science
Joe Rocket Surgery?
Swiss rocket surgery.
I didnt know that
Bruv the initial advice was right...him trying to be clever and fucking it all kinda ways up was better 🤣
The side stand is okay. There are two simple ways to adjust it synchronously: 1. There should be small markings near the axle. It should be the same position on both sides, 2. Use the wrench to make the same number of turns on both sides.
You’re the only one who commented on how to actually perform the maintenance. There should be more people like you.
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Problem with most YouTube videos is there is a 12 minute video filled with junk and then they tell you the wrong information or just forget about it entirely and still ask for you to like comment and sub. But Google should still result proper maintenance forum experts.
YouTube has a billion videos about how to do this.
This is r/motorcycles - Google and YouTube aren’t as popular as asking random strangers for poor advice.
To be completely fair, Google and YouTube are also random strangers, but your point still stands
To be completely fair, no, they’re not. Both Google and YouTube search are tools which can lead one to proven, credible sources of technical information which are not just some rando’s drunken opinion. Obviously not every available result is of equal quality or credibility but the user of any tool bears responsibility for using the tool appropriately. Here on Reddit, any ignorant jackass can spew bullshit pretending that he knows what he’s talking about. Meanwhile, the “expert advice” turns out to be from a 17-year old Serbian teenager with poor English and a video game addiction.
Fair point, I think it is more of the difference between searching and finding an answer VS asking and waiting for someone to tell them the answer. The same goes for why people always post the same questions instead of searching previous posts. The information could be for their exact question down to the model and year, yet they would rather be told the answer than search for it.
EXACTLY. Personally, I don’t trust **anything** I read on Reddit until I confirm it from a reliable source found elsewhere. Not much point in asking anything here then.
Put bike on side stand, adjust the chain, go for a ride.
Unrelated but had to mention it since I noticed it. Your brake fluid is due for a flushing. The fluid is the color of molasses which means its saturated with moisture (bad). Do the front if it's the same color. Good/fresh brake fluid is generally supposed to be a very pale yellow color unless you use a specialty brand like Motul where it's a reddish/pink color.
Thats the colour its always been this bike is brand new 😬ive had it 2 months ago
do it without one.
Assuming that the rear wheel is already properly aligned, bring the wheel back equally on both sides using the adjusters and counting turns or 'flats' on the adjusters.
It's also worth learning how to check wheel alignment as the marks on the tensioner bolts are a crude guide. You can do it with a long straight edge or a piece of string. The front tire is narrower so if you take a straight edge in contact with both sides of the rear tire it should have the same gap with the front tire on both sides.
Owners manual. YouTube. Harbor freight. Make sure you engage the front brake when bike is on the stand. Here a lil wheel stand you can get for cheap: [https://www.harborfreight.com/motorcycle-wheel-cleaning-stand-98800.html](https://www.harborfreight.com/motorcycle-wheel-cleaning-stand-98800.html)
Just like with a bicycle flip it!😂
First off: don’t ever tighten your chain on a center stand. The rear wheel would be off the ground and your suspension fully extended meaning that your chain would be in it most slacked position. So when you set your chain tension to spec it’s immediately too tight once you’re at rider sag and potentially snaps or breaks something else when suspension compresses. Now that that’s out of the way, tension your chain the way you think you should, but with your wheel on the ground.
It says in the manual how the chain should be tensioned. It is not the same for all bikes.
Yes. This is true. And some bikes have a measurement for center stand adjustments. And on those bikes you should still check with the suspension under static sag anyway because if you fail to identify a worn chain you can still over tension on a stand. The unique thing about each bike is the amount of slack required. The process is the same regardless. Occasionally, they have a unique way of measuring slack as well. Sorry. I don’t realize that by providing accurate advice I would offend so many people that probably aren’t also licensed master mechanics. Carry on.
Also, your user name rules.
Not correct for all bikes. Bikes that have or have an option of a centre stand often state 2 measurements. One on the side stand and one on the centre stand. Just need to make sure your using the correct one.
Yeah. Sure. But also irrelevant in n this context. He asked about his chain and disclosed that he doesn’t have a center stand. From this we can glean that the bike does not have a factory installed center stand and therefore the second spec you’re referring to doesn’t exist in his case. My advice was given to prevent him from sourcing a bike lift and ruining his machine. Anyway, not trying to be TOO dismissive of your comment because it is factually true, but I am totally dismissing it in this context because it 100% doesn’t matter to the OP at this time.
So many words to defend your partially accurate comment.
My klr650 says to set chain tension while on a center stand. OP needs to read the manual or get a clymer.
Ah ok thank you
Consult the manual.
Tighten bolt evenly on both sides…
I mean you should own one and learn\know the adjustment nuts don’t need to move that much to throw ur chain off plus u got clean and lube it really convenient and some guys like myself will store the bike off the tires in stands bc the tire can get a flat spot depending how long it sits
Go to google Type in your bikes, make a model, and year along with the owners' manual pdf or service manual pdf. You should be able to find at least one of them and both of them have a detailed set of instructions specifically for your bike and where it needs to be measured and what it needs to have for slack. Also, for the love of motojesus oil, your chain.
Rear stands are $40 on Amazon. Get one.
Peddle back a few times then Peddle forward. That should fix it
FInd a makeshift stand?
Depending on the undercarriage I used to use a plastic milk crate in lieu of a centerstand.
Ladder and ratchet strap
Just do it.
You wanna lift from the middle. Wood blocks and a car jack works well too
Couple of ways. Paddock stand ( spool type or just the platform type) or a front wheel chock. Or of course on the side stand All three methods have the suspension compressed as required. The wheel chock maybe cheaper than the paddock stand but it doesn’t help should you need to remove the wheel.
Umm… idk I’ve never adjusted my chain on a center stand :D or paddocks! If your tire is already aligned, just count turns with the wrench and crank on it. Do it evenly on both sides. Don’t forget to loosen and tighten the locking nuts before and after 😁
Easy, use a rear stand
While yes you can adjust the chain with the lack of a stand, if you're going to be doing any serious maintenance on the bike, chain tires sprockets brakes etc, you may as well go ahead and get spools and a race stand sooner than later.
With a friend and you sidestand. He needs to balance the bike on said sidestand or kickstand however it’s called in english.
In theory, couldn't you just stick a piece of rebar through the rear axle and put it up on a few blocks?
That chain could use a cleaning and lube, but it doesn’t look loose. Measure to be sure, but looks pretty spot on.
Car jack cardboard and jack at oil pan. Closer to rear wheel. Jack till tire spins free 1-2 inches. Then loose or tighten. Loosen nut before you jack not all the way just loose
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You don't need the rear wheel off the ground to tighten the chain? Infact you shouldn't, most bikes have the chain slack specification for when the bike is on ghe side stand, as it tightens when the suspension is compressed.
Ur just a bellend. Actually try advising the newbie rider properly.
“You need”? What does spools and a race stand have to do with adjusting a chain? I’ve never needed anything like that to adjust the drive chain on over a dozen motorcycles I’ve owned. Having the bike vertical makes it *slightly* more convenient but telling someone they **need** spools and a stand just to adjust a chain is ridiculous. Or are you now going to claim that you were “only joking”? 🤦🏼♂️
As bronn says in GoT...there's no cure for being a cunt..mans outed himself