Chain Tension & Swingarm Contact
 

Hi guys!

Sorry to make the first post a question.
I'm currently travelling in Morocco and wondering about chain tension on the tenere.
Unloaded and sat on the side stand I'm finding that at the location in the owners manual indicated (mid section of the tyre) to measure chain tension provides the correct 2inches or so of slack, however at this tension the entirety of the forward section of the chain from where I'm holding contacts the length of the lower swingarm.
Obviously without seeing the thing it's difficult to tell, but does this sound correct?

Many thanks

Yes, that's about right. It is always a good idea to hold the bike upright sitting under it's own weight and have a feel of the slack with you finger after adjusting it on the side stand. It will get tighter, and will just about touch the swingarm at the midpoint of the lower run with a little force.

If you've got a mate handy, it's even better to check it with someone sitting on the bike. It should not touch the swingarm at all. The slack should be about 25-30mm with someone sitting on the bike. If you're running the bike loaded, then check it with all you gear on board too.

It all approximate though, you tend to get a "feel" for it after a while.

Main thing is to make sure it's not so slack as the chain is at risk of running off the sprockets when the suspension is fully extended (slack at its greatest) and not so tight that it puts a strain on output shaft and sprocket carrier bearings when compressed and the swingarm is parallel to the ground (slack at its minimum).

BTW - :welcome: to XT660.com! ;)

Thanks for getting back to me, Pleiades!
Unfortunately I'm travelling alone (hence my concern about it coming off and mangling itself on a piste or later trip home) I'll try to find a passerby that could sit on it for me whilst I fiddle about whilst she's loaded up with my gear in the morning.

Was concerning when hitting bumps off throttle and hearing the thing whack against the swingarm combined with quite a lot of slack in the drivetrain when putting her under any load after letting the clutch out.


Thanks, I saw the sticker on some tenere riders I met on the ferry, so it looks like those work!

Mine does that. Off throttle and going over bumps the top run becomes slack and slaps against the top of the swingarm. Pretty normal and not a problem unless the sacrificial plastic swingarm protector has worn away and then the chain will quite rapidly eat into the swingarm.

You'll have to get yourself some XT660.com stickers! ;)

http://www.xt660.com/showthread.php?t=24394

I head back to Maroc tomorrow......my rule of thumb is at the middle of the chain slider,at the top,if I can put two fingers under it loosely after lifting the chain up it'll be OK.

:)


:

Thanks guys, had a fiddle in a car park after I found a handyman with some tools and set it up as best I could. Seems almost exactly the same as before, but not playing on my mind now.
New plastic runners and chain guide are on the list when I return! (Maybe the stickers too)

Enjoy it Ohlins! My first time here and having a blast, difficult to get the balance between riding amazing routes, exploring culturevand sleep. Maybe you'll get further South than I have managed.

Cheers
James

the instructions in the owners manual are the best.
Midway between front & rear sprockets, the bike on side stand and then adjust. I set mine to 40~45mm

Remember if you put any weight on the bike (like sitting on it) you can no longer use the slack stated in the handbook.

You need good slack if you go off road as the XT has a long suspension travel.

My tip: put a small wooden block under the stand to make the bike more upright