chain adjustment incompetence

*Warning pointless waffle*


In preparation for taking my bike to Louth I thought I'd better adjust the chain . Not Entirely sure how I managed to **** it up but I did.

Actually I know exactly how I managed it.

Firstly there was the (what guerilla last did this up?) jumping up and down on the end of the VERY long torque wrench trying to get the wheel nut off ( hurrah for all the pies)

Followed by the subtle (not subtle enough) quarter turn each side giving
a lofty 5 mil play

This is the pont I discover that where as I used to be able to just give my 400 a kick to move the back wheel in a bit the SV is more of a challenge...

This is also where I realise that this would be easier/ possible if I could pop the bike on a stand and my stand is 10 miles away,

Much swearing later chain is about right.

Unfortunately the adjuster markings are Miles out.

Nil carborundum and all that - I Match em up, Check the chain again and notice that actually the Left guide plate is so bent you could make it read just about anything

I Decide that this is possibly not unrelated to the previous need to jump up and down on a very long leaver in order to get the wheel nut undone.

(By now I should have left for work 10 mins ago)

I Spend another 5mins hitting the adjuster plate to see if I cant get it straight before decide that it's a total waste of 5 mins

I resort to counting screw theads (which is pants). Tighten everything back up & Leave. In a slightly crab like manner.

Now it's decision time..... leaving for Louth tomorrow AM so do I

a) Have another go at it at home after work without the time constraints
b) Go home after work, Pick up the torque wrench and take a 25 min ride to my folks place where my rear stand resides.... and a spare pair of hands and straightish edge (or ball of string?) to check the alignment.
c) Ring up my local garage and say "Ere you couldn't adjust my chain for me could you I'm incompetant."

Ofcourse work would be hideously busy too.

Ah well


Think it might be dinner at the folks tonight.... provided the heavens don't open....

mmmmm dinner - not all bad then....

[timwilky]

Please don't use your torque wrench to undo things. and most certainly do not shock load it an djump on it. That is what breaker bars are for. £10 for a decent breaker bar, £40+ for a cheap torque wrench.

Never ever trust markers. My prefered method of aligning wheels is with the use of two known straight pieces of box section with a couple of long bars between them to hold them together, that I only ever use for this purpose. and for a quick cheat, I count 1/4 turns on the adjuster

Next on my shopping list.... (at least I didn't hit it with a hammer)

Sosha, PM sent.