Chain slap? - SV650.org

28-08-09, 11:55 AM

Hi SVers

I need a bit of friendly advice again. I recently decided to give my chain a bit of care and spent a few hours cleaning it with paraffin and adjusting the tension.

I've only done the tension once before as the garage has always done this for me at services. However, I'm trying to start doing my own servicing at the moment...with mixed results.

So I adjusted the chain to be between 3 & 4 cms movement at a fixed piont on the chain. I had trouble finding an obvious tight spot, but checked at several places after I tightend the spindle up.

I've been running it in first(no throttle) with the rear on a paddock stand and every now and again the chain seems to get itself into a bit of a tiz. It runs smooth for a bit and then starts to slap up and down before calming down again.

Is this normal? It looks a little dodgy to me.

Any advice would be greatly welcome.

Thanks

Nath

Mr Speirs · 28-08-09, 11:56 AM

Yeah that is normal don't worry about it. It happens because you haven't got your weight on the bike which would take up that slack.
The actual reason why the chain decides to 'flap' is slight changes in the engine speed.

Well done on doing your own servicing, thats how I learnt, before I had the bike I was a mechanical numpty.

28-08-09, 12:02 PM

Cheer Mr Speirs

Confidence restored...now I just need this frikin rain to stop so I can get out and give it a good test ride.

Ta

Nath

Luckypants · 28-08-09, 12:09 PM

Yeah Mr. Speirs is correct about the slap and well done for getting to know your bike better by servicing it yourself. One point on the chain tension - the manual states 20-30mm (2-3 cm) of movement, so 3-4cm is a bit loose.

Mr Speirs · 28-08-09, 12:13 PM

Well spotted LP.

28-08-09, 12:47 PM

Ah right, I must have remebered incorrectly. I think it was bang on 3cm anyway, but I'll check it just to be sure.

Must remember to read manual properly!

Thanks

Nath

yorkie_chris · 28-08-09, 10:35 PM

3cm is fine. Too tight is the really dangerous condition

embee · 30-08-09, 11:14 AM

Agree with YC there.

When I had the rear susp linkage dismantled I tried lifting the swingarm through the full travel to see what the chain slack did, and I reckon 20mm slack when on the side stand is too little. With 30mm nominal it just about loses all free-play near full compression, so that's what I tend to set it at (my MOT chap always "advises" me it is too slack - we agree to disagree

).

yorkie_chris · 30-08-09, 06:51 PM

Also if you have improved the handling of your SV with more rear ride height, you will need a little more slack.

Dave20046 · 31-08-09, 09:43 AM

I always go for 3cm slack with me sat on the bike. Between slack on the side stand and slack with me on there appears to be like a 5cm difference! This right?

28-08-09, 11:55 AM	#1
swinging_simian Guest Posts: n/a	Chain slap? Hi SVers I need a bit of friendly advice again. I recently decided to give my chain a bit of care and spent a few hours cleaning it with paraffin and adjusting the tension. I've only done the tension once before as the garage has always done this for me at services. However, I'm trying to start doing my own servicing at the moment...with mixed results. So I adjusted the chain to be between 3 & 4 cms movement at a fixed piont on the chain. I had trouble finding an obvious tight spot, but checked at several places after I tightend the spindle up. I've been running it in first(no throttle) with the rear on a paddock stand and every now and again the chain seems to get itself into a bit of a tiz. It runs smooth for a bit and then starts to slap up and down before calming down again. Is this normal? It looks a little dodgy to me. Any advice would be greatly welcome. Thanks Nath

28-08-09, 11:56 AM	#2
Mr Speirs Member Mega Poster Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Northampton Posts: 2,218	Re: Chain slap? Yeah that is normal don't worry about it. It happens because you haven't got your weight on the bike which would take up that slack. The actual reason why the chain decides to 'flap' is slight changes in the engine speed. Well done on doing your own servicing, thats how I learnt, before I had the bike I was a mechanical numpty. __________________ Smokey Black Burnty 02 - Racetech Smoulderlators + .90kg BBQ Springs, zx10r shockingly toasted, Conti Road Attacks heat up very nicely, R&G Crash Bungs but what f*king use are they, No Colour Matched Hugger, Flame Extenda, Beowulf Titainium Oval Flame Thrower. Last edited by Mr Speirs; 28-08-09 at 11:59 AM.*

28-08-09, 12:02 PM	#3
swinging_simian Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Chain slap? Cheer Mr Speirs Confidence restored...now I just need this frikin rain to stop so I can get out and give it a good test ride. Ta Nath

28-08-09, 12:09 PM	#4
Luckypants Moderator Mega Poster Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Nr Ruthin Posts: 7,056	Re: Chain slap? Yeah Mr. Speirs is correct about the slap and well done for getting to know your bike better by servicing it yourself. One point on the chain tension - the manual states 20-30mm (2-3 cm) of movement, so 3-4cm is a bit loose. __________________ "Your Viffer sounds like it is raising hell! Spot on." - Witchery 17/4/08 Snow Plough Appreciation Society - Member #3

28-08-09, 12:13 PM	#5
Mr Speirs Member Mega Poster Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Northampton Posts: 2,218	Re: Chain slap? Well spotted LP. __________________ Smokey Black Burnty 02 - Racetech Smoulderlators + .90kg BBQ Springs, zx10r shockingly toasted, Conti Road Attacks heat up very nicely, R&G Crash Bungs but what f**king use are they, No Colour Matched Hugger, Flame Extenda, Beowulf Titainium Oval Flame Thrower.

28-08-09, 12:47 PM	#6
swinging_simian Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Chain slap? Ah right, I must have remebered incorrectly. I think it was bang on 3cm anyway, but I'll check it just to be sure. Must remember to read manual properly! Thanks Nath

28-08-09, 10:35 PM	#7
yorkie_chris Noisy Git Mega Poster Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Halifax/Leeds Posts: 26,645	Re: Chain slap? 3cm is fine. Too tight is the really dangerous condition __________________ Currently Ex Biker Now rebuilding a 63' fishing trawler as a dive boat

30-08-09, 11:14 AM	#8
embee Member Mega Poster Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Warwickshire Posts: 2,801	Re: Chain slap? Agree with YC there. When I had the rear susp linkage dismantled I tried lifting the swingarm through the full travel to see what the chain slack did, and I reckon 20mm slack when on the side stand is too little. With 30mm nominal it just about loses all free-play near full compression, so that's what I tend to set it at (my MOT chap always "advises" me it is too slack - we agree to disagree ). __________________ "Artificial Intelligence is no match for natural stupidity"

30-08-09, 06:51 PM	#9
yorkie_chris Noisy Git Mega Poster Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Halifax/Leeds Posts: 26,645	Re: Chain slap? Also if you have improved the handling of your SV with more rear ride height, you will need a little more slack. __________________ Currently Ex Biker Now rebuilding a 63' fishing trawler as a dive boat

31-08-09, 09:43 AM	#10
Dave20046 Member Mega Poster Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Sheffield Posts: 10,274	Re: Chain slap? I always go for 3cm slack with me sat on the bike. Between slack on the side stand and slack with me on there appears to be like a 5cm difference! This right? __________________

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Bimble to Breedon on the hill.. + Slap on the wrist!	John 675	The Madlanders	1	08-03-09 11:04 AM
Piston Slap at 2000 miles?	royboy4652	SV Talk, Tuning & Tweaking	8	16-07-08 07:55 AM
Morax Gold Chain Wax / Wurth Chain Wax	glade	Ancillaries	3	14-02-08 06:41 PM
Slap a co-worker day	Stu	Idle Banter	2	05-10-07 11:11 AM
Well slap my tank!	DanAbnormal	Idle Banter	2	14-04-07 08:39 PM