chain running on swing arm?

The chain runs on a little black plastic block ontop of the rear sing arm. Is this normal?

Yes , it`s to stop the chain making clanging noises if it hits the swingarm and wearing into it , when you sit on the bike it will lift up from that block as the suspension compresses .

[glang]

I know the manual says an inch of play in the middle of the chain but Ive found the transmission of the bike to much smoother with about half an inch. V twins are famous for transmission jolt due to their slower power pulses compared to a four and I reckon reducing the play wont do any damage especially when u think that, due to the geometry, the chain actually gets slghtly slacker at each end of the suspension movement!

Yes that is normal, just check the chain tension as a precaution.

Originally Posted by AndyBrad

The chain runs on a little black plastic block ontop of the rear sing arm. Is this normal?

I take it its the chain slider your talking about if so yes its totaly normal and as said above its 2 stop the chain running on the swing arm.

[embee]

Originally Posted by glang

I know the manual says an inch of play in the middle of the chain but Ive found the transmission of the bike to much smoother with about half an inch. V twins are famous for transmission jolt due to their slower power pulses compared to a four and I reckon reducing the play wont do any damage especially when u think that, due to the geometry, the chain actually gets slghtly slacker at each end of the suspension movement!

That's fine as long as you check the play when the chain is at its tightest, i.e. the swingarm is in line with the gearbox sprocket. When the bike is on a stand with no one on it, the wheel spindle is quite a bit low, so the chain tightens during the first half of the suspension travel [actually more than the first half if you check].

I checked the chain free play throughout the full suspension travel when I had the linkage apart for greasing, and I wouldn't set it at anything less than 30mm when on the sidestand personally.

If you want to check, get someone heavy to sit on it while you feel the chain free play.

cheers guys. the chain tension seems fine even though its done 300 miles on a new chain i would have thourght it might have needed something by now but it seems not.


Thanks again for putting my mind at rest.