Chain adjustment - SV650.org

08-05-10, 04:45 PM

Hi Fellow SVers

Long time no post. Question on chain adjustment which I trust someone with knowledge and experience can assist.

Is it absolutely necessary to loosen the torque arm bolt which is attached to the rear caliper to make an adjustment? Was going to do it today and noticed the bolt head on the torque arm has rounded off and therefore I am struggling to get the thing off. Obviously, I don't want to set about doing it, if it does need to be loosened to ensure I don't co ck it up.

Thanks

Tony from a little brighter Burnley

PS Any advice on how to remove a rounded off bolt (it's not totally cheese as yet!)

08-05-10, 05:14 PM

to do the chain loosen the axle bolt tighten both sides of the wheel to set the chain at 3/4"-1" of movement with the bike on the side stand then tight the axle bolt and job done.

08-05-10, 05:38 PM

manual specifies loosening torque arm bolt for chain adjustment. I assume this is to prevent misalignment of the caliper. I would just loosen the front torque arm bolt instead, this should have the same effect.

Biker Biggles · 08-05-10, 06:25 PM

I always loosen the torque arm,but I was once told on here its not required.I still do it anyway.

08-05-10, 07:13 PM

how would you get misalignment? i thought caliper is held in alignment by the two bolts holding it near the disc the torque arm merely stops it moving while your breaking? im not sure how accurate that is but i dont see how loosening the torque arm would do anything to align the caliper at all, someone correct if im wrong at all please.

Sid Squid · 09-05-10, 10:56 AM

Leaving the caliper bolt tight stops the wheel moving freely in the swingarm. Think about it - the torque arm and the caliper mount make two sides of a triangle, the swingarm is the third side. To alter the length of the side of a triangle, (i.e. the effective length of the swingarm when you adjust the chain), the angles must also change, unless you loosen the caliper/torque arm bolt that angle will resist change. Of course, moving the wheel back far enough to effect a change of chain slack, will not be a great change in the angle at the torque arm so it will probably be alright - it might be a slight change but there's no disputing that the angle will change.

Loosen the bolt.

09-05-10, 03:44 PM

Thanks, for advice. Will loosen it Sid, before adjusting. Problem I now have is the friggin bolt is partially rounded off.

Thanks again

Tony

09-05-10, 06:17 PM

ah yes thanks sid, never considered that sounds reasonable

08-05-10, 04:45 PM	#1
Tony_BLY Guest Posts: n/a	Chain adjustment Hi Fellow SVers Long time no post. Question on chain adjustment which I trust someone with knowledge and experience can assist. Is it absolutely necessary to loosen the torque arm bolt which is attached to the rear caliper to make an adjustment? Was going to do it today and noticed the bolt head on the torque arm has rounded off and therefore I am struggling to get the thing off. Obviously, I don't want to set about doing it, if it does need to be loosened to ensure I don't co ck it up. Thanks Tony from a little brighter Burnley PS Any advice on how to remove a rounded off bolt (it's not totally cheese as yet!)

08-05-10, 05:14 PM	#2
sunshine Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Chain adjustment to do the chain loosen the axle bolt tighten both sides of the wheel to set the chain at 3/4"-1" of movement with the bike on the side stand then tight the axle bolt and job done.

08-05-10, 05:38 PM	#3
mjc Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Chain adjustment manual specifies loosening torque arm bolt for chain adjustment. I assume this is to prevent misalignment of the caliper. I would just loosen the front torque arm bolt instead, this should have the same effect.

08-05-10, 06:25 PM	#4
Biker Biggles Member Mega Poster Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Barnet Herts Posts: 5,071	Re: Chain adjustment I always loosen the torque arm,but I was once told on here its not required.I still do it anyway. __________________ On a clear day we stand there and look further than the ordinary eye can see.

08-05-10, 07:13 PM	#5
sunshine Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Chain adjustment how would you get misalignment? i thought caliper is held in alignment by the two bolts holding it near the disc the torque arm merely stops it moving while your breaking? im not sure how accurate that is but i dont see how loosening the torque arm would do anything to align the caliper at all, someone correct if im wrong at all please.

09-05-10, 10:56 AM	#6
Sid Squid No, I don't lend tools. Mega Poster Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Skunk Works, Nth London Posts: 8,680	Re: Chain adjustment Leaving the caliper bolt tight stops the wheel moving freely in the swingarm. Think about it - the torque arm and the caliper mount make two sides of a triangle, the swingarm is the third side. To alter the length of the side of a triangle, (i.e. the effective length of the swingarm when you adjust the chain), the angles must also change, unless you loosen the caliper/torque arm bolt that angle will resist change. Of course, moving the wheel back far enough to effect a change of chain slack, will not be a great change in the angle at the torque arm so it will probably be alright - it might be a slight change but there's no disputing that the angle will change. Loosen the bolt. __________________ If an SV650 has a flat tyre in the forest and no-one is there to blow it up, how long will it be 'til someone posts that the reg/rec is duff and the world will end unless a CBR unit is fitted? A little bit of knowledge = a dangerous thing. "a deathless anthem of nuclear-strength romantic angst" Last edited by Sid Squid; 09-05-10 at 10:57 AM. Reason: Messing up the post.

09-05-10, 03:44 PM	#7
Tony_BLY Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Chain adjustment Thanks, for advice. Will loosen it Sid, before adjusting. Problem I now have is the friggin bolt is partially rounded off. Thanks again Tony

09-05-10, 06:17 PM	#8
sunshine Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Chain adjustment ah yes thanks sid, never considered that sounds reasonable

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