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

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.

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

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.

Re: Chain slap?
 

Well spotted LP.

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

Re: Chain slap?
 

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

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 ;) ).

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.

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?