How to find the tightest spot in a chain...

OK, being a chain adjuster virgin I took my bike down to the LBS to have the chain tensioned properly. After speaking to the nice man, I was able to watch! This is what I learned:


1. A paddock stand is your friend.

2. To find the tightest spot on your chain, spin the rear wheel whilst watching the chain. You can see it almost bob up and down - the 'up' bobs are where there's a tight link. Always base your adjustements on this, over anything else. If you're chain is very loose, you may need to tighten it slightly first.

3. The chain adjustment marks can be off by 2-3mm (Suz specs!) so don't rely on them for accuracy! This guy did it by eye, but mentioned you can use the 'two bits of metal' approach as used on the MOT.

4. After you finish tightening, appy lots and lots of grease.

There was something else he did to do with him holding the bottom run of the chain against the underneath of the swingarm whils tightening bolts, but I can't remember what this was meant to help achieve - it did make sense at the time though.

Hope this helps others who are in the same position I was in - I'm sure that each and every person has their own ways of adjusting, but this helped me. Many times i've read threads about how to tension chains and people just say "find the tightest spot" but not explaining how.

Take from this what you will, discard what you will, but I found it bloody useful.

Al.