Chain Adjustment

Hate to say it, but I'll be going over there next time I need to adj. my chain. I'm way to lazy to print that little sheet out and it takes me forever to find the info on this site.

*i know, everyones sick of me bringing this up.

what do you guys think?


*yes that really is my bike

That is just perfect! :)

You need that much slack to account for the up and down of the rear suspension as you ride down the road.

Did you "back in" to something SM style?

Chief_Lee_Visceral wrote:

Did you "back in" to something SM style?

working my way up to that.








ps....chain/sprox only has 9k miles on it.

Man, what boots do you ride with and how many miles? That's a lot of frame rub!

Navajib wrote:

Man, what boots do you ride with and how many miles? That's a lot of frame rub!

decent weather i normally wear dainese torque outs.
piss weather i wear oxtar infinities.
dirty fun i wear forma dominators.

part of it is probably from my stich suit though

just gives it some character...

How did you get 9k on that. You never ride.

guess i ride the bike harder than i thought i do.

router.exe wrote:

guess i ride the bike harder than i thought i do.

OMG, how did you manage even to ride 100 yards???!?!!?

i let the clutch out and gave it some gas?

never really felt it skip....although maybe that's why it was so hoppy when down shifting to lock up the rear.

This is the updated chain tension adjustment bulletin from Yamaha. From what I was told, this procedure works with lowered bikes.

This is great - although the HF method seems easier to measure for those of us without specialized tools.

Also - is there a decent tutorial on the adjustment points? I think I get what's going on in there, but the User Manual is a bit vague for those of us who haven't attempted this sort of thing before and the Service manual I have (thanks!) references an adjustment procedure on "page 1-26" which, as far as I can tell, doesn't exist.

To be honest, I have never used this. I go by feel and really, have never had any problems with my chain. I'm still on the stock one and just over 8000, no side play and still really stiff.

This is really confusing. I downloaded the user manual from Yamaha UK website for 2008 WRX, showing diagram with 40 to 50mm play, & also the manual which was titled WR250R 2009, showing the diagram for the 8 to 13mm free play as per OP. So, is the revised chain adjustment for both X & R, or R only??? If its for both bikes, that means chains have been severely over-tentioned during servicing & also at the factory.

OK so the chain tension is set while the bike is leaned on the kickstand? Is that what I am reading from the update?

Just want to make sure. When I swapped my rear tire over to a Distanzia I had someone adjust it according to chain tension while sitting on the bike.

Yeah, that's what it states. ANd it affect BOTH the WRR and WRX.

WR25RX DG21E-0000002~0002803
WR25RXC DG21Y-0000006~0000457
WR25XX DG22E-0000005~0001733
WR25XXC DG22Y-0000005~0000220

Thanks for the update

Here's Ramz's approach:

http://www.rickramsey.net/WR250Rmaintenance.htm

Which you will note is somewhat tighter than the updated manual recommends. Ramz's bike is lowered remember, so that probably has something to do with it.

I set mine according to the updated manual. Bike on side stand, push up midway between the chain block and tensioner. Adjust so there is at least 10mm of clearance, or about half an inch, which is simple to measure for me as I can check it using my finger as a gauge.

skierd wrote:

Here's Ramz's approach:

http://www.rickramsey.net/WR250Rmaintenance.htm

Which you will note is somewhat tighter than the updated manual recommends. Ramz's bike is lowered remember, so that probably has something to do with it.

I set mine according to the updated manual. Bike on side stand, push up midway between the chain block and tensioner. Adjust so there is at least 10mm of clearance, or about half an inch, which is simple to measure for me as I can check it using my finger as a gauge.

I just asked in my local stealer dealer about this. The guy seemed fairly knowledgable, but said he hadn't even heard of this update, despite being an official Yam dealer!!!
Anyway, presumably the original manual stating 40 - 50mm of play was too tight for certain situations (big jumps etc.)?

I'm looking at Yamaha's retardo picture for the procedure. It on one hand shows the chain being pulled down but to the right indicates the chain being pushed up to the swingarm and indicates .5" gap. Am I stupid or are they just confusing the issue.....again?

Use this procedure.

Although I don't use the special force gauge thingy....

Just push up on chain with fingers.

Simple as that.

so bike on kick stand and then measure I have this fish scale weight would it be useful to pull on the chain.
http://www.amazon.com/Feedback-Sports-Digital-Backpacking-25-Kilogram/dp/B0011VQ1UA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1394165663&sr=8-1&keywords=feedback+sport+alpine

So no need to get the swing arm parallel with the counter sprocket using a ratchet strap or similar to get the chain at his tightest point?