Proper chain slack...

So...while on the kickstand, the chain should be, approx, 1/2" from the swing arm, while holding up the middle of the slack towards the swingarm?
Sounds straight forward.
Gotta do this tmo for first time.

Yeah, that's the rule of thumb I go by.

Check the chain while someone is sitting on the bike. With the swing arm parallel to the output shaft it will set the rear at its maximum. I just make sure at that point it is not to tight.

usgpru27 wrote:

Check the chain while someone is sitting on the bike. With the swing arm parallel to the output shaft it will set the rear at its maximum. I just make sure at that point it is not to tight.

That's the whole ball of wax, basically:
It will be at it's tightest when the front sprocket shaft, swingarm pivot shaft, and rear wheel axle are aligned.
Most riders don't realize this, and tend to run their chains too tight in fear that it's too loose.
All seems okey-dokey with the bike unlaiden on the side stand, but once somebody sits on the seat and the rear suspension compresses, all of the slack is gone and the chain gets as tight as a bow string in the movie Deliverance.

I would assume that's why Yamaha amended the chain adjustment spec <--which can be found in this thread here


(not sure why people keep asking the same questions over and over when there is clearly a sticky thread regarding the EXACT topic in question)

Sorry bout that, read the stickies so long ago, i tend to forget they are there. I searched for a thread but didn't have much luck...and the beer didn't help.
Anywho, my first adjust was as easy as you all made it out to be...heh, all excited over nuthin.
Thanks

's all good....mods can merge threads.

YZEtc wrote:

usgpru27 wrote:

Check the chain while someone is sitting on the bike. With the swing arm parallel to the output shaft it will set the rear at its maximum. I just make sure at that point it is not to tight.

That's the whole ball of wax, basically:
It will be at it's tightest when the front sprocket shaft, swingarm pivot shaft, and rear wheel axle are aligned.
Most riders don't realize this, and tend to run their chains too tight in fear that it's too loose.
All seems okey-dokey with the bike unlaiden on the side stand, but once somebody sits on the seat and the rear suspension compresses, all of the slack is gone and the chain gets as tight as a bow string in the movie Deliverance.

After I added my Yamalink and replaced sprocket/chain and adjusted the new chain to spec, I leaned over the bike putting my lower chest/body weight on the seat while doing a header down at the chain. I was amazed at how much slack was removed when the swingarm was nearly parallel to the ground and all of the sprockets /pivot were in the same plane.