How To Adjust & Align Your Motorcycle Chain | The Definitive Guide
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 24 ก.ค. 2024
- 0:00 Intro
1:28 Loose & Tight Chain Spots
1:47 Check for Chain Condition Steps (Keep or Replace)
3:55 Chain Slack Importance (Too Loose or Too Tight Risks)
4:37 What is the proper Chain Slack?
4:58 Ways to Check for Chain Slack (Side, Center, Paddock Stand)
5:26 Measuring & Adjusting the Chain Steps
9:08 Comparing Chain Slack Measurements on Side, Center, Paddock Stand
13:10 The Process to Follow
17:38 Axle Alignment
23:25 Proper Way to Tight the Rear Axle Nut
27:03 Thanks & Drive Safe
A slightly longer episode of my Dr Vstrom, medical video series but definitely worth watching as it is a step by step guide on Chain Adjustment & Alignment.
Among other things, the video evaluates different chain measurements as well as their differences in terms of the way these measurements / adjustments are made such as:
--On the Side Stand,
--On the Center Stand,
--On the Paddock Stand,
--& With a Rider onboard
This tutorial demonstrates on a 3rd Gen DL 650 Vstrom model but the steps are applicable to the entire Vstrom family & all other chain based motorcycles out there.
I have done such a video in the past & there is also an older one available in this channel but this one is full detailed so as to answer all the questions that subscribers still keep asking.
Post your comments/questions below, contact me on FB for advice, thoughts & tips.
-FACEBOOK: / drstrom.vstrom
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Wanna chip a dollar or two & support the Doc? I am very grateful as videos cost both in money & time. All donations go towards my videos in equipment & products.
Your support means a lot to me whether its expressed as a dollar/euro sign or a simple thank you comment.
Thank you for watching & Ride Safe!
DrV - ยานยนต์และพาหนะ
Very clear and objective. It´s a pleasure watching your videos.
Thanks my friend, it’s a pleasure to receive comments like this. Ride safe
I'm going to have to adjust my chain for the very first time ever on my 650. Thank you for the detailed explanation and nice and slow so it was easier to follow. First I need to buy a torque wrench though 👍
Thanks, glad it helped . Ride safe
Excellent video. I learned a lot! Thanks mate!
This guy is a great help!
Thanks for being so helpful !!
sorhaimi Thanks :)
Thanks a lot Dr Vstrom, your video is very helpful. Grettings from Colombia!!!
orecnal Thanks man, I appreciate it. Ride safe.
Awesome video as usual, thanks!
Thanks :)
Thank you very much for this detailed video 🙌
Thank u very much! It was very helpful,clear and pro! All the bests!
Tibor thanks mate. I appreciate that :) . Ride safe.
Greeting from Costa Rica! I follow your vids like a hawk! Thanks you for taking the time to make them. I have a 2016 model but... most of this apply..
Thanks Jose :) from the beautiful Costa Rica. I m glad my videos are useful
Doctor Vstrom these tutorials on the vstrom they are methodical and precise with excellent images and narration. Many thanks for posting, efcharistoúme gia ti dimosíefsi, odigíste me asfáleia
Many thanks!
Άψογο βίντεο γιατρέ, ευχαριστώ πάρα πολύ, μόλις αγόρασα πρώτης γενιάς V-Strom και αυτό το βίντεο ήταν ότι πρέπει, να σαι καλά! 👍🏻
Σε ευχαριστώ Γιάννη, καλές βόλτες.
Very nice explanation. I bet most people out there don't do measurement like this. Which means, many chain sets out there are not perfectly aligned.
Thanks. Equally important is not to have the chain too tight or too loose :)
Great help thank you.
Thank you doctor! You helped me out a lot
Excellent, I m glad it helped. Ride safe :)
I an positive that this man has the best running V-Strom in the world lol
Thanks. Its actually a well maintained motorcycle that since 2017 has zero problems and no errors codes, changing only fluids and spark plugs once. Ride safe.
Great video! Thanks for making it. Very clear and slow.
You made my day 🙏
You made mine as well :) thanks
Thank you very much
Top man! Excellent detail thank you for the helpful information. Compared to most riders your demonstrator didn’t effect the chain tension much lol. Afharisto.
Thanks
I thought I knew how to adjust a chain! I was wrong! Lotsa good info and tips. Thank you!
Glad it was helpful!
Thanks
Superb:)
Worth the wait until 21:36 - using a simple laser to check chain alignment; that’s new to me. Thanks!
Yes Walter, Some videos are longer but I try to explain well to both skilled and less skilled people and there is a lot to share. Thanks
Good coverage of the essential points. I use the German made Profi line laser Chain Alignment Tool which is a very nicely made device. I also measure the pivot to axle distance to confirm the alignment is correct.
Nice video. Thanks from France.
In my owner's manuel of my v-strom 2010 there is no indication about the 21 pins and the lenght limit. You get the information in your owner's manual ??
William Yamm this info is from the official Suzuki Service manual. Not the user manual.
@@IoannisParapontis Thanks a lot for your quick reply. Your video are great.
Another amazing video with so good explanation! Just one clarifying question: When is the best time to perform this operation?
In the other video about chain cleaning and lubrication, you are mentioning that it is good to check the chain links condition when it is already clean and dried (just before lubrication). I guess that it will be the right moment to the adjusting and alignment as well.
Thanks my friend.
Regarding your question.
"In the other video about chain cleaning and lubrication, you are mentioning that it is good to check the chain links condition when it is already clean and dried (just before lubrication). I guess that it will be the right moment to the adjusting and alignment as well."
Obviously the link condition can be seen more easily if they are clean and dry as you can see if some are stuck or are worn and move more than originally as a result of the forces they experience. The state measurement of the number f links you can do even if the chain is not super clean and dry.
Alignment and adjusting of the chain can be done both in a clean and a dirty chain.
In general also the following.
1.Best time to check for the state of chain/links and sprockets:
Every now and then and definitely more often as the chain gets used more and more (perhaps a good indication is exceeding the 15K kms) Not saying that it might have a problem just to ensure all is ok. By the way there are defective parts as well and you can see in forums people finding cut chain o-rings inside the front sprocket cover. Not in my case though as I take good care of it.
2.Best time to adjust & align:
Depends on the use (ie off road, long trips) and also on how often you lube and if you hear noise from the chain.
3. Best time to clean the chain:
Depends on the off road use, type of lubricant used, rainy conditions, winter salt road conditions, etc
4. Best time to lube:
More often when you drive in rainy conditions and do a lot of trips. Depends also on the kind of lube you are using. A rule of thumb, every 500 Kms check and lube if you see needed.
5.Best time to apply lube:
Always after you clean, dry and warm your chain by going for a short ride.
Hope that helps.
Ride safe
In my manual of a SV 650 it says that the last step is to tighten the screws where you adjust the chain. Nobody does that in the videos, but when I dont do that, the wheel slides to the position where it was before adjustment after I ride a few meters with full power.
If you look at 23:30 of the video when i tight, i have placed a screwdriver to the chain to remove excess slack. That means that the adjuster nuts are secured where they where adjusted. So when the axle nut is tightened like that, normally and in my case the 2 side adjuster nuts never move. By all means you can go ahead and tight just a bit.
For me, after adjusting the chain and wheel alignment, and torquing the rear axle nut, the chain adjustment bolts were very loose, with the silver metal plates that they insert into (at the end of the swing arm) being loose. After the axle was torqued again, I then tightened the chain adjuster bolts to just snug them up a bit - is this common, and acceptable? I figured once the rear axle was torqued tight, the chain adjuster bolts shouldn’t impact anything if I snugged them back up? Thanks
Hello, Did you remove the slack as I do at 19 min? In general Its ok if you snug after you torque and it does not make a difference. Hope that helps.
I know two years ago, but you got a sub today because of this video.
Dr. V Strom, any idea why theres is no cutter pin on the rear bolt like all the other bikes that i was having in the past?
I also had these in older bikes. Now some of the nuts are safety ones as the one on the last generation 650 Vstrom.
Thanks for your fantastic videos, as I have a 2019 DL650. I changed out my front sprocket to a 16 tooth, same chain. Also installed a SW Motech center stand. Now the bike seems to wallow a little on varied surfaces and gusty winds - nothing major, but before mods it was rock solid. Any thoughts?
Can you specify what exactly you experience and mean by wallow and what these surfaces are?
@@DrVstrom Thank you for your reply. The bike seems slightly loose or light, seems to move or wander a bit, and doesn’t feel quite as sure footed as before. These slight sensations are random and can occur on asphalt or concrete, but mostly occur in gusty winds and grooved interstate highways in the US - mostly at speeds above 50mph/80kph. Previously, the bike felt very stable - almost immovable.
The bike does not feel unsafe. I re-adjusted the chain alignment and slackness and felt improvement, but I still occasionally experience these sensations.
I recently replaced the OEM Bridgestone A40 tires with new Pirelli Scorpion Rally STR tires and seem to feel this sensation from the rear (possibly). The bike has approximately 5400miles/8700km.
Perhaps, I corrected the original problem with chain adjustments, and now experience a different sensation due to different type of tires. The tires now have approximately 200 miles on them. Perhaps it’s my imagination!
So then after this info, things that come in mind are the following:
1) If you have the xt model, check your spokes if some are loose and your wheel is no longer in true.
2) Since you changed tyres, it might be the case that one of them is defective, or you braked too hard and has an anomaly in the surface or the wheel is not balanced correctly with weights as before
3) the chain alignment is of course very relevant as well as both wheels installation especially the front. I will try and make a video on that.
4) last you can check for improvement by adjusting your suspension perhaps here
th-cam.com/video/W6vcq37BaDI/w-d-xo.html
Let me know how it goes
@@DrVstrom Thank you for your insights. I have cast wheels but will check the other items
take a shot whenever he says chain
😆
good morning I find your videos very interesting, and really filmed in a professional and understandable way. I follow you from Italy could I ask you to enable the subtitles with the Italian translation to be able to understand them better? it would definitely be a good thing for many who don't speak English well and can't follow you. thank you very much
Hello, thanks. I understand what you are saying. However, its not on just enabling subtitles. Have chased youtube and they dont care it does not work. What subtitles you see in some of my videos its because i typed them by hand word to word. This takes a lot of time. TH-cam does not generate automatically subtitles for my videos.
Thanks doctor!
Thanks Max
What kind of top case did you put in your V strom
On my 650 I had a givi maxia 4 because it has space for 2 full face helmets or groceries and it is very stable plus looks nice
My timing chain is not lined..how can I align it..
What do you think about LED headlight lamps ? And inside the same subject : LED auxiliary lamps !
Do not own them, but if you want should be fine as long as the headlight bulbs do not have significantly different characteristics (eg way lower W than the stock bulb?). The power generated but is not being used gets back to the stator, generating heat that might affect its life. Stators were a weak point on vstroms so maybe you should check the differences between stock & what you buy to install. Of course it also depends on your riding conditions and temperatures. So an area to focus might be the associating light load changes that might affect stator life more negatively than a heavily loaded system. Hope that helps a bit.
@@DrVstrom In my country, any alteration to the lighting system on motorcycles is prohibited since last year. LED lamps can only be used if they come from the motorcycle manufacturer or through a legalization process with the regulatory departments. Too much bureaucracy for my taste. I gave up!
Instead I installed auxiliary ones long distance and fog ones. They work perfectly and the diference is notable!
super😁👍👊
Thank you! Cheers!
you need to loose only left side bolt or both sides?
Loose one, hold the other
@@DrVstrom thanks 👍
So just to recap
First loosen the axle nut and adjust chain slack. Then remove excess slack with a screw driver and correct the chain alignment. After that tighten the axle nut and then remove the screw driver. Is that correct?
Yes but first find the tightest point before you untight and measure/adjust there
@@DrVstrom yes thank you so much !
Anytime friend. Let me know if you need something else
@@DrVstrom i was able to do the chain adjustment for the first time and your help was great!
Excellent. Dont hesitate to contact me for anything else that you need. Ride safe.
Thand you for your time to explain all of this. Very good. But also, thank god for speed up function. You are talking way to slow :)
Slow talking for people who need the full detail and to understand. Thanks. Also there are chapters in m videos and you can jump to the area you are interested :)
@@DrVstrom Thank you for your anwer. Did not ment anything bad :-)
It's great to have someone like you to help 👍
No worries, I did not take it bad. There are people out there who are not very technical and I m trying to all support them with my videos. It would be much easier for me to do 5 min videos and skip a lot of theory and steps but then people would not know what to do. :) ride safe my friend and Hvala.
Wow, I still can’t believe that I was able to properly adjust my chain on the kickstand. It worked perfectly, now the bike performs like new! Thank you. But now I have to figure out when to replace the chain/ sprockets using the measurement guide.
Thank you, ride safe.
Why would you sneak up on the target torque value like that?
I ve seen torque wrenches and people manage to exceed the intended values. It's not mandatory, just gives more confidence to people who seek for it.
cool girl in a helmet
Please, subtituls in spanish!!
I need to type all words one by one because google does not auto generate subtitles for my videos. I will add as doon as possible.
@@DrVstrom ok, thanks. This vídeo is a ver y interesant! But is true, is very work!
Από προφορά σκιζεις
th-cam.com/video/jtB2uo7jNbc/w-d-xo.html
Oreos ise
Thanks :)
I wore my chain out then had a sleep while waiting for you pronounce each word painfully slowly. Too long. Too complicated. No one will do it this way mate.
Numbers say otherwise mate. That's my way and if you don't like it by all means go your own way.
@@DrVstrom Well mate, my first v strom has 163,000km on it, and my second one 93,000km. Mostly on dirt too, in outback South Australia. I ride bloody hard too, with my rear tyres lucky to last 5,000km. Not cheap tyres either, I use Metzler tourance. With an average of 30,000km lifespan on my chains, I must be doing something right. I use DID chains, and rivet links. My bikes have never been in a bike shop since it's 500km to the closest one. I reckon my numbers speak for themselves too.
Congrats