No matter how much i tried to tighten my chain yesterday the guage failed to move at all and is still showing I need to replace it. It’s a 2005 CBF 600 I bought from a dealer less than three months ago. I figure the chain is fine and it’s me not knowing what i’m doing that’s at fault. Any suggestions much appreciated. I’m not a natural at mechanics but would like to learn more. Thanks.
Hi Alaistair
I’m assuming you have followed some instructions in a manual or whatever?
I presume you have loosened the nut on the end of the rear wheel spindle? I tend to loosen it about 2 turns and then give the end of the spindle a tap to knock it through a little way to make sure its not seized
Is the rear caliper held in place by a torque arm? If that’s not loosened then the back wheel isn’t free to slide.
i think you are deff doing something wrong, as said poss not undoing the big nut.
you can do it with the side stand down but easier with a paddock stand. have you got any pics of what you are doing
Fraid not. The process was, sidestand down, big nut on swing arm loosened, then one nut at the end of the swingarm, right side loosened backwards, second nut tightened forward, repeating left side. plenty of tightening later i put the the bits back again. chain seemed no tighter. i’m sure it’s my inexperience causing this and not that the chain needs replacing. i’ll be down borough market on wednesday, perhaps with the bike there i can illustrate better and see where i’m going wrong, if someone will take the time, please. thanks.
yeah no prob will have a look wednesday, but it sounds like you are doing it right,
It a long and unlikely (I hope) shot but I have come across a bike with the sliders corroded to the swinging arm (alloy blocks/steel swinging arm) and refusing to move.
Might be worth having a hardwood block, a lump hammer and some WD40 to hand just in case. Spray with WD40 and leave to soak for a few minutes. Drive the axle forward to free it, then just do the job.
More likely to be something being done wrong but who knows…?
thanks all who gave advice
doesn’t your cam chain have an automatic tightner? thats the only chain on a bike isn’t it ?:P:P:P
It won’t be seized on a 2005 Honda.
I would definitely do it on a paddock stand or main stand and ignore the stupid marks on the swing arm … they are just a very rough guide. Use a straight edge or line it up by eye with the front wheel.
Also, a slightly slack chain is far better than an over-tightened chain.
did mine this evening on an ‘old skool’ genesis ‘a la sidestand’; the nuts had a bit of surface rust and one was a little cross-threaded but sorted itself out; maybe your’s could be threaded? even on a ‘newish’ bike - but both sides??