Topic: Trying to tighten the chain......whats that UFO lookin thingy??

[78_SaltLick]

Okay so i dont know how else to describe it, it looks like a UFO 

Chain needs to be tightened, went to loosen the right rear axle nut, in place of the nut there is a round, silver object with two holes in it. About the size of a half dollar. ? what the heck is that? On the opposite side of the bike there is a nut, with a kotter pin in it, but i thought to tighten the chain, you loosened the nut on the right side of the bike (the side with the foot brake).  Yes this once again is for the 74 CB550. I swear i must be the dummest person on this board when it comes to bikes. Thanks so much guys i swear i couldnt live without yall!!

[Killer Canary]

Your axle is reversed.

[78_SaltLick]

Your axle is reversed.

Why would that be?  Does anyone know what that round thing is with the two holes in it where the rear axle nut usually is?

[Bodi]

The axle has threads on one end and a head on the other. The head has a hole crossdrilled to allow a screwdriver or whatever to be inserted for stopping the axle from turning as you turn the nut. Probably that head is what you see. The axle can point in either direction, there isn't any excellent reason to prefer the nut on either side (that I can think of)

[Bob Wessner]

The axle on my 750 also has the nut/cotter pin on the right and I'm trying to envision it reversed. Seems to me, it would tend to make adjustments a bit messy simply because of the chain and lube, etc. on the left.

[oldbiker]

Hi Saltlick, you are certainly not dumb. The dumb person is the one who bashes on with out having enough sense to ask for help. We all have things to learn. For example I don't know how to do a heart by-pass but I would certainly find out before I attempted to do it.

[SteveD CB500F]

The axles on both my 500 and 550 have the nut/split pin on the right.

I didn't realise that this was "wrong".

I'm going for an MOT (inspection) today so will ask the tester.

[bryanj]

No sutch thing as wrong or right just the way the parts are laid out next to the production line. Steve--nothing in MOT about has to be as built just has to have a "locking device" this includes nylock's (no matter how burnt the testers cornflakes were), split pins, double nuts and even locktite but its way too difficult to prove that one!

[CB500_k2]

If you have a 4 into 1 exhaust system you can take the wheel off without removing the muffler if you put the UFO on the left hand side.  That is how I have my machine set up.  Either way will hold the wheel on just fine.

[SteveD CB500F]

I prefer mine on the opposite side to the chain as I'm right handed and when standing behind the bike, can get a good heave on the socket.

[Chris Liston]

I have the kingpin/cotter on the right side, bike came from the factory like that and the stock 4-1 exhaust has an indent to clear it.  UFO thing goes on the left side.

[78_SaltLick]

cool thanks guys, how much do you tighten the axle nut after adjusting the chain? Ive heard you are not suppose to really bear down too much on it. Ive always gotten it as tight as i can by hand, for fear of the wheel coming off.

[SteveD CB500F]

I'm sure someone will give you the torque spec.

I tighten mine by hand (with the extender thingy on the tool) and then tweak it with my foot (just like a wheel nut on a car)

[DammitDan]

On the 650 it's something like 76-82 ft-lbs.  Just give it a good tug with the ole' wrench.

[Einyodeler]

According to the manual:  58 - 73 lbs-ft or 8 - 10 kg-m

[Mark M]

It's 220 Newton Meters on my other bike - you need a very long bar on your torque rench and need to push down, or you lift the whole bike opff the ground.

[heffay]

a bit about torque... if you torque too much... the wheel will not spin as freely as it should which robs horsepower and wears stuff out quickly.  yes, the rear wheel is a fairly hi torque setting but you can still way over torque it!  dont put all your grunt into it... unless you are a wimp then maybe yeah.  what really keeps that rear wheel on is the cotter pin.  if it is torqued within 5-10 pounds of the factory setting the cotter pin will keep it from slipping.  no, i am not recommending setting the torque at anything other than the factory setting but how many of you out there actually have a torque wrench?  i'd venture to say about half.  if that. 
at m.m.i. we had a little impromptu "torque arm contest"... you know, who was the best judge of torque with out the actual measuring device... guess who won.  yours truly.   

peace,
torque arm