Topic: chain tension

[CBDee]

I am putting on a new chain on my cb550, and I seem to  have a problem. I'm not sure if this is right or not, so I thought I would ask here.

I put on new front and rear sprockets and a new chain. I got the chain on and was setting the chain tension (1/2 to 3/4 inches). I got it set and turned the rear wheel and noticed the chain had tightened up until there was almost no play. Another turn of the wheel and it loosned up to where I set it. It's like, as the wheel turns, the chain loosens and tightens like one of the sprockets was off center or something, but I checked and there not on wrong and seem to be concentric. What am I doing wrong here? Is this right? Im new to this and not quite sure what I'm doing, so any help would be apreciated.

[IAmCitizenMe]

How new to this are you?

Do you have old/worn sprockets? It's counter-productive to mismatch the two.

Make sure your alignment is good. Several ways to do this. Look at the Hondaman tips.

[OldSchool_IsCool]

Check your chain to make sure each and every link is free to move.

[CBDee]

The chain and both sprockets are brand new and are stock sizes. I haven't spent a lot of time with motorbikes, but how difficult can changing a chain be? No one here has had this kind of problem before??

[OldSchool_IsCool]

Usually, the tightening/slacking of the chain is due to a frozen link.  Not likely with a brand new chain, but not impossible. 

Can you tell if the tightening happens per wheel rotation or is it always the same point in the chain?  Knowing this can help target either a misaligned sprocket or a suspect chain.

[IAmCitizenMe]

Can you tell if the tightening happens per wheel rotation or is it always the same point in the chain?

Good point. Mine seemed to tighten up every one and one-quarter turn. It was a combination of old and worn chain/sprox and freezing links. Check for frozen links. If all checks out, you might have an alignment problem maybe?

[CBDee]

Thanks for the suggestions! Ill give the chain a look. It seems to tighten up then loosen once each revolution of the front sprocket. at least this gives me some place to start. I used the marks on the swingarm to align the wheels. 

[OldSchool_IsCool]

Swingarm marks are good, but not good enough, IMO.  Get back behind the bike about 20 feet and look hard at the rear wheel.  Does look straight?  You can help visualize the wheel alignment if you take two straight rods, like broom stick handles, and bungee them to the sides of the tire so that they stick straight out the back.  Better yet, if you can get the rods forward without kick stand interference, you can better see how the rear tire tracks with the front.

[MCRider]

Thanks for the suggestions! Ill give the chain a look. It seems to tighten up then loosen once each revolution of the front sprocket. at least this gives me some place to start. I used the marks on the swingarm to align the wheels. 

Really reaching for straws here. Your symptom is one of a used chain which has worn at different rates over its length. But you say all parts are new. Its a stretch to think your alignment can be that far off. But at this point you have to check everything.

The final stretch is a bad part from the factory. A poorly manufactured sprocket? I've heard many suspect this, but never confirm it. Usually its the chain. If you could get another new chain to see, from a friendly dealer or parts supplier who will let you return it. Good luck.

[IAmCitizenMe]

What kind of chain/sprox did you get?

I just put JT sprockets and a Diamond chain on my 550 and it rides like a hot knife through butter.

[CBDee]

Sprockets are from Honda, im not sure about the chain but I got it new from Bikebandit. Thanks for all of the suggestions. I checked out the sprockets and they appear to be concentric by eye (though I didnt use a guage) and perfectly centered, so I'm guessing chain. When I got it, the chain was covered with old, hardened grease. it could be I just didn't get it cleaned enough before I put it on? I soaked it in Lacquer thinner.

[BobbyR]

I was trying to find Hondamans' posting on chain adjustment but could not find it. I found a lot of good stuff.

[MCRider]

Sprockets are from Honda, im not sure about the chain but I got it new from Bikebandit. Thanks for all of the suggestions. I checked out the sprockets and they appear to be concentric by eye (though I didnt use a guage) and perfectly centered, so I'm guessing chain. When I got it, the chain was covered with old, hardened grease. it could be I just didn't get it cleaned enough before I put it on? I soaked it in Lacquer thinner.

Could be, but a good soaking shuold have done it. Try again. It is a weird problem. Seems like you've done everything right.

If you can't return the chain at this point, I might put everything together, adjust it properly at the tightest point, and run it. Poor conclusion, as it will be noisy and the looser point of the chain will be well... loose. but what can one do? Keep trying and thinking. Save up for another chain.

I think HondaMan has said he's run across out of round sprockets before, but it is very rare. Maybe he did not say this, I don't want to put words in others mouths.

[Dave-and-his-550]

Swingarm marks are good, but not good enough, IMO.  Get back behind the bike about 20 feet and look hard at the rear wheel.  Does look straight?  You can help visualize the wheel alignment if you take two straight rods, like broom stick handles, and bungee them to the sides of the tire so that they stick straight out the back.  Better yet, if you can get the rods forward without kick stand interference, you can better see how the rear tire tracks with the front.

I was about to mention the alignment of the rear tire. Definitely make sure it's not off center!

[tlbranth]

Has the sound of an off-center sprocket. See if the tight/loose has the frequency of the front sprocket or the rear sprocket or the chain itself. That'll tell you where the problem is. If you don't have a dial indicator, use a piece of stiff wire stapled to a heavy block to look for off-centeredness. If the chain is new and not kinked, I'd vote for a bad sprocket. If it was on a British bike I'd bet on it.