Glee chain tension

[Petstep]

Am I the only one struggling with chain tension? The other day the chain was very floppy so I tightened it up to about 20mm movement on the side stand. Checked it again after torquing up the wheel bolt - all good.

Went for a 120 mile blast around N Devon. When I got home it was really tight. So this morning I slackened it off a smidge to get it to about 20-30 mm again. Checked after torquing and tightened the Allen bolts to stop it loosening. Off for another wet ride today, and when I got home it was over-slack again.

Is it just me?!

[superteso]

Are you sure that the chain is OK? It works well? You have to rotate the wheel by hands and check in the chain change it's tension.

[Petstep]

Yes. It's new-ish, about 3000 miles, and freshly cleaned and lubed about 200 miles ago.

[bigpie]

Manual mentions doing the chain tension on the side stand, pain, but I use centre stand to find tightest spot and then on to the side stand.

[Rich:-)]

Good tip there, find the tight spot first on the main stand before setting the tension on the side stand. 

[Joe Rocket]

It's the same for all chains, the more attention given the longer it will last. Most important is lubrification and not being too tight (the chain, not you). Better a slack chain than a tight one........... 

[Brockett]

Yes I put mine on the centre stand and rotate the wheel to find the chain's tight spot and then I tie string through a link to mark the chain with tape on the swing arm. This is how I ensure the chain is in the same place when I drop it off the centre stand and onto the side stand.

[Graham62]

I do mine on a paddock stand.

[Petstep]

Thanks all

I think my problem is not taking enough care to ensure I set the tension with the chain at its tightest spot. Hoping I haven't knackered it too much by over-tightening

[mrp192]

I never realised that the tension should be checked on the side stand and have always done it in the centre stand.
My bike came  from new with the centre stand so just assumed it would be a similar process to my old Bandit. Now realise the centre stand was an accessory so using the side stand makes sense.
I have also been checking it at the rear of the rubber chain pad, as on the Bandit, but now see that half way between the two sprocket centres is further back, is this where it should be checked?
I tried the find the tight spot on the centre stand then check the tension on the side stand today and found the chain moved slightly further when on the side stand. Is this normal as I assumed with the weight of the bike on the suspension it should be slightly tighter not looser?
Sorry to witter on but hope you can clarify this for me. Thanks.

[greywolf]

Slack measured on the side stand will be less than slack measured on the center stand as there is likely some compression of the suspension on the side stand. I like between 1"-1.5" on the center stand with a preference closer to 1.5" at the tightest point in middle of the run. A loose chain is a happy chain.

[mrp192]

Thanks GW. It definitely appeared to be slightly looser on the side stand, not tighter, but will recheck it tomorrow as have a long ride on a Tuesday.
It may be that I'm in the habit of pulling the bike backwards by the grabrail when it's on the side stand to stop it rolling off, so may have extended the suspension again.
Can I assume by middle of the run you mean the centre of the distance between the sprocket centres, or the centre of the visible lower chain run?

[greywolf]

That is the middle of the run. Try turning the rear wheel by hand with the bike on the centre stand with a finger putting upward pressure on the lower chain run. The chain may be worn unevenly and you need to check the slack at the tightest point of the run.