I may be asking a really obvious question, but does anybody know what torque values are supposed to be used for the 12 mm locking nuts used to lock the chain adjustment nuts? After adjusting the chain on my '95, I was about to lock everything down when I noticed that neither my owner's manual nor shop manual specifies a torque value for those nuts, unless you count the standard specification of 40 ft-lbs to be correct.
Oh, I found myself much less than enchanted with the local dealership's service department when I was trying to break loose the rear axle nut and nearly dumped the bike over before I could budge it. It had to be well over the 63 ft-lb specification. Doubtless some knucklehead got loose in the service bay with a one-size-fits-all setting to his air wrench.
Got to quit reading with a head full of cold medicine. Torque value should be about 7 ft-lbs. Duh.
Well, three sets of metric sockets (made in USA :cool:), a set of ratcheting spanners, and several gallons of sweat later (it's been 98-99° around here during the day this week up until late this afternoon), I finally have my chain adjusted, and it's been more fun than a barrel full of sea urchins after finding out that I evidently wasn't the first person who wasn't sure about the torque settings for the locking nuts on the chain adjustment: I found the threads on the stud on the left side of the swingarm have been buggered up, but I figure I'll worry about replacing that that when it's time for a new chain, when I'll obviously need to back off the adjustment.
I hadn't realized how much chain noise I had been hearing before until I took it for a test ride and couldn't help but notice how quiet the bike was. At first I was worried I had overtightened the chain, but I have been measuring a consistent 1.0" of deflection. I still have a 1-2° bank to port when running straight ahead, so I need to tweak the alignment, but it's still better than what the dealership managed. Looking through older posts on the subject, you gents have given me some good practical ideas for verifying alignment. Many thanks!
More importantly, now that I am getting a taste of doing my own work, I want to be the one working on it from now on instead of the wrenches at the dealership. They are doubtlessly more capable mechanics than I am, but they don't have the same incentive to make sure it gets done right.
Welcome to motorcycling 101. It is almost as much fun to maintain/modify the bike as it is to ride it. -- I said almost...
Quote from: Guy Gadois on August 07, 2008, 09:39:36 PM
they (dealership mechanics) don't have the same incentive to make sure it gets done right.
Well said!
I was going to answer your post when I had a chance than you located the info by the time I checked back. Their only purpose is to move the axle backwards to adjust the chain so just snug it gently and use 2 wrenches to tighten the locknut down to the adjusting nut.
Quote from: lragan on August 07, 2008, 10:56:08 PM
Welcome to motorcycling 101. It is almost as much fun to maintain/modify the bike as it is to ride it. -- I said almost...
Hehehehe! And I am
almost looking forward to installing the Dodge shims myself this winter!
Quote from: TLRam1 on August 07, 2008, 10:59:49 PM
I was going to answer your post when I had a chance than you located the info by the time I checked back. Their only purpose is to move the axle backwards to adjust the chain so just snug it gently and use 2 wrenches to tighten the locknut down to the adjusting nut.
Told you all that I'm out of my element when it comes to mechanical things!