RVF400 Chain Tensioner Problem

[wogstaa]

Hi guys,

I've been having this issue with my chain loosening after I correctly tighten it after a few 100km, it's sagging again. The sprocket and chain are fairly new, done by the previous owner, rear sprocket is 2t bigger than stock

I've finally noticed that the chain tensioner is allowing movement. Before I'm asked, yes I've tightened up the pinch bolt.
I've adjusted the chain a few times and this keeps happening.

Has anyone else had anything similar happen?
This is just after adjusting the chain




and after doing usually around 200km or so, I can actually notice it when riding, it's less responsive and the chain hits the swingarm when going over bumps.

[richyrd5]

I can only suggest something in the hub aint right for it to allow movement.this is dangerous.are you sure the nut is done up to 55nm?re-check everything is tight and check for play in the hub bearings.

[wogstaa]

Thanks,

I checked for play, lifted rear wheel off the ground and tried to move it side ways and back and forth, no play whatsoever.

The chain doesn't get alarmingly loose, but it's definitely on the loose end of the scale, hitting the swingarm a little and I can feel the lag in acceleration as the slack gets taken up.

I don't have a torque wrench so I can't be sure if the pinch bolt is tight enough. I'll be borrowing one soon to make sure it is tight enough. I've done it up fairly tight though.

[richyrd5]

If its done up fairly tight that shouldnt make it loose.how new is the chain/sprockets?chain will stretch as its being used but.unless its faulty,shouldt go as loose as u say.check everything and tighten everything and try again!!

[CMSMJ1]

clean out the hub and put it back together - don;t grease it...

[Neosophist]

If its done up fairly tight that shouldnt make it loose.how new is the chain/sprockets?chain will stretch as its being used but.unless its faulty,shouldt go as loose as u say.check everything and tighten everything and try again!!

you can see the mark on the chain adjustment gauge has visably moved, this isnt related to chain stretch.

As Mark has said, this is dangerous.

If your hub is moving it has the potential to go either super loose or super tight, eitherway it can EASILY lead to a massive accident if your chain binds up.

Theres only one pinch bolt and it has to be done up fairly tight.

I'd get the wheel off, hub out and check its clean and NOT greased, and then make sure everything is located securly and tighten to correct torque.

[CRM]

Sounds very much more like a cheap chain stretching.

Triple S by chance? They were like elastic. You get what you pay for with chains

[arsey30]

Pictures seem to show wheel/hub/sprocket has moved backward, but that will tighten chain. [I would expect the chain to tighten, given that the hub is turned anti clockwise to tighten, looking at the chain side of the bike

Can't see the red/green wear label marks, is the wheel well back? [new chain/sprockets?]

Do you check tension [ at all places, not just one] after clamp/pinch bolt is tightened, as hub can move if tight in the swinging arm. [grit gets between hub and S/A when clamp bolt is loosened]

I remove and clean the hub and inside of the S/A on all of my NC/RCs to remove grit/stones/dirt/mouse nest/washers and nuts. I smear Coppa slip [ high temp anti seize, not a lubricant] on the hub, but grit rather than corrosion makes the adjuster hard to turn. Never had a problem doing it this way.

Foam or Polystyrene can be used to seal the hollow S/A at the front or at the hub end.

Why does a loose chain jump up and hit the S/A , rather than drop down to touch the exhaust?

Is the hub fitted correctly with the axle at the bottom?

[CRM]

I think your right Dave. I was on my iPad and never saw the images. It does look like hub movement.

[wogstaa]

Thanks for all the replies.

Strangely enough I've re adjusted the chain but the indicator didn't really move at all, it's in the same position as in the second photo. But the chain has definitely tightened. The chain doesn't have any tight spots along it.

Sprockets and chain were done by the previous owner, who didn't ride it much, they probably only have around 5,000km on them it's a D.I.D chain and the rear sprocket shows no signs of unusual wear.

It's a fairly low KM bike, so I'd probably suspect the pinch bolt isn't tight enough (I'll get my hands on a torque wrench to confirm), if that fails I'll pull the hub off and have a proper look at everything and give it a clean.