How to tighten my motorcycle chain?

When it comes to tightening the motorcycle chain, it must be clear that there are three types of tensioners , each of them having certain characteristics and differences. Depending on them, some steps or others must be taken to tighten the chain:

• Screw tensioner : A screw-based tool, which works by pushing the axle located on the rear wheel towards the tip of the swingarm.
• Nut tensioner : In case the screw is located at the end point of the swingarm you can use nut tensioners. With the swingarm being behind, the axis is pulled backwards and the shaft is stuck in washers.
• Tensioners with eccentric systems : they move the axis forwards or backwards according to the position of the eccentric. Nowadays, this system is the least used, although it is likely that your motorcycle has it if it is from the 70s or 80s, when it was very common.

Once you know the system or type of tensioner that you have on the motorcycle, you can start to tighten the chain. And it is that, although they are different, there are steps that are common because the mechanisms are quite similar. To properly tighten the chain and keep it in perfect condition, you must:

1. It is advisable that you raise or place the motorcycle on a kind of stand so that you can easily tighten the chain.
2. Then, throw the rear wheel back, and release the axle.
3. Finally, turn the eccentric adjusters to one side of the wheel, which will go backwards and therefore the chain will be tightened.

Normally, with this system you have to take a series of precautions. The main one is that depending on which way you turn, the chain will loosen even more. In this way, check that you are turning the eccentric in the correct direction and that it is being tensioned. Also, as there is more than one tensioner, it is key to check that both are in the same position.

The system for tensioning the motorcycle chain when it has screw or nut tensioners is very similar in both cases. In addition to having the motorcycle on the stand, you must do the following :

1. Loosen any nuts, lock nuts, or washers.
2. Tighten or loosen, depending on the direction you need to move the axis.
3. Make sure the wheel is straight and not off to the side so you can properly tension the chain. To do this, help yourself to the scale that they usually carry on both sides.
4. Look at the proper tension that the chain should have and that appears in the workshop book or somewhere on the chain itself. This value is important because chain tension is related to the bike’s suspension, specifically the rear. Thus, if it is too much, the chain will reach its maximum extension and will stretch more with use, apart from limiting the function of the rear suspension on the bike.
5. When the chain is well tensioned, tighten the locknuts or nuts and the rear wheel axle, making sure that everything is fully fixed.

From aHOWTO, with these explanations, we hope we have answered your question of how to tighten the chain on my motorcycle? It is always advisable to go to the workshop and consult with professional mechanics for proper maintenance.