How loose should your bike chain be?
Check your chain out. It should be tight enough that it only allows you to move it up and down about one inch. If it is sagging or much looser than that, you need to tighten that chain up. Chains often loosen when a bike does not have a derailleur.
How do I know if my bicycle chain is too loose?
How do you adjust chain tension on a Sportster?
To adjust the primary chain tension on a Sportster, loosen the lock nut on the adjuster on the bottom of the primary case, then turn the primary adjustment bolt clockwise with an Allen wrench to increase the tension and remove slack from the chain.
How to adjust the primary chain on a Harley Davidson?
How to adjust the Primary Chain on a Harley-Davidson Evolution Sportster Motorcycle Engine As you can see in the videos above, to check the primary chain tension on your Harley, you need to remove an inspection cover, which has a reusable rubber gasket.
How big should the chain be on a Harley Davidson Sportster?
For a big twin it should be 5/8 to 7/8 inch (16 – 22 mm) when the engine is cold, and for a Sportster it should be 3/8 to 1/2 inch (9.5 – 12.7 mm) when the engine is cold. This measurement is for the TIGHTEST section of the chain, and chains do sometimes wear unevenly and get stretched in places.
What should the belt tension be on a Harley Davidson Sportster?
If 45 degrees of twist can be achieved, you have a general indication of proper belt tension. Sportster owners have reported that the 45-degree measurement method corresponds to a 3/8″ to 5/16″ belt tension measurement. Figure 1. Using the belt tension gauge. Figure 2. If cracks like these are on the belt, it’s time for replacement! Figure 3.
To adjust the primary chain tension on a Sportster, loosen the lock nut on the adjuster on the bottom of the primary case, then turn the primary adjustment bolt clockwise with an Allen wrench to increase the tension and remove slack from the chain.
How to adjust the Primary Chain on a Harley-Davidson Evolution Sportster Motorcycle Engine As you can see in the videos above, to check the primary chain tension on your Harley, you need to remove an inspection cover, which has a reusable rubber gasket.
How big of a chain do you need for a Sportster?
With the cover off and the transmission in neutral, you push up on the chain and measure how far the chain moves when you push up on it. For a big twin it should be 5/8 to 7/8 inch (16 – 22 mm) when the engine is cold, and for a Sportster it should be 3/8 to 1/2 inch (9.5 – 12.7 mm) when the engine is cold.
If 45 degrees of twist can be achieved, you have a general indication of proper belt tension. Sportster owners have reported that the 45-degree measurement method corresponds to a 3/8″ to 5/16″ belt tension measurement. Figure 1. Using the belt tension gauge. Figure 2. If cracks like these are on the belt, it’s time for replacement! Figure 3.