Drive Chain Question

[kar_the_terrible]

I FINALLY have my bike running!!!!!! (Vroom Vroom) put 'er in gear and and shifts just fine. Though I didnt ride too much as no headalight and no helmet yet. I have a question about the drive chain tho. I had the rear wheel in the air, and put the bike in gear... and the bottom of the chain kicked and oscillated a little bit too much.. approx 2-3 cm. Now if I raise the throttle slowly the chain does not kick, but on releasing it it does so again.

This is of course all with the rear wheel in the air. So am I just freaking out, or is thihs just because there is no load on the engine, or do I need a new chain???

Also, I hear the slight buzz of the cam chain when Im close to the engine. What is the noise level for a cam chain??

-K

[9000white]

the chain will flop around when running it on the center stand.the chain should have from 5/8 to 1 inch of slack in the middle of the chain when on center stand on the bottom run of the chain. if you adjust it turn the chain to find the tightest place in it and then adjust it at that point.if you adjust it at the loosest point it will be too tight--they dont wear even.dont know about cam chain noise--i wouldnt worry about it they dont give much trouble.

[poppygene]

To know whether your chain is within its service limit you'll have to refer to your owner's or service manual. I hope you have one or preferably both. What you do is measure the chain, usually 20 links, when it is stretched tight. Different size chains have different pin-to-pin dimensions which your manual will provide.

Some bikes have terribly noisy cam chains - from the way you described it, yours is probably fine. Like Dr. Bob said, don't worry about it.