Total Motorcycle Community Forums

So, I'm very guilty of not adjusting my chain the entire time I've been riding - which is 2503 miles.

I was looking over my bike and the chain is hanging low on the top and rubbing in to the chain guard.

I don't have the time to get a replacement cotter pin to attempt adjusting it myself.

So, I have four questions:
1) How much should it cost for a shop to adjust my chain?
2) How does this compare to replacing the chain and sprockets?
3) How hard is it to adjust the chain yourself? The most important thing to me is being able to keep the alignment appropriately through the whole procedure.
4) What is the highest reliability chain (longest endurance) for a bike that rides a lot of highway miles.

Thanks,
RhadamYgg

If you have time to take the bike to the shop to have the chain adjusted, you have enough time to do it yourself.
Instead of buying another cotter pin buy a hitch clip pin that you can use over and over.

I described chain adjustment on my bike here.

Johnj wrote:If you have time to take the bike to the shop to have the chain adjusted, you have enough time to do it yourself.
Instead of buying another cotter pin buy a hitch clip pin that you can use over and over.

Hmmm, I'll have to find one of those. I've used them in RC cars, but nothing the size necessary for a bike.

RhadamYgg

jstark47 wrote:I described chain adjustment on my bike here.

It really doesn't sound that hard. Well, I can either take it to the shop Saturday and probably be without the bike Monday, or I can take a few hours on Saturday and try and do this.

I've got the manual and a book on this and it doesn't look that bad, but I'd hate to screw it up and cause my own accident.

RhadamYgg

If there was a place I could go to learn basic motorcycle maintenence on my bike I'd probably go.

Like a class where you could bring your bike etc. etc.

That'd be awesome.

Brackstone wrote:If there was a place I could go to learn basic motorcycle maintenence on my bike I'd probably go.

Like a class where you could bring your bike etc. etc.

That'd be awesome.

Hell, I've been thinking of paying for an hour of the mechanics time so he can teach me the right way to do this. But it looks so simple. Although I do have visions of the wheel coming of and me going.... hmmm that isn't supposed to happen.

RhadamYgg

So, anybody know where I can get the cotter pin?

RhadamYgg

I bought a set of those hitch clip pins at Harbor Freight. You should be able to pick up single units at a good hardware store.

Johnj wrote:I bought a set of those hitch clip pins at Harbor Freight. You should be able to pick up single units at a good hardware store.

Thanks!