Okay, I have the service manual and i've tightened a chain more than once...but this F3 isn't making sense to me. I've loosed the axle nut to the point it's almost falling off, and loosened the lock nut as well.

However, no matter how hard i try to tighten the adjusting nut to the point of stripping it, the chain won't pick up the slack. Pulling the wheel doesn't affect much either. You're suppoed to tighten the adjusting nut clockwise right? Wtf?! This is kind of pissing me off because the chain has a ****load of slack

 

Yes, tightening the adjuster nuts should take the slack out. If you have changed the number of teeth on your sprockets, then it's possible that there may not be enough adjustment to take out the slack. You may have to remove one link from the chain in order to be able to adjust it. It all depends on how much change there has been in the number of teeth on your sprockets.

 

After thoroughly investigating the chain...the toolbag who owned the bike before me apparently just threw the aftermarket chain on there without cutting any links. You're right. I'll start with 1 link and go from there as far as slack. I seriously about 3-4 inches of slack

 

Count the links, there is supposed to be 108. Maybe 1 more or less if you have different sprockets. Start with the master link, it's easier to keep track when counting.

 

108...I hope I don't loose count.

Either way i'm going to cut one and go from there. I shouldn't need that push tool for the link right? It's a clip...

 

The master link may be a clip, but removing one of the other links will require a tool. It's easier to remove one of the links if you grind the head off of it. This is how it will look.