When I adjust my chain do I need the back wheel off the ground or can I do it while its on the ground?

 

To adjust the chain you must have the back wheel of the ground. If you are going to adjust don't forget to lube the chain with silicon spray of chain wax.

 

This is straight out of the owners Manual -

l. Place the motorcycle on its side stand
with the transmissionin neutral and the
ignition switch OFF.

2. Loosen the axle nut ( I ).

3. Turn both adjusting bolts (2 ) an equal
number of turns until the correct drive
chain slack is obtained. Turn the
adjusting bolts counterclockwise to
tighten the chain, or clockwise to
provide more slack. Adjust the chain
slack at a point midway between the
drive sprocket and the rear wheel
sprocket.
Roll the motorcycle forward. Stop and
place it on its side stand. Recheck chain
slack. Chain slack should allow the
following vertical movement by hand:
1-1 3/8 in (25-35 mm)

So in others, yes, You can adjust it on the ground.

 

yeah i was going to say you don't need the back wheel off the ground. you loosen the axel nut and evenly tighten the 2 chain tension bolts, then tighten the axel nut back. No need to get the back wheel off the ground.

 

its certainly a lot easier w it on a stand, same goes for lubing or waxing chain

 

i adjust my chain with the wheel on the ground..i heard from many different people that its better to do it with your wheel on the ground...because if you raise it up you are taking weight off the wheel and wen u put the wheel back down, the tension on your chain will be different from how it was wen u adjusted it on the stand. (Since i never adjusted any chains using a stand i dono if its true. Don't take my word for it. I'm a noob too i've only been riding for a year hahah) that's just what i heard. paece.

 

thanks guys, i live in a 1 bedroom apartment so I have no room to store stands right now

 

silly question but do the axels nuts loosen by turning them clockwise or counterclockwise? couldn't budge it without a pipe on the socket wrench, and it gives me so much leverage i can't feel well enough but afraid to overtighten etc. wow i feel dumb!

 

yeah 69 foot pounds is the spec which is pretty tight. it's the same as any other nut. righty tighty lefty loosie. don't need a stand... just make sure you adjust both sides the same amount.

 

Since we already have a thread going about chains imma skip making a new one. How often are you suppose to swap the chain? I have heard too many numbers and I really don't know who is right.