I have a 2001 600F4i, with about 5.8K miles (bought it used with 4.9K miles).

After reading through the manual to get a feel for the maintenance, I looked over the bike for anything obvious.

One thing that stuck out to me was the amount of slack in the chain, closer to 2" than the 1 3/8" max.

I finally got around to tightening the chain tonight after putting almost 1K miles. So I was going through my sockets to find than I didn't have a socket to fit the 23mm or so rear axle nut. I don't have a torque wrench yet either so I decided to pass on job.

Anyways, for some reason I played around with the actual adjuster bolt (the 8mm one) and found that I could move the rear axle and adjust the chain! Remember I didn't loosen the rear axle nut.

Now, I'm no bike machanic, but that does seem right. So I've been riding on an axle that remains where it is soley by the adjusting bolts.

The rear axle bolt doesn't seem to be "real" loose, but my guess is too loose.

Also when I tighten the chain to what I believe is correct slack, I'm well into the "Replace Chain" indicator. Is it too early (6K miles) to be replacing a chain?

One more thing...would it be bad to just cruse on this until I get it fixed the weekend?

Thanks for any help.

 

indicator is uselesss when you do not have the stock sprocket settings

just tighten the rear nut with your arm force

 

You shouldn't be able to move the adjusters without loosening the axle first. The rear axle takes 69 ft lbs also for when you get around to it. Not sure about your chain though, as said above ^ if it's got different sprockets on it the previous owner might have gone with a different length chain. Your wheelbase is going to get slightly longer though while in the red section.

 

My '06 came with a wrench (that looks like the same size as the axle nut) and extender in the factory toolkit. Have you checked yours?

 

Is that an '06 F4i? Mine didn't come with a toolkit. I called Honda, and they said that the '06 models don't come with them.

 

I haven't checked the toolkit yet. I'm just going to buy a torque wrench and the proper size sockets.

What should I look for to recognize the sprocket as stock or not?

 

my 06' came with no toolkit as well. also, don't overtourque the axle nut. it seems honda uses fookin butter in thier alloy mix for the axles and locknuts or thier robot programers hit the saki pretty heavy[sm=alcoholic.gif]

 

Yes. I'm in Canada so maybe Honda Canada is providing the toolkits. It's a neat kit... as far as I can tell I've got one tool for almost every fastner on the bike including a hooked tool for adjusting the rear shock.

 

the bikes built in japan come to the U.S. Canadian hondas are built in milwaukee, hence the supplied toolkit[sm=icon_cheers.gif]

 

I didn't get a toolkit either. Maybe the dealers are just screwing us? My rear nut is 27mm and I've went to EVERY sears in my area and they are all out of stuck on this. The left side of the bike is 23mm which is the side the chain replacement indicator is on. The right side is 27mm which looks likel the nut. I went out and bought a 23mm socket because I couldn't find mine (just my luck) and sat down and really looked at the manual and then realized I need to loosen the RIGHT side not the left. Stupid ace hardware wouldn't even let me return the socket either! I had bought it like 20minutes earlier and they were just like "No you can't return that we think you just used it and now you're done with it." What a bunch of jerks. Anyway, am I reading my manual correctly? Loosen the right side on my 06 f4i and then turn both the bolts facing the back?

Mike