I'm new to riding and would like to do my own maintenance on my bike . I was just wondering how the pro pit crews change the tire/tension the chain/ align the wheel so fast? cause right now aligning my rear wheel is a bitch and takes forever. I measure from my swingarm bolts to the center of my axle. but getting it right is never a 1 shot deal. let alone 30 seconds.

 

chain adjusters help

 

You don't need to measure.
Just sight down the chain/sprockets, adjust till they're in a flat plane.
A length of straight rod, laid on top of the chain will work.

The indexing marks on chain-adjusters will generally only get you 'close'.
Because of manufacturing tolerances/wear/etc., the index marks don't always
run exactly congruent, from side to side.

The indexing on chain-adjusters is only meaningful after you adjust, in the above mentioned method.

Then you can note where on the adjusters your axle is parallel.
Afterwards, just move in like-increments to the rear, from those marks.
That should quickly get you close-enough for a single, last visual check/adjustment.

Hope this helps, Ern

 

I use one of these: Motion Pro Chain Alignment Tool

 

thanks for the help guys

 

Laser level fixed to the rear sprocket, shoot the laser forward to caseing and front sprocket. It lays a straight line along the chain for easy adjustment .Wicked accurate but not very fast so now I use a straight rod hooked into the swingarm pivot bolt, set chain tension and mark center at the axle on the chain side. Move to the right side, hook into the swingarm pivot bolt and adjust the axle to meet my center mark from the chain side. Done...but your right, when I watch races that have pit stops you don't see any of the normal methods for chain adjustment so do they just eyeball it and go or is there more to it?

 

I use the string method myself. Must work pretty well since I haven't seen any excessive wear marks on the sides of the sprockets.