Wilsons Sandbox

Skip, The key word is "FULLY" compressed. Riders notice that the chain slack is tighter when they sit on their bikes, compared to the slack when it's on the sidestand. They assume that the chain keeps tightening up as the rear suspension is compressed further, and at full compression it must be really, really tight. The reference to "help from friends" was to help load the rear suspension to show how chain slack changes as rear suspension geometry changes. A chain that is too loose causes excessive strain on the whole power train system. However I do agree that 'a little' too loose is better than 'a little' too tight. Thanks for your feedback - as usual, very valuable to all. Professor A9 Federal Way, Wa. [USA] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ original message (from Professor):

> > Volumes could be written about proper chain care & maintenance. > > ..........................>snip The chain will be looser when the rear suspension is fully > compressed and when your bike is on its side stand. > ..........................>snip

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ --- "Skip Faulkner" replied:

> Thanks for the excellent post. The two things I question is > where you stated that when the suspension is compressed, the > chain is most loose. If you check your slack and then have > someone press down on the rear of the bike, or from the right > side, reach over the seat and grab the swingarm and pull down, > you will see that the chain tightens up considerably.

[snip]