Triumphrat

TheSaint · 04-28-2006, 11:48 AM

Just rode my new Bonne home (250 miles) and wish I had checked the chain earlier. It appears way to tight to me. I looked at the owners manual and saw the 25 to 35 mm, but to measure that precisely, my question is that from the height of how far you can pull it up to its resting position, or from the top to the bottom of the play? Also when judging the top (and/or bottom) how snug do you pull?

TIA

Sixmil · 04-28-2006, 12:10 PM

Approximately 1 inch is the English Measurment. Push down on the chain til it feels tight(Not a lot of pressure) start at zero on the bottom, hold the ruler or tape whatever your using behind the chain and slowly raise it up until it feels tight agin. About an inch to 1 1/2 should be good. But go with the specs for your bike. Convert the MM to inches if necessary.
Enjoy the new Bonney!

TheSaint · 04-28-2006, 12:30 PM

Thanks I thought I was measuring it right, and its about 3/4". Thats after I rode 250 miles so who knows what the dealer had it at.

I'll set it to 25 to 35 mm as in the manual, the question is has any significant damage been done. I hollered at the dealer; is that enough?

Sixmil · 04-28-2006, 02:02 PM

There was no need to yell at the dealer, of course a lot of them need it. That is normal practice for most dealer mechanics. They have a tendency to put the initial adjustment of the chain tight. It will stretch a little.
Make sure you get some good chain lube and oil it faithfully every 500 miles(or whatever interval your manual says)
There is a lot of threads here on cleaning but thats another subject.
If your chain is at 3/4 you are probalby OK. Just go ride and oil it at the 500 mark. Oil it sooner if you get caught in rain.
Remember this is just one TBA riders opinion. Also IMO, Use PJ-1 Blue Label for O ring chains.

meatwagon · 04-28-2006, 07:09 PM

Saint just be aware that modern chains are light years ahead of the chains of yester year.Little adjustment is needed (good to check it though) and they last 20 -25 K miles.Enjoy!

TheSaint · 04-28-2006, 07:48 PM

I hear you but the dealer let me drive it off at 3/4" play, actually less depending on how you measure it. It feels really tight to me and must have been a lot worse even before I rode 250 miles.

So I'm pretty pissed off at the dealer and I told them so. They are sending me a new chain.

But meanwhile I have to go out tomorrow and pull both mufflers and adjust the chain. (I'm kinda anal about torque and nobody around here has crowfoot wrenches in stock that large).

So the dealer ruined the first days of ownership as far as I am concerned with their carelessness. I bought this bike to ride. :evil:

meatwagon · 04-28-2006, 08:27 PM

Since they are sending a new chain I assume they are not local to you,otherwise I would say make them adjust it.Bastages! OOPS re -read yer first post about the 250 miles

[ This message was edited by: meatwagon on 2006-04-28 18:27 ]

TheSaint · 04-30-2006, 07:23 PM

Well I'd rather not say at the moment which dealer it was. I'm giving them the benefit of the doubt at the moment. I happen to have some good chain breaking and riveting tools, but realistically I'll probably just ebay off the replacement - I doubt if the chain was damaged severely, but when I finally measured it precisely before adjusting it, it was only a little more than 1/2" - after the 250 mile ride.

To top it off, the dealer told me to use regular gas, and as with the chain, I trusted them and put in 2 tanks of 87 octane on the way home.

DJ · 04-30-2006, 07:30 PM

Quote:

On 2006-04-30 17:23, TheSaint wrote:
To top it off, the dealer told me to use regular gas, and as with the chain, I trusted them and put in 2 tanks of 87 octane on the way home.

I've put in 87 octane before on accident since i use it in my car. No worries man, I think you have a case of "New Owners Syndrome"... which we've all had with our bikes. It will usually go away after the 1st scratch in the paint. :-D

TheSaint · 04-30-2006, 09:31 PM

Yeah I'm gonna go out and scrape it with a set of keys just so I can stop babying it... Its just that the dealer apparently did not even know that mid octane gas was required kind of surprises me. :???:

[ This message was edited by: TheSaint on 2006-04-30 19:34 ]