Triumphrat

Baltobonneville

I went out this afternoon to do some work on the Bonneville, noticed that the chain was loose.

I remember that the index mark lined up exactly with one of the dots when I reinstalled the rear wheel 500 miles ago, so I know where it should be. I had also torqued the axle bolt to the specified 85NM.

It looked like the chain adjustment had crept about 1-2mm in the loose direction.

The previous time I adjusted the chain, I still had the stock silencers, and I just muscled the nut on, pretty sure that it was tighter than 85NM, and it didn't move.

Question: Has anyone else found out that 85NM is not enough to hold the axle in place? This is without aggressive riding.

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Marty
2005 Bonneville Blue 790cc, AI removed, Staintunes RC, Unifilter, no snorkel, 120/40/Thrux needle/1 shim/3 turns, fly screen, tacho, D9 gauge panel, center stand, Ikon 7610s, Hagon fork springs, gaiters, Pirelli Sport Demons, 3 seats.

uzidzit

two things, first usually when this happens you did not have tension on the adjusters when tightened the axle.

the other is vibration loosening the adjusters and allowing the axle to shift during accel (this does not happen much)

if you go to far adjusting the chain(too tight) and loosen the adjusters without rolling the bike to pull the new slack out fully (pulling the axle tight forward against the adjusters) it can shift.

got to make sure you are always pulling the axle back during adj never pushing forward.

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"Peter, It seems like you have been missing a lot of work recently, well Bob I wouldn't say that I've been missing it"
ENOUGH, go out and ride!

mikeinva

one other thing make sure your chain has not got any tight links in it if the tight link is not stright when you adj chain it might strighten out when it gets hot and chain will be loose. jack bike up rool wheel make sure chain is ok and dont have tight and loose spots in it.

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Why do I feel young on my bike

Baltobonneville

Chain is fine and I know how to adjust it and tighten it properly.

I check it after everything is tightened, roll the wheel a bit, make sure the adjustment stays. This happened after all that was done, and it was the first time that I used the torque wrench to set it to 85NM, which is why I think that might not be tight enough.

I'll watch what happens--it's set to 85NM again--and report back.

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Marty
2005 Bonneville Blue 790cc, AI removed, Staintunes RC, Unifilter, no snorkel, 120/40/Thrux needle/1 shim/3 turns, fly screen, tacho, D9 gauge panel, center stand, Ikon 7610s, Hagon fork springs, gaiters, Pirelli Sport Demons, 3 seats.

CAPTDON

If your adjusters are tight & rite on- I tighten my my nut till it wont tighten any more. Torque on the axle is worthless. The tighter - the better!! The adjusters HAVE to be in place or the nut WILL move! I am nut the Hulk so whatever I can pull is where it is. I cant strip it so not to worry? Usually give it a kick after I cant pull any more. The final torque!!

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CAPT D

rodburner

I`m with Don here.This isn`t an aluminum head bolt or plastic thumbswitch housing.It`s 3/4"case hardened bolt.I crank it til my eyes bulge.

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" A man is only as old as the women he feels" G Marx

sweatmachine

After rebuilding the motor, I was putting the motor back in my frame and I came to the step where you attach the swingarm to the motor. It has a big nut and bolt, very similar to the rear axle.

I was using my torque wrench, but not my head, and I think I forgot to convert NM to Ft-lbs and I was wrenching and wrenching on it until I heard "BAM". It was pretty loud, so I didn't even think it was from the swingarm axle. I looked around for a stray gun that had just gone off, but then realized that I had popped all the threads out of the nut! Darndest thing....I'm an idiot....I busted a nut! I had to order another one and call it a day until it came in.

Another thought about over-tightening the axle; won't the swingarm sort of pinch down on the rear wheel and spacers, and make it harder to rotate if it's too tight? I don't really tighten mine to spec, I just tighten until it's tight.

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Macgruber!


Click for a picture of my slightly modified Bonnie

mikeinva

The tighter you get it the more you pre load bearings to tight is not a good thing.

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Why do I feel young on my bike

Baltobonneville

I don't see how tightening the axle will put a load on the bearings.

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Marty
2005 Bonneville Blue 790cc, AI removed, Staintunes RC, Unifilter, no snorkel, 120/40/Thrux needle/1 shim/3 turns, fly screen, tacho, D9 gauge panel, center stand, Ikon 7610s, Hagon fork springs, gaiters, Pirelli Sport Demons, 3 seats.

CAPTDON

Thats what the spacers are for!

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CAPT D