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Post by bikesnoopy on Jul 30, 2006 19:58:43 GMT
so you carnt do the chain on paddock stand then or can we do it on paddock stand .. ?? On a paddock stand...off a paddock stand...it really doesnt matter. Just adjust the bloody thing to the right tension... BTW: Hard to carry a paddock stand on a trip round Europe...
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Post by ZRX Gremlin on Jul 30, 2006 21:40:39 GMT
That Wheelspin gadget looks liek a good idea. I nearly bought one myself a few years back. One advanatage I can see is that, unlike a paddock stand, It'll fit under your seat so if you do any long distance touring, keeping the chain properly lubed won't be a problem. Knowing how easily the unmodified sidestand can flip up on some Rex models, there is a potential disadvantage too which is the reason I didn't buy one (Wheelspin that is, you all know I bought the Rex). I didn't relish the idea of ending up squashed under the Rex while lubing the chain. (I've since succeeded in doing that while carelessly lowering the bike from the paddock stand. )
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Post by lightspeed on Jul 30, 2006 23:12:59 GMT
Chain adjustment requires the weight of the bike to be on the suspension, so either the side stand or a paddock stand will do.
You can't set the chain adjustment if the bike is on a stand that lets the swingarm hang free.
The rear sprocket moves through an arc and is slightly further from the front sprocket in the riding position, so if you set the chain slack with the swingarm hanging, it will be too tight when it is in the riding position.
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Post by bikesnoopy on Jul 31, 2006 5:30:29 GMT
The ZRX has such a short rear suspension travel & the chain tension difference throughout the arc is so small that it really wont make much difference...its millimetres for gawds sake! And in any case,have you looked at how much the rear suspension sags when you tilt if off the side stand upright...pretty much NIL ! It really doesnt matter if your chains got 20mm of slack or 25mm,so lets not be too pedantic here. As long as its not TOO tight or TOO loose its fine. Now go adjust your chains and get out there and ride your bloody bikes...
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Post by ZRX Gremlin on Aug 1, 2006 17:50:09 GMT
Now go adjust your chains and get out there and ride your bloody bikes... Whatever you say snoopy, I won't argue with you.
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Post by bikesnoopy on Aug 1, 2006 19:13:12 GMT
BTW...having studied the ZRX's suspension movement arc,the tightest spot is when the rear wheel hangs free. It gets progressivly slacker as the suspension compresses.....and as the arc of the swingarm is inside the arc of the chain - ie the chain is on a smaller arc,it gets slacker as the suspension compresses,so id say the absolute perfect spot to adjust the chain is with the rear wheel hanging free as this is the position where the chain is at its tightest. But...as i said before,the tension difference on the chain over different swingarm positions is so slight,its not worth bothering about...
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Post by lightspeed on Aug 1, 2006 19:53:52 GMT
Bikesnoopy Never actually sat and studied the tension on the chain through a full range of motion. Other than being aware that unless the front sprocket is exactly in the centre of the swingarm pivot location the tension would vary as the swing arm moves, I did not know that. That must mean that the REX drive sprocket is below the swingarm pivot spot.
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Post by bikesnoopy on Aug 1, 2006 20:18:07 GMT
No,theyre about level with one another...but the top chain run is almost paralell to the ground while the bottom chain run slopes steeply back to the front sprocket with no weight on the bike. This is because the centre of the front sprocket is about 5 inches higher than the centre line of the back sprocket,so when the suspension compresses,it takes tension out of the chain & while the front sprocket "chain pivot" and the swingarm pivot are approx level,they both move in the same arc,but as the swingarm pivot is INSIDE the chain pivot(ie the front sprocket)it moves within a tighter arc,so that also will cause the chain to lose tension as the suspension is compressed. Its all a very small amount & too small to really worry about. Mr Kawasaki obviously calculated the swingarm pivot position very carefully to give such a small fluctuation in the chain tension during suspension movement
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Post by bikesnoopy on Aug 1, 2006 20:21:00 GMT
I actually looked at this on my old Rex when i had the rear shocks off. You can see whats happening as you lift the rear wheel up & down
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Post by ZRX Gremlin on Aug 2, 2006 19:55:04 GMT
:hmm: Interesting snoopy, thanks for that. I was always under the impression that it was the other way round and tension increased with load, something I've always been wary of when loading up with pillion and luggage. Looks like I needn't worry any more then.
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Post by lightspeed on Aug 2, 2006 21:40:52 GMT
Not that I'm doubting snoop's observation powers, but before ya head out on the road after loading up your S with everything (including the kitchen sink), ya might just want to check on that chain tension.
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Post by bikesnoopy on Aug 3, 2006 6:30:08 GMT
Id certainly agree with that advice... As i have said throughout this thread...the difference in chain tension as the suspension moves throughout its arc is very very slight...a few mm,thats all,so just dont run it TOO tight and you should be fine
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Post by ZRX Gremlin on Aug 3, 2006 9:01:53 GMT
Not that I'm doubting snoop's observation powers, but before ya head out on the road after loading up your S with everything (including the kitchen sink), ya might just want to check on that chain tension. :agreed: I'll continue to check my chain tension anyway, it'd be idiotic not to. When loading up the ZRX, I always increase the preload on the rear suspension to maintain the ride height. In theory at least, with that ride height the same as for solo use, the chain tension shouldn't alter. Compression an rebound settings are also changed, so the bike really doesn't behave that much differently over bumpy terrain, either fully laden or ridden solo.
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