Hi,

I'm pretty sure my chain has been loose since I got my KLX new. I have been meaning to tighten it up and am going to do it some time this week. Do I have to loosen the rear tire and pull it back like.. a pedal bike.. is that what those "levers" are for on the back?

Any tips on doing this? Or is it straight forward?

What do you think? Is it too loose? <-- rhetorical

 

yes, loosen it a touch, not too much you want to leave a little tension on the nuts so the wheel isn't all floppy n stuff. Then use a rubber mallet or something and tap your tensioner 1/2 numbers at a time until your chain is at the recomended 2-2.5 inches of slack.... I think, check the manual. If it takes longer than 5 minutes chances are your doing it wrong

 

Yes your chain is too loose even with full suspension drop. A new chain will need to be brought up a notch every couple hundred miles or there abouts for the first 6-800 miles, and then it seems to be less. So with a wrench on the small side and the bigger one on the larger nut, (not needing to remove the cotter pin) just loosen the nut a little, tap the adjusters to the next notch on each side and then tap a little so the small pin fits into the slot again, and check the chain. If its really loose you might have to do it twice. But its better to have the chain a little loose than a little tight.

 

For almost anyone a shop manual is a must. Great pictures to help you torqe specs, and a lot of how too's. When i get a new bike the manual is my first buy. Well worth the money.

 

RTFM

 

I know this is in the manual but I lost it. I have a new one on order.

 

i digress.. I am super paranoid about any mechanical adjustment on this bike. Even something as simple as this. Just looking at rear of the bike its obvious what has to be done. But for some reason I am compelled to ask for advice. After re-reading my original post I discovered I ask in a way that makes me out to be an imbecile.

I think I am the one out of 4 that deej mentions in his signature.

Thanks for taking the time to answer. I am going to try it when I get home.

 

Hey we all know something about something. I mean I can completely wire a house or get a gas furnace working, or rebuild a V8 engine, but I don't know anything about engineering or how to fly a plane. Working on our bikes is just something you figure out over time, and having grown up with bikes, three and four wheelers has helped too. But you know when you read about someone that might not know something you do, it just makes you appreciate knowing that. Its all relative, don't feel bad, that's what this great site and the people here are for, we are all trying to learn. Let us know what you discover, and if you are still not sure what to do, I'm sure someone here can take a few pictures of the procedure and post them. Have fun.

 

Careful with tapping the adjusters, over time you can round off the detent and/or wear a groove in the stop pin resulting in uneven adj.

You should be OK just dont hammer the **** out of it and make sure tire will move back when you do.

Other wise go for it.

 

What is the torque on the axle nut?