actually could be a monumental balls up... I leave for my first European trip on Friday at 7am, and have just measured my chain and it's too loose. I don't have a torque wrench, so does that mean I can't attempt the adjustment myself? If not then I'd love some suggestions on who could help at very short notice and out of hours. I live near Leatherhead and unfortunately have to to to work tomorrow in London... So time is tight. Faaaak, what a school boy error!
You will be fine just dont swing off it! Just make sure its snug as its only 35nm which isnt a lot at all
...take a CR2032 battery for the fob, just in case it dies! You could pop into a ducati dealer abroad & mention that you've noticed the chain was slack. I'm sure they will quickly adjust it free of charge.
If you don't want to do it yourself, pop into Steve Jordan motorcycles between Leatherhead and Bookham: Welcome to Steve Jordan Motorcycles & Performance | Steve Jordan Motorcycles
Thanks guys, late night texts to a work colleague is getting a torque wrench brought in for me to use. Jimmy, I can't remember whether it was on the multi or a 996, but remember being told over tightening can seize up the hub (but as you say just don't swing off it). What is the scenario if it's too loose? That said, I'm not sure how smart it is to be doing this adjustment for the first time on the eve of my first euro ride. (Been adjusting 2 sided swing arm chains since I was 10, but my first time on a single swinger).
Thanks for the heads up on the remote battery, and yep I might give Steve Jordan a ring (used them on the past for MOT's etc - good bunch).
Dave, It's real easy to do. Find and download the instructions on motorcycleinfo sire. In brief : Take the rear splash guard off - 3 bolts. Slacken the two allen pinch bolts. Fit the gauge that found in the tool kit to the swing arm Set tension accordingly using details in instructions depending on whether you have a centre stand or not. Tighten up pinch bolts using allen key by hand. You can't over tighten only using the allen key. Check chain adjustment as it can become tighter after doing bolts. Spin wheel and check chain at various points. That's it ! just seen your in Leatherhead. If you can either drop into me before 5:30, or are happy for me to drop by yours between 9:30 and 10 and we can do it in a lit area, I will help you do it. I am out to a meeting in wisley between those times. Send me a PM if you want me to. It takes a couple of minutes.
Wasn't aware anything to do with chain adjustment needed torquing urgently. All Allan bolts isn't it and as has been said, you can't really over tighten with an Allan key. Are you using the standard silver hub tool. If it bends/breaks I'll be in London and will be sure to throw my aftermarket one in my bag for tomorrow just in case you're in the [emoji90] Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Ok, so are you supposed to measure the chain when it's cold or straight after use? I took it for a spin to change it onto Enduro mode (per the instructions - it was in touring previously), and when I jumped off after 30mins I measured the chain and it was perfect. So I went for another ride, this time returning on touring mode - and measured perfect again... So is it the temperature that sent me into an unnecessary spin? My limited understanding of physics tells me things expand when they are warmer/hotter, so would have expected more slack in a warm chain.... Wouldn't mind some clarity, but at least I can relax and head out to Europe for the first time (very excited)! Very big thanks to the kind offers of help, great community on this forum!
I thought it was urban mode not enduro. The last multi was. May explain why it has changed. Could be tight spot
No offence mate but you really are overthinking this..... Follow what John W said, its very very easy...... you don't need a torque wrench and both the allen keys and the C spanner you need are in the red wallet under the seat. Its a routine bit of maintenance and I do it frequently And the bike is to be on Urban with single rider and on the sidestand to get the measurement right.. PS Steve Jordan and his missus are friends of mine and they are currently at Snetterton for racing but the lads at the workshop will help if you really need them
This should help reassure you and guide you Ignore the whole cleaning bit prior to your trip, just adjust it and lube it
Thanks to everyone who replied but as Bigyin said it was a panic for nothing. I completed the tour, bike was amazing. 2,300 miles around some fantastic roads. I can't think of a better bike to have done it on, what a machine. Now for sale in the classifieds...
So I've just watched the video and that's not how i was taught to tighten a chain ,i was taught to spin the wheel slowly and find the tightest part of the chain and adjust the tightest part of the chain to the correct tension . The chains links don't all wear at the same rate and the teeth on the rear sprocket don't wear evenly ..Just pointing it out because say you adjust the chain at its slackest then the tightest part of the chain is going to be even tighter. Worse case scenario you can ruin the output shaft bearing . I was at a bike meet on a Thursday night at the raven cafe near Whitchurch a few years ago and over heard a chap complaining how his rear suspension had all of a sudden seized up, and after a few of his mates had jumped up and down on the back of his bike had confirmed his rear shock had seized i walked over and felt his chain and it was like a bow string ,the bellend adjusted his chain so tight that it stopped any movement in the swingarm . Just saying
This is an urban myth perpetuated by the man in the pub. The average hand clamp pressure for a man varies from 25 to 50kg (non manual to manual workers), with top rock climbers and weight lifters hitting plus 75kg. Given you'd be using two hands to lessen the local distibuted stress this means a variance of 50 to 150kg. Arm strength varies even more.... Length of spanner does not give a tolerable torque range for Ducati, hence they specify it for each and every nut or bolt.
Use the right spanner mate. As proven by the men who work in car garages up and down the land and go to the pub safe on the knowledge normal bolts haven't fallen off or stripped. Because they know if they have Geoff capes strenth they knock it off a bit
