Cruizin Posted January 28, 2015 Share Posted January 28, 2015 I believe that Yamaha needs to be clearer in showing the dimensions for the slack. I think they are trying to show that the slack should be .5 inches above and below the centerline of the chain. Therefore 1" from bottom to top, which is normal measuring, I think. Correct me if I'm wrong. I have been running 1" from bottom to top on my FZ-09, no issues with 4,800 miles. I agree that they really need to clarify their instructions as if someoe were to go .5 bottom to top, they would be risking serious injury from chain breakage. Yamaha FZ-10 Forum Yamaha FZ-07 Forum Yamaha Ténéré 700 Forum Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yamaham Posted January 29, 2015 Share Posted January 29, 2015 Are the chain specs the same on the FJ and FZ? But in the FJ Owners Manual there is a big caution about possible damage with 1 inch chain slack. On my new Honda NM4 the chain spec is .8-1.2 and that is pretty normal for all chain bikes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Member ULEWZ Posted January 29, 2015 Premium Member Share Posted January 29, 2015 I believe that Yamaha needs to be clearer in showing the dimensions for the slack. I think they are trying to show that the slack should be .5 inches above and below the centerline of the chain. Therefore 1" from bottom to top, which is normal measuring, I think. Correct me if I'm wrong. The manual is clear, 0.20 to 0.59 inch total. I think it is so tight as the measurement is with the bike on the center stand which will extend the swingarm, tightening things up. 1 inch would probably be correct off the center stand. A government which robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend on the support of Paul. George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950) Bikes: 2015 FJ-09, Seat Concepts seat cover and foam, Cal Sci medium screen, rim stripes, factory heated grips, Cortech Dryver tank bag ring, Modified stock exhaust, FlashTune with Graves fuel map, Cree driving lights, Aux power socket. 2012 Street Triple type R (Wifes) 2007 FJR1300 (Sold!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
b12ty Posted January 30, 2015 Share Posted January 30, 2015 Just checked my chain this evening. On the centerstand, there was almost no slack! I adjusted it till there was about a half inch total slack. Off the stand, with my brother sitting on it ( swingarm pivot, both sprockets lined up pretty good ) the chain was again tight as a drum. I loosened it till I had about an inch ( .5" up or down ) and then checked it with rider, and the chain moved comfortably just a bit, maybe 1/4" at most. I'm leaving it like that for now. I can only guess how tight the chain was while riding the way it left the dealer, good thing I hadn't put many miles on yet! Ty '05 Bandit 1200s ( Blue and White ) Bandit pic 2015 FJ-09 ( RED ) FJ-09 pic Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yamaham Posted January 30, 2015 Share Posted January 30, 2015 Ty, let us know if you notice a difference in the ride with new chain adjustment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redfjniner Posted January 31, 2015 Share Posted January 31, 2015 When I picked my FJ up I discussed this with the mechanic. He said he adjusted it to normal standards. I showed him what Yamaha put in the manual and he shook his head. He did it correctly based on all the discussions on the FZ forum that I was on. I think Yamaham noted it right at .8-1.2 and you will be safe. Also, to make sure you did it right do what b12ty did to check it by getting someone your weight to sit on it with no stands lowered. Ken, Candy Ass L.D.R. Sleeps 8 hours (2)2005 FJR1300abs: 230,000 m 2015 FJ-09: 114,000 m (Replaced engine at 106K) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yamaham Posted January 31, 2015 Share Posted January 31, 2015 I visited the FZ-09 forum and found nearly 8 pages on chain discussion..........................everyone seems to agree Owners Manual specifications are way too tight. Too bad no one knows a Yamaha Tech Rep to get some info on this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
b12ty Posted February 1, 2015 Share Posted February 1, 2015 Ty, let us know if you notice a difference in the ride with new chain adjustment.Rode 100+ miles today, seemed to work fine. Maybe a slightly bigger "thump" when putting it into 1st at a stop light, not sure. But ya, no way was I going to leave the chain that tight. I've seen the damage to chains run to tight ( wear out quick!) not to mention countershaft sprocket bearing! Ty '05 Bandit 1200s ( Blue and White ) Bandit pic 2015 FJ-09 ( RED ) FJ-09 pic Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeffritz Posted February 5, 2015 Share Posted February 5, 2015 Ok, Ive spent the better part of 3 hours reading up on this chain thing. 5-15mm just seems too tight for a measurement made on the center stand. I haven't measured mine yet but on the center stand it tight as hell and would only get tighter as the swingarm moves up. RichBizAZ has an interesting write-up here 5th post down: http://www.fz09.org/forum/32-yamaha-fz-09-guides-how-s/477-how-tight-chain-4.html Essentially, if you adjust chain slack @ 10mm with engine sprocket - swingarm bolt - rear wheel axle center lines aligned you get 30mm free play with bike on stand. 30mm is more in line with other bikes it seems. Your thoughts? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
b12ty Posted February 7, 2015 Share Posted February 7, 2015 Like you said, it sounds like my other bikes. Ty '05 Bandit 1200s ( Blue and White ) Bandit pic 2015 FJ-09 ( RED ) FJ-09 pic Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yamaham Posted February 7, 2015 Share Posted February 7, 2015 Speaking of chain adjustment, the manual list several steps................start on the side stand then center stand then back to side stand, is everyone doing it this way? Or, the entire procedure on center stand? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woozer Posted February 22, 2015 Author Share Posted February 22, 2015 Hi all - new to the forum, just got my FJ09 two weeks ago. I noticed the chain tension seemed a lot tighter than I'm used to, hardly any free play at all. Motorcyclist magazine just had a tech tip where they said Yamaha told them it normal, and was to prevent the chain from hitting the frame. But they fully compressed the suspension in their shop and said even loosened to a more normal amount of slack, there was no way the chain could ever hit the frame. They said they think the wear and potential damage to the chain, sprockets, and even the countershaft in the gearbox isn't worth the risk and that owners should back off the chain adjustment at least slightly. Any opinions on this, or is Yamaha right? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Member ULEWZ Posted February 22, 2015 Premium Member Share Posted February 22, 2015 Hi all - new to the forum, just got my FJ09 two weeks ago. I noticed the chain tension seemed a lot tighter than I'm used to, hardly any free play at all. Motorcyclist magazine just had a tech tip where they said Yamaha told them it normal, and was to prevent the chain from hitting the frame. But they fully compressed the suspension in their shop and said even loosened to a more normal amount of slack, there was no way the chain could ever hit the frame. They said they think the wear and potential damage to the chain, sprockets, and even the countershaft in the gearbox isn't worth the risk and that owners should back off the chain adjustment at least slightly. Any opinions on this, or is Yamaha right?Here is an interesting discussion on chain slack. We should probably merge it with yours and relocate it to the questions area. Relocation done as this is a better title and area. Thanks. A government which robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend on the support of Paul. George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950) Bikes: 2015 FJ-09, Seat Concepts seat cover and foam, Cal Sci medium screen, rim stripes, factory heated grips, Cortech Dryver tank bag ring, Modified stock exhaust, FlashTune with Graves fuel map, Cree driving lights, Aux power socket. 2012 Street Triple type R (Wifes) 2007 FJR1300 (Sold!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robb Posted February 24, 2015 Share Posted February 24, 2015 When I first picked up my FJ I thought my chain was banjo string tight from the factory. The first thing I did was go home and loosen it to the loose side of the spec (15mm). When I did shortly thereafter my chain then loosened up to 20mm within the first 200 miles from normal break-in. While it was slightly loose I noticed some excessive play while at slightly off idle cruising and decel. Also when I would drive close to high concrete highway barriers I could hear the excessive play. At the end of the day, I keep the chain adjusted to 10-15 mm with my weight on the suspension and sleep well at night knowing my chain isnt going to get wadded up in the cases and lock up the rear wheel at 115mph if I bottom out the rear shock;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hotboot Posted February 24, 2015 Share Posted February 24, 2015 I noticed way too much driveline noise on my first ride home, the chain was very tight but within the owners manual spec. I know the sound of a countersprocket being tortured under tension so I backed it off a tad. Still getting driveline noise, I have never seen a .59 slack specification in many years of chain drive bikes. It depends on what the swingarm does under load and the changing geometry but I'm concerned. On my FZ-01 a little loose was better than tight when the suspension compresses under load in turns. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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