Can Loose Motorcycle Chains Cause Vibration?

“Will a loose motorcycle chain cause vibration? ” We have to split this issue in two. First, a loose chain can indeed cause vibration; however, the fact that the car vibrates does not directly prove that the chain is completely broken, must be replaced, or that it can continue to ride safely.

Too loose, but by no means as tight as possible

If the chain is too loose for a long time, it is easy to hit the chain, impact, skip teeth, or even lose the chain when riding. If you feel your car making unusual noises, vibrations, or jerks, or if you find that you need to frequently adjust the chain, this is a reminder to check ahead of time. However, based on these phenomena alone, no one can calculate how many kilometers this chain can actually last.

In addition, it was a big mistake to tighten the chain. Excessive tightening can put a huge additional load on the chain’s pins, sleeves, as well as the teeth, bearings, and suspension. Keeping the chain stretched “without any looseness” does not meet the working standards of a normal vehicle at all.

If you encounter vibration, you need to check the entire transmission system

Never check the chain just to see “whether it is loose or not”. You also need to pay attention to the tension difference at each position when it rotates a full circle, whether there are any “dead joints” (chain links stuck), the condition of the pins and oil seals, whether there is elongation, and the degree of wear of the front and rear tooth discs. You should know that the chain and front and rear tooth discs are a complete occlusal drive system. Once structural damage occurs, wear exceeds the limit, or the bite is no longer safe, it is definitely not something that can be dealt with by just picking and pulling twice “as long as it can still turn”.

If the chain is not cut correctly, the rear wheel is not aligned correctly, the tooth disc is installed crookedly, or the installation gap is insufficient, it will cause excessive force in the local area and leave abnormal wear marks. Such installation or correction problems must be investigated and corrected honestly. Relying solely on spraying more chain oil cannot solve the fundamental problem.

Elasticity does not have “universal throughout the world” millimeters

The exact amount of tension in the chain depends entirely on the specific model of the vehicle, and it is definitely not determined by the model, oil seal type or brand of the chain. The instructions for each vehicle model usually clearly specify the measurement conditions: such as what posture the vehicle body is required to be, whether to use a strut or a starting frame, whether to carry a load, what gear to put on, as well as the measurement points and force application methods. Some cars look at the total height of the floating, while others look at the distance between two specific locations. Without these specific conditions, those so-called “generic millimeters” online have absolutely no reference value.

When measuring, be sure to turn the wheel and measure several times at different positions on the chain. If the tension varies greatly over a full lap, it is useless to calculate the average. The key is to find the point where the chain is “tightest” according to the requirements of the vehicle model, so that after you adjust it to the loosest point, the chain will be overtightened as soon as the wheel turns to the tightest point.

Don’t rush to ride after the transfer, review is crucial

The premise for adjusting the chain is that the chain and the tooth plate themselves are still usable, but simply loose. Don’t assume that just because there’s room in the chain adjuster, it means the chain hasn’t been overstretched, hasn’t suffered any partial wear, isn’t structurally broken, or the oil seal isn’t leaking.

After adjusting, you must check the tightness of the entire lap, the position of the tightest point, the chain alignment, the joint status, whether the rear wheel is straight or not, how the gear plate is, as well as the body clearance and whether it turns smoothly. If you find that the tension increases after one revolution, or if during inspection you find that the chain has been severely stretched, there is abnormal local wear, structural damage or even oil seal failure, then you can no longer force the chain adjuster to twist.

In general, as long as there is an unsafe bite or structural abnormality, stop being superstitious “a tight chain adjuster will solve the problem” and honestly replace it according to the manufacturer’s and instructions’ standards.