Aloha 690 Enduro Forum, this is my first post here:
I've got a fairly new Husky 701E and now after lowering it with a Koubalink(-1.25"), chopping the sidestand(-2.5") and setting up a heavier shock spring(110) Of course, now I need to tension the chain. I too, thought the factory spec. (.20") was
very, very tight. I think that they could only be imagining a bike in a pristine showroom, delivery state. The assumption that your counter balancer, swingarm and rear axle will be in alignment whilst the bike sits on its sidestand could only be accurate on a new, unmodified bike. Any changes to preload,tires, sidestand, spring or cargo would throw their basic assumptions out the window.
- The danger in operating your bike with too much tension is that you destroy the chain, sprockets and the counter balancer bearings...perhaps more. The cost to repair this would be $500-$5000.
The danger in operating your chain too loose, assuming not ridiculously loose, is that you prematurely wear out some plastic guards that were meant to be worn out. Cost $30-$100
I intend to reestablish the correct tension as follows. Assuming that KTM's idea behind the .20" slack was that the balancer, swing arm and axle would all be in a direct line; I will use a ratchet strap and make crank it until those elements are directly aligned. Then I'll adjust the chain as directed by the manual. After that I'll release the strap resting on the side stand and I'll measure the chain deflection at the prescribed point with my caliper. This new number will become my setting for my bike as it is
actually modified, equipped and adjusted.
I am new in here and I would like to hear what you old timers think about this logic. Mahalo