...pretty cool...
http://www.tru-tension.com/motorcycle/ (http://www.tru-tension.com/motorcycle/)
indeed cool and would be handy, but unless it is sanctioned by the motorcycle manufacturer I don't think I would use it.
Hell it's difficult enough to get a straight answer on how to tension your chain on a forum or even at the dealer. My manual states 31-33mm from center of the chain to the metal of the swingarm when the bike is on the side stand. When I asked the dealer they said that of course they have better tools and measure it another way but the best/easy way for me would be to use 35mm measured while sitting on the bike. (yeah good luck trying that out!)
It probably also works on certain assumptions like chain lenght swingarm angle etc.) So how acurate would it be really?
Quote from: IdZer0 on January 19, 2016, 12:17:41 PM
.......... When I asked the dealer they said that of course they have better tools and measure it another way but the best/easy way for me would be to use 35mm measured while sitting on the bike. (yeah good luck trying that out!)
It probably also works on certain assumptions like chain lenght swingarm angle etc.) So how acurate would it be really?
Curious to know if you asked the dealer what their "better tools" were, and maybe a description of their "another way" ?
Their advice to measure 35mm while sitting on the bike is intended to measure the chain slack when it is at its tightest condition. It is often repeated advice for many marques when factory specs are not available.
My experience using similar devices when setting tension on steel cables is that the cable length had no bearing on the tension measurement. I am assuming that would also be the same for a chain. Swingarm angle certainly is a factor but that has already been addressed by Ducati in their chain adjust instructions. Temperature would definitely be a factor but, in this circumstance, doubtful if it would be significant.
While I think it is a neat idea, and wish I had thought of it, I'll just continue to check my chain iaw the manual specs. BTW, that also happens to be the way my dealer does it.