M696 chain adjustment

[BaZgA]

Hi

I have some questions about chain adjustment on M696.

1. Must the bike be on side stand or can it be on rear stand?
2. How to find "most taut position" because its hard to see any difference when you have to push bike instead of just turning the wheel when on rear stand
2. When I press chain down must I release it and then measure it or I keep the pressure on the chain with my finger and then measure it
3. In "use and maintenance manual" it says that the rear axle screw torque is 72 Nm and in "workshop manual" says 83 Nm?!

TNX

[JetTest]

Side stand, measure to middle of bottom surface of swingarm while pushing the chain down with your finger. If you use a locking steel tape measure you can extend the tape and lock it so that it sits on the ground with the tip of the tape touching the swingarm so you do not have to hold the tape to measure.

[BaZgA]

So you have to measure it when putting force on it?

What about different torque values for rear axle nut? 72 or 83 Nm?

[ScottRNelson]

So you have to measure it when putting force on it?

What about different torque values for rear axle nut? 72 or 83 Nm?

To measure chain slack, I pull it up halfway between the two sprockets with a reasonable amount of force, then push it down at the same point and figure out how far it moves.  I don't bother with a tape measure, it's easy enough to get close to 30 mm by eyeballing it.  It's okay to be a bit loose but not too tight.

As for torque, however tight I can get it with my pathetic wrenches is generally good enough.  I'm pretty sure that I can't over-tighten it, but it has always been tight enough.

[be350ka]

To measure chain slack, I pull it up halfway between the two sprockets with a reasonable amount of force, then push it down at the same point and figure out how far it moves.  I don't bother with a tape measure, it's easy enough to get close to 30 mm by eyeballing it.  It's okay to be a bit loose but not too tight.

The manual says for the 696 that the measurement should be 46-48mm.

[BaZgA]

The manual says for the 696 that the measurement should be 46-48mm.

But it does not say do you measure it while pressing or after you remove your finger.

Another thing. It is hard to know where to measure it. In manual there is a picture where you can see that you must measure it on middle of the distance between center of the sprockets which is approximately on the rear end of the swingarm sticker. If you move it just a inch forward or backward the difference in slack is half of inch or more so that 46-48 mm sucks.

It would be better that they put amount of chain travel from highest to the lowest point.

[RUFKM]

What about different torque values for rear axle nut? 72 or 83 Nm?

Good luck on the specifics when it comes to Ducati.  Both the operators manual and service manual for my bike specify a spark plug that isn't even the right thread size (12mm vice 10mm).  There are also multiple discrepancies in the torque values.  I usually check the suggested torque values for the fastener size vice the duc manuals and go with my heart from there.  It feels really stupid though holding a calibrated tool and wondering what the hell is right.

[BaZgA]

When I adjusted it at 48 mm it was too tight when I was sitting on the bike.
I went to my friend who is a mechanic but for Honda and he said that it was too tight. Then we loosen it a bit and it was OK when I was sitting on it but the distance was about 56 mm when on sidestand.
Another thing, When it was on 48 mm I heard the chain noise while driving. Like it was rubbing on something (probably chain guide). I never heard that noise before, not even when it was new.

Now I hope it is OK, but better to be little loosen over too tight