Chain Tension on a ducati monster 1100 EVO

[EEL]

Bought the bike a while back, just finished modding it and finally setting the chain tension. The factory spec calls for 61 - 63 mm or 2.5 inches!!!

My old 800 has half that. Personally I dont care either way but the play is so much that anything over 2 inches just flops against the slider under the swingarm.

so how to I gauge 2.5 inches?

Apologies if this is a stupid question.

[stopintime]

From your Owner's manual:


Make the rear wheel turn until you find the position where
chain is tightest.
Set the vehicle on the side stand. Lower the chain by
pressing down on it only with your finger at the point of
measurement, and release.
Measure the distance (A) between the centre of the chain
pins and the aluminium section of the swingarm.
It must be: A = 61 - 63 mm

[EEL]

I've always been taught to measure the full spread of the chain. Meaning you pull down until you meet resistance; measure; then push up until you meet resistance; measure

So what you're saying is you just measure sag off the bottom of the swingarm? Pull down only? When I push up, I dont meet resistance before I hit the swingarm and if I do, the chain wont pull down enough to meet the clearance spec.

[Speeddog]

So what you're saying is you just measure sag off the bottom of the swingarm? Pull down only?

Yep; pull down, release, measure.

[brad black]

if you get someone to sit on it while it's on a rear stand you'll see that it does use up a lot of that slack rather quickly.

follow the instructions.  that way you'll get the result they intended.

[EEL]

Yep; pull down, release, measure.

You know me well. I tend to overthink things sometimes. Seemed too easy to be true

[stopintime]

if you get someone to sit on it while it's on a rear stand you'll see that it does use up a lot of that slack rather quickly.

follow the instructions.  that way you'll get the result they intended.

It's strange, maybe even bad, that the swingarm pivot and related geometry requires such a wide slack.

With the generous Monster rider sag, I assume most of the slack is caught nicely at steady loads, but upon compression and return the chain will bounce around a lot 

[NAKID]

It's strange, maybe even bad, that the swingarm pivot and related geometry requires such a wide slack.

With the generous Monster rider sag, I assume most of the slack is caught nicely at steady loads, but upon compression and return the chain will bounce around a lot 

Yes, I have some chain marks (gouges) on my SSSA from the recommended chain slack...