Brammo Owners Forum

General => Off Topic => Topic started by: Richard230 on October 01, 2016, 04:37:35 PM

Title: Chain Monkey
Post by: Richard230 on October 01, 2016, 04:37:35 PM
You might find this evaluation of the Chain Monkey, which is supposed to help you set your final drive chain slack, interesting - even if you decide not to bother getting the thing:  http://www.webbikeworld.com/t2/chain-monkey-review/ (http://www.webbikeworld.com/t2/chain-monkey-review/)
Title: Re: Chain Monkey
Post by: Shinysideup on October 01, 2016, 04:50:17 PM
Being a total gadget whore, I ordered the thing.

Tried it for 1 day and, after my neighbor wouldn't take it, threw it in the trash.

The rubber bolt cover abrades immediately: no big deal, since it's really not needed.

Once tightened according to directions, and then the chain is set, the bolt is really very hard to get loose. No big deal: just remove the handy plastic knob, exposing the hex head on the bolt and use a socket wrench and ratchet handle.

But the deal killer for me: The chain was way too tight, when using according to directions, and when I compensated to where it was about right, I found that I was pretty much just doing my usual SWAG approach, which I'm good at and which has worked for many years without no fancy gadget.

Summary: A solution in search of a problem; that creates more problems than when I started.

But then you may like it just dandy.
Title: Re: Chain Monkey
Post by: Richard230 on October 01, 2016, 08:19:27 PM
I plan to stick with the tried-and-true method of measuring chain slack using my dirty finger and a ruler. But I do all of my chain slack measurements and adjustment with the bike on its center stand, as it is just easier to do and I haven't noticed any difference between measured chain slack between performing it on the center stand or the side stand.  ;)
Title: Re: Chain Monkey
Post by: Shinysideup on October 02, 2016, 07:13:52 AM
I've read that the purists want us to measure the slack while sitting on the bike, and in several places around the rotation of the rear wheel. A two person job.

I'm even more crude: on the center stand and no ruler... just a dirty finger and my best eyeball guess, with the OEM specs as a starting place, erring on the side of loser rather than tighter. My FJ-09 owner's guide specs, e.g.,  are WAY too tight (5-15 mm) for my preference of saving my bearings. I adjust to about 1" at the tightest spot in the rotation. Caveat wrencher!