hi-vo chain advice

[dweomer21]

Hi there all. I was wondering if anyone can tell me how much slack a hivo chain should have before needing to be replaced? I have searched high and low, and there doesn't seem to be a definitive answer. Basically, my hivo has about 1/2" to 1" slack (kindof a big range, but it is hard to tell exactly until I get the chassis bearings back in so that the shaft is exactly centered). I am not talking length of chain, since I would have no way of knowing this without cutting it. Rather, I am saying 1/2" or 1" travel in a radial distance in the middle of its span ...does this make any sense at all?
If I need to replace the chain, I found a used one for $57 (also comes with a cam chain)....if mine is still fine, I'd rather not spend the money, of course, but if mine is looking grim, I'll risk the money (hoping it isn't as stretched as mine currently is).

Thanks for any advice!
scott

[Pat Kelly]

I'm not sure about slack specs but someone on the triples list made a tensioner for his triple (same chain?) using a cam chain tensioner. He drilled a hole in the case for the tensioner to mount it with. Seems to work fine. This is a tensioner from a 750 or 850 triple.
Here's the link to the pics he took:

www.cbmma.net/Henrik/tensioner/

Hope this helps

[TopCatGr58]

Hey Pat,

The problem I see is that the cam chain tensioner in it's original location doesn't rub directly against the cam chain, it pushes against a large long slider/runner that guides the cam chain.

So... in his illustration, he doesn't show any similar runner, he's just putting the plunger right up against the chain, it'll wear down to metal pretty fast I would think!? He'll need to come up with a wide flat runner piece, with a hinge attached to the case so that the plunger can press against it, spreading the pressure and friction out over a larger area to reduce the wear on the pressure device. Of course it'll all be bathed in oil, but there's still friction!?
Also, isn't that location, at least for an XS on the high tension side of the chain? I would think that wouldn't work either, too much stress against the tensioner parts under accel!?
Just my thoughts/ponderings!
T.C.

Scott, I've heard of folks describing being able to hear their Hi-Vo chain slapping against the case. Can your's touch the case when pushed thru it's slack? Can you cause it to slip/jump a tooth on either sprocket? If not, then I would think you could go back with the OEM one. Like you said, you don't know what you're getting with the used one, especially if they can't provide any length measurements!? You can take a string and run it around the outer circumference of the chain to measure it's length, then ask the person with the used one to do the same and tell you what it is, if it's a lot shorter than your's, then at least you know you'll be getting one that should be tighter than what you've got now!?
HTH.

[Pat Kelly]

We'll see the longevity of his experiment.
The guy lives in Sweden and has a ton of bikes. Seems like every week he's in trouble with SWMBO for buying another Laverda.

[Guy]

Hey guys, there is something else to think about here. I cant tell from pics in the link but looks like the tensioner is on the bottom of the case. Well if my thinking is right that may work for other bikes but I believe the 1100's turn backwards from other fours or triples??? The tension on the 1100's should be on the bottom with the slack on the top, correct. so any tensioning device better be on the top. Is my thinging correct???
Guy