Chain Tension - Following Directions/Experience

[Ben Oldschool]

Noticing that the Norden 901 specifies a much tighter drive chain slack (like the Vitpilen 701) than any bike I have previously experienced.

Who else is going with the 5mm slack adjustment & why?

 

[nampus]

You know the 5mm is measured between the swingarm and the chain (when pressed up) at a certain point on the swingarm?
It's not 5mm of slack on the chain itself.
The 5mm between chain and swingarm gives the chain quite a bit of slack (on the Vitpilen and my previous KTM at least) . I assume it's the same on the Norden.

 

[Ben Oldschool]

It is the same on the Norden or at least should be.
The reason for the question is because the dealer set up my Norden with the chain slack of a typical “dirt bike” with way to much drive chain slack.
Just wondering how many others have that same mentality …if a dealer doesn’t know any better.
My experience is that a loose chain really messes with the clutchless quick shifts.

 

[nampus]

If it messes with the upshift, why not just set it to factory spec and try that?
My experience with dealers is that sometimes they have no clue what they are doing. Others are brilliant, they can be just like people

 

[Ben Oldschool]

Well of course I set the drive chain slack to factory spec on both Bikes.
While the Vit produces much crisper shifts, the Norden’s “Easy Shift” only works on roughly half of the attempted up shifts.
I don’t know what the heck is going on there yet… wondering if I need a technician to check it out or if it just needs more miles than the current 470.

 

[BISavage]

I had difficulties on my 401 getting the slack right at the start.

Coming from Japanese bikes, the Husky bikes seems to need WAY to much slack when they arent loaded.

It not though, thats just how it should be.

901 can be made a kept looser than the 701.

 

[nampus]

Well of course I set the drive chain slack to factory spec on both Bikes.
While the Vit produces much crisper shifts, the Norden’s “Easy Shift” only works on roughly half of the attempted up shifts.
I don’t know what the heck is going on there yet… wondering if I need a technician to check it out or if it just needs more miles than the current 470.

That sounds more like a problem with the easy shift. I'd get the dealer to sort that out.

 

[BISavage]

While the Vit produces much crisper shifts, the Norden’s “Easy Shift” only works on roughly half of the attempted up shifts.
I don’t know what the heck is going on there yet… wondering if I need a technician to check it out or if it just needs more miles than the current 470.

I spoke with the mechanic guy at my first service cause my 701 quick shifter worked like garbage initially.

He said he could adjust it, but its better to break it in oroperly first, and would let it alone if it where his bike.

So yeah, works much better now since I rode it more.

Otherwise, it actually can be calibrated, and in the words of my mechanic guy its "it can be a very time intensive process."

 

[Ben Oldschool]

Thanks for the feedback.
I noticed that when adjusting the shift lever on the Norden 901 that the alignment of the external shift sensors become off-centered. Just gotta read up in the manual about best practice for realigning those shift sensors… as the shifting was perfect before I adjusted the shift lever .

 

[BISavage]

Adjusting the lever shouldn't mess with the shift shaft position right?

Or did you unbolt the shift arm to reposition it on the shifter shaft too?

 

[nampus]

as the shifting was perfect before I adjusted the shift lever

This is probably the cause for the bad shifting

 

[Ben Oldschool]

Per the online downloaded manual, I adjusted the lever by spinning the threaded shaft which also realigns the sensors. The Manual makes no mention of the sensors.

 

[BISavage]

Spinning the threaded part is correct.
Doing so should only shorten the distance between the shift arm and the pivot point of the foot lever, effectively moving the foot level for your foot up / down.

How is that supposed to make shift shaft move, its connected to the Shift Star and has spring loaded action.

(Unless the notched looking bolt is loosened)

What I mean to say is, the shift shaft shifts the tranny when you turn it, right, so it cant just turn it without it shifting, at which point it would return to its spring loaded resting point.

Check it out:

 

[BISavage]

Otherwise, unplug your battery to reset the calibration values.

 

[Ben Oldschool]

Thanks, but kinda running off the rails.
Of course I have adjusted the shift lever correctly.
I made no mention of a shift shaft or star, so info & chart overload there.
Continued riding on the bike and more miles is improving the easy shift function.
Ride more & keyboard less. Cheers!

 

[BISavage]

Yay

 

[Dr.Shifty]

Chain slack and adjustment point can also be related to rear shock travel, swing arm length, and how closely the swing arm pivot is set to the countershaft sprocket. Designers generally keep pivot aligned to the sprocket for normal riding but as the rear end tops out / bottoms out, the slack changes.