Correct Chain Slack...?

No one size fits all if you get my drift adjust to one setting and see how the gear change feels and then if no excessive chain slack try another setting,the speed triple seems affeected more than most bikes by chain tension which can have big impact on gear changes imho.

 

Better loose than tight though as too tight can cause damage to bearings as the wheel travels up.

 

You should always set the slack at the tightest part of the chain. Every chain that has seen a bit of use will have developed a tight spot. Adjust it correctly, according to the manual at the tightest spot. It will have more slack at other parts of the chain, but as Richard Neale says....better to be a little loose than a little tight. I always check the chain again (at the tight spot) with me sitting on it, as a final check.

 

Manbiescat
I always leave my chain at about an inch on the tightest point. Seems to work for me.
Ride Safe
Joe.

 

That’s exactly same tool I’ve got perfect for the job.

 

Have a look at getting a Chain Monkey. You'll find the smallest of movement on the C-Spanner will over tighten the chain and then you have to start all over again. The chain monkey makes it all much much easier.
https://www.thetriumphforum.com/threads/chain-monkey.17232/

 

I've had many years working on my own bikes and any tool that makes a job easier with less swearing is in my opinion worth it.
I was so excited to go from double sided swing arms to the Speed Triple single sided; no more faffing about with alignment and seized adjuster bolts......Until I tried to tighten the chain on the Speed for the 1st time. For the 2nd time I had the chain monkey.

 

after my first attempt at chain adjustment on my new 05 I felt like it was a ....... of a job. After I had done it about 4 or 5 times over the first couple of years, I could do it easily even with the chitty tool in the toolkit. After 14 years and 6 Speed Triples I can do it in a couple of minutes with no fuss.

What I am saying is that it gets easier after you've done it a couple of times.

 

Don’t quote me but you are meant to check chain tension off stand, bike to be upright but awkward I know but doable you will get different tension if bikes on stand whether side or swing arm.

 

DOH I’ve got mixed up haha with checking the oil level dipstick (yes I know I’m in a cast on meds and blame the codeine),I luckily have both ABBA and warrior stands your quote from manual is correct,I used to lean bike over just off vertical against my body while kneeling down to check dipstick,I know not exactly the safest method says the man who fell off a high ladder and smashed his wrist OUCH l.o.l

 

That’s why I said don’t quote me hahaha

 

if back wheel off the floor on ABBA stand the slack will be wrong. Best to use a single sided paddock stand so the weight is on the back wheel and bike upright . I have previously tipped bike over on side stand to lift rear off the deck wedged with a piece of wood under footpeg mount found tight spot by rotating wheel. Then adjusted at that point - lifting bike vertical to check - but its still a pain... single sided paddock stand available cheap from Demon Tweaks.

 

Yes the warrior stand is about £50ish I think goes through rear wheel centre bargain imho

 

I know that there's a debate to be had about whether using the chain monkey is the way forwards or not; but, that aside, will it work ok on a single swing armed 955i Triple (2002)?
I read that it is impractical on a single swing arm, in some instances; because of how it fits/is used and interference from other bike parts?