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Primary chain.

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Old Oct 12, 2023 | 08:24 PM
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clevelandpat1960's Avatar
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Default Primary chain.

Hey all. I have a question. I changed clutch plates today on my 2008 Ultra. Forgot to zip tie the adjuster. So when I emreassembled I had to depress it to reinstall and I think all good. I lifted chain upwards and measured to primary cover and its an inch which I'm told about correct. Will this adjuster complete the re-tensioning itself as I ride? Itt is the original tensioner. Thanks.
 
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Old Oct 12, 2023 | 08:47 PM
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The tensioner ratchets up
 
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Old Oct 12, 2023 | 09:02 PM
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From: Honah Lee
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Everytime you you let off the throttle and the engine acts as a brake, it sets the the latch system. Then when you throttle, it tensions the chain. It will only catch a new latch if it's a little over 1/2" free play.

What makes it so quite is those two coil compression springs in the base. To see the full play, you have to push a lot harder on the upper chain section then one would normally push a non automatic chain tensioner, to flatten those springs..


Last one I put in, after cutting the zip ties, , clicking it in a lower gear, I just bumped the rear tire back and forth a few times while up on the jack.
 

Last edited by Jackie Paper; Oct 12, 2023 at 09:16 PM.
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Old Oct 12, 2023 | 09:25 PM
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Originally Posted by Jackie Paper
Everytime you you let off the throttle and the engine acts as a brake, it sets the the latch system. Then when you throttle, it tensions the chain. It will only catch a new latch if it's a little over 1/2" free play.

What makes it so quite is those two coil compression springs in the base. To see the full play, you have to push a lot harder on the upper chain section then one would normally push a non automatic chain tensioner, to flatten those springs..


Last one I put in, after cutting the zip ties, , clicking it in a lower gear, I just bumped the rear tire back and forth a few times while up on the jack.




 
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Old Oct 12, 2023 | 09:27 PM
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From: poway
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Why do you have to zip tie the adjuster for a clutch plate change.. It only needs to be done when the comp is removed.

Everytime you you let off the throttle and the engine acts as a brake, it sets the the latch system. Then when you throttle, it tensions the chain. It will only catch a new latch if it's a little over 1/2" free play.
It really adjusts when accelerating. That is when there is tension on the top of the chain and the bottom is loose. One of the things to watch out for is hard acceleration while the motor is still cold. That can potentially ratchet the chain too tight tho I suspect the issue was more with the early chains.

​​​​​​​
What makes it so quiet is those two coil compression springs in the base.
I think you mean the 2 small springs in the wedge not the base.
 
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Old Oct 13, 2023 | 05:23 PM
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Originally Posted by Max Headflow
Why do you have to zip tie the adjuster for a clutch plate change.. It only needs to be done when the comp is removed.

Guess you're still referring to me .? I was doing inner primary and had installed a free auto-tensioner given to me by two friends that I had put one in their bikes. (I have never charged anyone for labor)

It really adjusts when accelerating. That is when there is tension on the top of the chain and the bottom is loose. One of the things to watch out for is hard acceleration while the motor is still cold. That can potentially ratchet the chain too tight tho I suspect the issue was more with the early chains.

Gee, what I said. With it up on a stand, not a lot of acceleration. But moving the rear wheel one way and the other is the stimulation of acceleration and engine braking.

But sure not an expert. What it appeared to do when it did that ..


I think you mean the 2 small springs in the wedge, not the base.
Correct there. I just took a quick check before giving a generalization to say to the first poster all good. Sure it would reset but I thought I wanted it working and close before putting the cover on. But now you're probably like the post directly above yours. Mr lonebone. I guess he didn't even contribute anything for the first post except trolling me.






 

Last edited by Jackie Paper; Oct 13, 2023 at 05:56 PM.
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Old Oct 13, 2023 | 07:17 PM
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From: poway
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@Jackie Paper

Why do you have to zip tie the adjuster for a clutch plate change.. It only needs to be done when the comp is removed.

Guess you're still referring to me .? I was doing inner primary and had installed a free auto-tensioner given to me by two friends that I had put one in their bikes. (I have never charged anyone for labor)
No the OP,

​​​​​​​Everytime you you let off the throttle and the engine acts as a brake, it sets the the latch system.
This is not worded well.. It is a little confusing..

​​​​​​​Everytime you you let off the throttle and the engine acts as a brake, it sets the the latch system. Then when you throttle, it tensions the chain. It will only catch a new latch if it's a little over 1/2" free play.
Maybe if you took the first sentence and made it the last with would make more sense.. "Set" it is a bad term.. When you set a channel on a TV aren't you changing the channel? And once it's set doesn't it stay there? Also it really doesn't permanently set anything. It might seat the teeth in the grove. The tensioner isn't really fixed in any way.

It's just the way I read it..


 
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Old Oct 13, 2023 | 09:13 PM
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