Delboy's Garage, How-to, Harley Sportster Primary Chain Adjustment.
Vložit
- čas přidán 25. 06. 2024
- Heres a little 'How-To' for scheduled checking and adjusting a Harley Sportster Primary chain. .. its a ten minute job that can be carried out using three alun keys and one spanner. its part of pretty much every service, but gets universally ingored even by 'general' garages because they either dont know how, or cant be bothered to do it.. Here it is, how hard can it be?
- Auta a dopravní prostředky
Hi mate! This is my gift for you: the torque is 27-34 Nm (20-25 ft-lbs).
I've learned a lot thanks to you. Have a nice one, greetings from Spain!
Perfect explanation! Thanks! Right to the point. No fluff. I love that you used, and showed the factory manual.
Just picked up a 94 harley that's been in a garage for years, little to say it needs lots of love, your videos have made my life a lot easier thank you very much! Subbed!
Thanks for the sub mate, welcome aboard... we have plenty of Harley related videos in our Playlist, enjoy your project!
Jus changed my clutch plates and wouldn't have known of chain adjustment if it wasn't for this video. Very helpful.
The detail and precision with which it is described is of immense value - thank you!
Keep em' coming.
Thank you my friend, am glad the video could help you, as you can see it isn't a hard job, and a great way to keep your motor running smoothly... just another periodical to be got out the way... check out our Harley playlist, plenty there that might help you... ride safe!
You are most welcome my friend, there once was a time when every fellow biker would be able to help their mates, but as bikes have become more user friendly and plug and play their owners have become less 'old school biker' and are now a far wider spread of different people, so many new riders coming along have very little biker knowledge, which is why it's so important for us that do to help you all we can into the brotherhood - take care buddy & ride safe, Del
Delboy does it again!!! Simple common sense Harley repair and fix!!!
Sir, thank you for your video. Very helpful. I'm used to the big twins and I've recently picked up an 06 Sportster Low. I appreciate such a thorough and well presented video.
Most welcome Sir, Best of luck, and have fun with it.
I just like the way you explain what ever you are showing us. To the point and easy to understand. Thanks
+mike lugo Cheers Mike i really appreciate that, and thanks for watching buddy, glad the videos can help you... Del.
Wow thanks a lot Delboy. This is very informative and useful. I like it that its straight to the point.
It seems when I have a question about my Iron you have the answers. You do a great job explaining how to do everything. Thank you.
Awesome tidbit of information to know. I just recently purchased a 1200 Sportster Custom (2005) with a mere 1000 miles on it. I was a mechanic in a former career, so I plan on doing all the maintenance on my Harley on my own. I purchased the factory manual for my Harley and can't wait to start tinkering! Thanks for your vids!
Easy fix, well explained . Job done . Cheers Del
Very detailed. Understood every second. I believe that is the sound of my issue on my 1200 at the moment. Thank you so much!
You're welcome, glad it helped !
Outstanding. Your videos are easy to follow and very descriptive. Thanks!
Thanks Hunter... im glad we could help you.
Thanks very much for all the videos, very informative and factual. Keep them coming!
Love the "tape measure trick" - thanks so much for that!
Love your video's man helps me out alot as an apprentice mechanic cheers!
Dude your videos are great help. I use your videos a lot, I will love to see a few more videos in how you remove front and rear tires, how you replace clutch cable if it breaks. Your videos are great help. Thank you for taking your time to help others and to same money to.
very well explained and illustrated. thanks!
You're very welcome!
Love your vidéos and explanations ! Thank you for sharing your knowledge !
Thanks Del!! Great info! I will need to do this later this week as I have changed my primary case this weekend.
Well done Delboy. I do all my maint. Bike never touches the floors of any shop and your vids help a great deal! Keep up the good work mate!
thanks to youtube ill never need to pay a dealership mechanic again.
Hi buddy, thank you kindly for your generous comments, i try to share the things i do on our own bikes as they arrise..i stop short of pulling the bikes apart just to make videos because they are used all the time and also it costs in parts for no reason.... but i will always upload pretty much everything we have cause to do in the garage, and with three bikes, used all the time, thats qyuite a lot.. What bike do you have, and have you been riding long.?... thanks again for your time..Del.
Great work my friend!
Hi there buddy, its great to do your own work, gives you a sense of pride in your ride.. well done and thanks for your kind comments... Del.
Just finished this and the clutch adj. Time to get some spring riding in. Great how-to videos. Cheers from Maine.
Glad it helped buddy... and thanks for taking the time to contact us all the way from Maine - how cool !
I've got that same book, pictures and words are good, but watching the job being done, and explained, well that's the icing on the cake:) cheers mate, always good to watch what you're up too.
Thanks buddy, im glad the videos can help you out. good luck with your projects.. Del.
brilliant. I just did mine along with you. top video! !
@ACoustaDC You're welcome, im glad it helped you, simple little job, and so much money to have done at the dealer. hope it saved you a penny too... Cheers. Del.
You are very welcome, im glad it helped you out, and also... good choice of bike... IMHO the S1 is the best bike Eric ever designed... and if i had a Buell, it would definatly be a 'Tuber'.. and if i could find a good one.. definatly an S1 Lightning... cheers, Del.
@thaigodi You're most welcome, im glad it helped. Del.
Hi mate,its not too important it's in 5th, 4th will do fine... you just have to rock the wheel forward as you change each gear to allow the syncros to slot between each other! Thanks mate, Del
Awesome and concise! Cheers!
great video, thanks for the lessons!!!
Happy I found your entries. I'm sure I'll save shop fees,..hahaha,.. but more importantly you have taken the anxiety out of DYI.
Well done mate, its good to take care of things... but do be carefull not to overtighten any chain, on a primary it can lead to bearing wear on the crank and trans shaft...just give it another check in a day or so through the sight hole to be sure... good going buddy... Del.
you are awesome brother! thanks very much for this
thanks, this was usefull. Just one tip for all ones that had metric tools: 4 mm keys are almost exactly the same size as 5/32" so you can use a metric key without stripping. Also for the 8mm - 5/16". This is the reason why these two are the most used by Ikea etc...
nice bike! and good info, thanks for posting.
Thank you so much for this video !!!
great video!
what a useful video Del👍
Thank you Sir, a simple task you need to perform every 5k miles and as you can see, it's a piece of cake, so enjoy doing yours!
You're very welcome mate, make sure you cary out a "Critical fasteneners check, if its only got 1000 miles, that is the first service...even though the bike is 7 years old, it may never have been done...plus after 7 years why not check them all to be sure... ignore the low mileage, and consider it the same as a 7 year old bike with average miles (I.E. 10k+)... good luck with it buddy, and thanks for watching... Del.
Hi mate, firstly well done for buying your Sportster, it's a great choice and I'm glad to hear you get stuck into jobs yourself and don't farm it out. On the manual I always recommend buying one for the bike, it's great for torque settings and tolerances. Buy the proper Harley manual, all others are crap. With the tool, have a scout on ebay to find a second hand one, many guys buy them then don't use them again. Or ask if the dealer will rent you one for the day, it's a reasonable request Del
@irontrooper75 Thanks buddy, lookin' forward to getting stuck in and giving it some kewl mods..
@berkelusa Cheers Rob, all these jobs are generically similar, every cam or primary chain has to have tension, and if its not a self adjusting machanism, then its pretty easy to work out where it is and how to adjust it... all you need are the advised specifications and tollerances and you can do just about any chain tensioner blind... funny thing was, that chain was meant to have been adjusted 1600 miles ago...think they bothered,??? i think not...dont trust garages aye...Del.
Glad I found this video thanks ! Lot man!
You're welcome mate, hope it helps..
@mmesa005 Hi Buddy, yeah, all fasteners have a torque, but with the adjuster screw in the centre its impossible to torque it without a special socket, so i dont promote that as many people dont have those tools. As i have never had one come loose in 30 years, its hardly worth bothering, just nip it up with a hefty spanner... and yeah, if your chain is loose it can make the change clunky, and more than that, make the roll-on, roll-off rather clunky too, plus it makes swarf witch is damaging.
another great video thanks
U really should be an instructor. Thanks to you ive adjusted my clutch, topped off my primary oil level, changed to progressive springs front and back, along with fork seals. Funnest part was buying a full 10' pipe and only leaving with 6 4" bits in my leather vest. I only used one muffler clamp to drive them seals in : ). Thanks from Travis in Arkansas
Hey Travis, its good to har that the video have helped you, and thank you for your kind words my friend, the wonder of youtube means i can be that instructor to millions of people around the world and for free.... no school can do that aye..! Take care my friend.. and enjoy the summer.. Del.
so good brother thank you!
this is great. your instruction is right on. now I can do it :) perfect. no mystery anymore. again good job. you should be a teacher.
Thank you Robert, you're very kind sir, im glad you enjoyed the video, and really appreciate your support... Del.
Nice one Del!!!....
You're videos have been a huge help to me. One issue that I'm having is getting my bike in 5th gear while on the stand. Do you put it in 5th before shutting it off and lifting it up?
Hi mate, a loose primary will clatter and vibrate most of the time and clunk into gear a bit more than usual, but a greater cause of heavy gear engagment is a sticky clutch, old worn out primary oil, and un-adgusted clutch free play..(see the other video on clutch adjustment)... do both and change the oil, and it will be fine... good luck, Del.
Hi Nick.. its a case of 'if it needs it' with gaskets.. as long as the old one has come off clean and undamaged, and can go back on with a little grease to help it seal, then use it again...i always think that if it doesnt leak, then its fine...but if you get a little weap from the cover, then just buy a new one... they dont cost much..
@landellsjhw Yes suree am i ever, its great mate, loads of mods planned, gonna slamm it,(natch) do something about the seat, its way huge at the mo,(like something from DFS) but i love the kewl 50's cover, so it may get chaved and sculpted, got the fabricated filter cover being painted black tonight, so thats going on, planning a back-wheel-in-the-front conversion,(soon as i can find a back wheel at a realistic price)... and loads more, it'll be a work in progress as time goes on.... Del.
Thank you for tip work great👍👍👍
@swrnc Why thanks Pete, coming from a hot rod guy like you buddy, thats endorsement indeed, got lots of mods planned, slamming the back end is first, then carve out some of that surplus upholstery, and then paint...! i guess it will forever be a rolling work in progress..
Thank you kindy Sir...just watched your video on the Suzuki...was that a night time track session...?
Thank you. Doing it today.
Nice Job, great video !! Used the tape tip to do mine !! Then notice that the bottom of the chain was equal with the view window, so now I just use the window and bottom of chain, rotate tire, set and done...
Good going buddy, and glad to hear you're doing this job as it's the most neglected task on Harley servicing (along with people who ride around on low mileage Harleys on tyres that are 10yrs old lol), keep safe and thank you for watching.
@@Moonfleet41 Yeah ! I go to and watch a lot of your video's / tech tips, you supply great and sound info for the DIY'er, This is my first Harley, used 06, XL1200Low, 16k mile on odom, last of the carb models, wanted to go over all of it's running, service, and safety conditions, U no, a good once, twice, may three times go over,,, don't want to get into a crash because of a neglected running condition issue, I used your video's to do the clutch, clutch cable, and prime chain adj, fluids/change, brake pad replacement, and tires, new grips installed and throttle cable adj,, So Yeah you been a great help with the video's that you uploaded for Sportster repair and fix/ tech tips, Thank You Sir ! :) I will like a subscribe :)
Good stuff!
Hi buddy, I suppose it could be done on the side stand, but I think for the most accurate measurement I would have the bike upright... it could also be quite difficult to see clearly into the hole whilst it's leaning down that side..
Spot on thanks!!
If you're a qualified tech, then it will be a walk in the park for you, Harleys are dead simple, and i once asked a Harley master Tech what he woukld grab and rescue if there was a fire in the workshop.......he replied.. "The manuals"... thye are the key to everyting. once you get one you will see what i mean, they are written very clearly and easily, and the first service actually counts as a "Major Service".. everything needs to be checked after its bedding in period. good luck with it... Del.
good video. i push chain down also to do precise measurement.
Thanks bud, recently picked up a 1200c did a few small things and then this scratching noise popped up, just checked the chain tension and seemed very slack, think this will be sorted once I make the adjustments, thanks for the great video!
No problem 👍, glad it could help mate!
Aha, i see you found it, well done, have a go and if you get stuck, let me know and ill see if i can help... thanks again,,, Del.
its been wall to wall sunshine here! hope your geting lots of rideing,my royal star is runing great!! take care! ride safe! eric
Hi Eric... not long before the snow comes for you i bet,, how much riding time do you get before its all white and fluffy everywhere..?
did you say snow.. i actually love the winter,,but this has been the greatest september i have ever seen!!wall to wall sunshine for the past 3 weeks i'm now at 28k so far,and loving it!!!!
Yes...
yup it was a blast event went on til 1am sadly i ended up low siding that night but had the bike up and running again in a few month :)
nice bike mate
I really enjoy youre vids I find them very helpful. anyway im going to put in a new clutch for my 1988 sportster. I have done clutches before on my dirt bike and my Kawasaki ninja that I use to have but never done a Harley before. I have been reading up on how to do it but its saying I need a tool to take out the clutch pads. is there a nother way to do this or do i got to suck up the 50 bucks to buy the tool? and do you think I will need the manual to do this job I dont have one for this bike
Brilliant
Hi mate, top video again...iv got a 48 2017 sportster...been out today and noticed that same noise...do I need wait until the engine is cold before adjusting it.. also I've not got a ramp so it's on its side stand is it still possible to do?..thanks
thanks......good teacher...........thaigodi switzerland
muito bom!!!
Hi Mike. not sure, id need to hear it...but a loose chain makes a right old racket so maybe that part of it.. it wont hurt to check, and you could eliminate it just by doing this.....if not, then it may be something else, let me know if you need to look deeper..?
Bet your chuffed with the bike mate :)
Can't wait to see zee fabrication'idge carry on :D
thanks to you it sounds like a piece of cake. tell me, would a loose primary chain make a chirp like sound?
Just wondering can you do this on the bike stand or does it have to be upright?
Thanks,I have a 2013 Iron 883 with 2500 miles,noticed a winding noise yesterday,I think my primary needs adjustment,I am bring it in for service in about a week,would it be dangerous to keep riding until then,also my service is 80 miles out also,thanks for your vids
Nice Sporty...
My bike was making a loud noise and checked my chain... It was loose... Got my jam nut lossen and the bolt you turn to adjust the chain is almost pushed into the jam nut and my belt is still some what loose.. Not sure if there is a way to turn the bolt all the way out and readjust everything...my chain still is making noise... Love your show...
Thanks! !!!
you're my hero
+Mack Chicas Why thank you kindly sir...
Big huge shout out to Delboys garage for posting these videos that are so in-depth ! Thank you , your saving me tons of cash by helping me do all my own maintenance on my 2016 iron 883
Thank you and welcome aboard, really glad you enjoy the videos, it's great to have your kind support !
Ever replace a primary cover to 2005 sporty with 06 or later model. Shifter is different diameter on 05 vs 06. Wondering if the bushing and seal are interchangeable. Are they same outer diameter?
Hi mate... they are mechanically noisy, and once you notice the sound it seems louder than ever..as long as you are pretty much on your service schedule then you'll be fine, just get it done as soon as you can once the mileage shows time... good luck, Del.
You are more than welcome to ask what ever, when ever, the only silly question is the one you DONT ask aye..lol... Most of the frame rail jacks are a tad too high for low sporsters, just poke the back tyre up on a brick first, (still works if you brick the side stand up too,) then the jack will roll under just fine... and check the primary chain by rotating the wheel in gear with ENGINE OFF.. never run the motor in gear with the primary open, you'll get a bath in oil..lol.. good luck buddy.
I always replace the cover screws as they are soft and getting hot and cold with the engine can easily seize in and then the hex has a tendency to round off, also the width of the chain side plate is about the amount of adjstment movement, push up on the chain and the bottom of the side plate should be in the same position as the top of the side plate when the chain is at rest, if that's clear? I've had the same 1200 Sportster for over 25 year and I've always use this method
Thank you. In the 2008 FSM it has torque setting of 20-25ft-lbs for the lock nut. From the look of it you are not going anywhere near that. But if you wanted to use a torque wrench HD don't specify the tool to use.
Do you have a video for adjusting the timing chain on a shovel head?
What gear should the bike be in when checking
Great job. Better than most. Of course, he's English.
Thanks mate
No worries
Vary cool I'm learning so much Del, Soon I'll be able to service my brother inlaw's fat bob!
So let me get this right, the torque spec on that jam nut is just tightish eh? I don't think my torque wrench has that setting on it, I'll look again but pretty sure it's not there lol
hey dude got a question for ya. I am about to do this same adjustment on my XR1200. first off I like the way you explain things in your videos. I've found them very helpful. however I am confused about one detail with regards to adjusting the primary chain. what do you mean by adjusting it at its tightest point? should I get it on the lift and put it in first then spin the wheel until it locks up?
Hi mate, first of all, good on you for getting stuck in yourself, takes balls to open up your bike and making adjustments.
OK, what I mean by 'at it's tightest point', is refering to the fact that all rotating chains have lose spots and tight spots, so if you take a fixed point on the chain, say in the middle at the bottom, and point at it with your finger, then take the plusg out, stick it in gear and rotate the engine round by turning the back wheel, then you will see that the amount of sag in that chain changes up and down a little as it rolls round... this is because sprockets don't wear evenly, and chains don't stretch evenly, so check the tension on a chain, then rotate it round half a turn and it will be myseteriously tighter... it's not a problem, quite normal, just how they are! So the term I use refers t making sure that when you adjust the chain's tension, you start by mesauring that tension at the tightest point of the chain, so it never gets tighter than that when it rolls round... the chain can be a little too lose, no problem, it just rattles, but it must NEVER be too tight, as that can do damage to bearings in the transmission - hope that helps, Del