Kawasaki Ninja Owners Manual: Chain Slack Adjustment

Kawasaki Ninja Owners Manual / Maintenance and adjustment / Drive Chain / Chain Slack Adjustment

Remove the cotter pin, and loosen the axle nut.
Loosen the left and right chain adjuster locknuts.

A. Axle Nut

B. Cotter Pin

C. Adjuster

D. Locknut

If the chain is too loose, turn out the left and right chain adjusters evenly.
If the chain is too tight, turn in the left and right chain adjusters evenly.
Turn out both chain adjusters evenly until the drive chain has the correct amount of slack. To keep the chain and wheel properly aligned, the notch on the left wheel alignment indicator should align with the same swingarm mark that the right indicator notch aligns with.

A. Marks

B. Notch

C. Indicator

D. Adjuster

E. Locknut

NOTE

Wheel alignment can also be checked using the straightedge or string method.

WARNING

Misalignment of the wheel will result in abnormalwear, andmay result in an unsafe riding condition.

Align the rear wheel using the marks on the swingarm or measuring the distance between the center of the axle and swingarm pivot.

Tighten both chain adjuster locknuts.
Tighten the axle nut to the specified torque.

Tightening Torque

NOTE

If a torque wrench is not available, this item should be serviced by an authorized Kawasaki dealer.

Rotate the wheel, measure the chain slack again at the tightest position, and readjust if necessary.
Install a new cotter pin through the axle nut and axle, and spread its ends.

A. Cotter Pin

NOTE

When inserting the cotter pin, if the slots in the nut do not align with the cotter pin hole in the axle shaft, tighten the nut clockwise up to the next alignment.
It should be within 30 degrees.
Loosen once and tighten again when the slot goes past the nearest hole.

A. Turn Clockwise

WARNING

A loose axle nut can lead to an accident resulting in serious injury or death. Tighten the axle nut to the proper torque and install a new cotter pin.

Check the rear brake (see Brakes section in this chapter).

Chain Slack Inspection

Set the motorcycle up on its side stand. Rotate the rear wheel to find the position where the chain is tightest, and measure the maximum chain slack by pulling up and pushing down the c ...

Wear Inspection

Remove the left front footpeg bracket bolts. A. Front Footpeg Bracket B. Bolts Remove the bolts and chain cover. A. Bolts B. Chain Cover Stretch the chain taut either by u ...

Other materials:

Swingarm Bearing, Sleeve Inspection
NOTICE Do not remove the bearings for inspection. Removal may damage them. Inspect the needle bearings [A] and ball bearing installed in the swingarm. The rollers and ball in a bearing normally wear very little, and wear is difficult to measure. Instead of measuring, visually inspec ...

Camshaft Chain Tensioner Removal
NOTICE This is a non-return type camshaft chain tensioner. The push rod does not return to its original position once it moves out to take up camshaft chain slack. Observe all the rules listed below. When removing the tensioner, do not take out the mounting bolts only halfway. Retighteni ...

Warning Indicator Light (Red)
This red warning indicator light and the oil pressure warning symbol ( ) should go on whenever the ignition switch is turned to “ON” and go off after starting the engine. A. Warning Indicator Light (Red) B. Warning Symbols This red warning indicator light has the two warning function ...