Kawasaki Ninja Service Manual: Drive Chain Slack Adjustment

Kawasaki Ninja Service Manual / Periodic Maintenance / Periodic Maintenance Procedures / Final Drive / Drive Chain Slack Adjustment

Remove the cotter pin [A], and loosen the rear axle nut [B].
Loosen the both chain adjuster locknuts [C].

If the chain is too loose, turn out the left and right chain adjusters [D] evenly.

If the chain is too tight, turn in the left and right chain adjusters evenly, and kick the wheel forward.

Turn both chain adjusters evenly until the drive chain has the correct amount of slack. To keep the chain and wheel properly aligned, the notch [E] on the left wheel alignment indicator [F] should align with the same swingarm mark or position [G] that the right indicator notch aligns with.

Drive Chain Slack Adjustment

WARNING

Misalignment of the wheel will result in abnormal wear and may result in an unsafe riding condition.

Be sure the wheel is properly aligned.

Tighten the both chain adjuster locknuts securely.
Tighten the rear axle nut.

Torque - Rear Axle Nut: 127 N·m (13.0 kgf·m, 94 ft·lb)

Turn the wheel, measure the chain slack again at the tightest position, and readjust if necessary.
Insert a new cotter pin [A].

NOTE

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

Drive Chain Slack Adjustment

Bend the cotter pin [A] over the nut [B].

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.

Drive Chain Slack Adjustment

Drive Chain Slack Inspection

NOTE Check the slack with the motorcycle setting on its sidestand. Clean the chain if it is dirty, and lubricate it if it appears dry. Check the wheel alignment (see Wheel Alignment Ins ...

Wheel Alignment Inspection

Check that the notch [A] on the alignment indicator [B] aligns with the same swingarm mark or position [C] that the other side alignment indicator notch aligns with. If they do not, adjust t ...

Other materials:

Front Fork Disassembly
Remove the front fork (see Front Fork Removal (Each Fork Leg)) Drain the fork oil (see Front Fork Oil Change). Take the dust seal [A] off the outer tube. Remove the retaining ring [B]. Separate the outer tube from the inner tube. Remove the following parts from the inner tube. ...

Radiator Cap Inspection
Remove: Radiator Cap (see Coolant Change in the Periodic Maintenance chapter) Check the condition of the bottom [A] and top [B] valve seals and valve spring [C]. If any one of them shows visible damage, replace the cap with a new one. Install the cap [A] on a cooling system pr ...

Rear Sprocket Warp Inspection
Raise the rear wheel off the ground with the stand so that it will turn freely. Set a dial gauge [A] against the rear sprocket [B] near the teeth as shown in the figure, and rotate [C] the rear wheel to measure the sprocket runout (warp). The difference between the highest and lowest di ...