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:

Hub Bearing Inspection
Since the hub bearings are made to extremely close tolerances, the clearance can not normally be measured. NOTE Do not remove any bearings for inspection. If any bearings are removed, they will need to be replaced with new ones. Turn each bearing in the hub back and forth [A] while checki ...

Connecting Rod Twist Inspection
With the big-end arbor [A] still on V block [C], hold the connecting rod horizontally and measure the amount that the arbor [B] varies from being paralleled with the surface plate over a 100 mm (3.94 in.) length of the arbor to determine the amount of connecting rod twist. If the conne ...

Tachometer
The tachometer shows the engine speed in revolutions per minute (r/min, rpm). On the right side of the tachometer face is a portion called the “red zone”. Engine r/min (rpm) in the red zone is above maximum recommended engine speed and is also above the range for good performance. ...