Q: Hello there Noddy, I have a question for you, mate:
I’ve just bought my dream bike after saving up for the past few years because I hate being ripped off by finance companies. Anyway…
It’s a bright red 2005 Honda VFR800 with only 15,000kms on the clock.
I gave the bike a good clean when I got it and noticed the chain needs to be tensioned. It looked a bit complicated to me so I took it to my Honda dealer. They said it needs a special tool, which of course, only they have, and therefore it will cost R200 for them to tension and oil/ lube the chain. So after much swearing I left the premises.
So, how would you guys tension the chain on my bike and do I really need some kind of ‘special’ tool? Urgently looking forward to your response.
Marc Collinson Richards Bay (Durban)
A: The special tool you mentioned is used to adjust the eccentric cam device situated inside the rear wheel hub, which can easily be turned to adjust the chain once the two pinch bolts on the swing-arm have been loosened.
If you try to ‘tap’ around this adjustment ring with a punch/chisel for example, which some people do, you could cause severe damage, so I’d stay away from that antic.
But this ‘special’ tool, which is shaped like a ‘C-spanner’ with two lugs, is part of the original tool kit. So if you don’t have one under the seat it might pay to track one down from a breaker’s yard for example, because this tool tends to fit all Hondas with a single-sided swing-arm.
If you go on to the Internet and type in VRF800 tool-kit images you’ll see the tool I’m talking about. I’m sure it can’t be too expensive to buy one either. Then you’ll be able to do it all yourself and not have to go to that dealer again.
