Any reccomendations on rear shocks, tire, sprockets and chain?

Jessica:

First, check the chain and sprockets. Check the two chain sprockets for worn or bent teeth. If either of the sprockets is damaged, replace them. If the sprockets are OK, Check the chain for any damage If the chain is damaged, replace it. You are checking the chain for kinks, stiff links, damage to the link side connectors, and checking that the chain is not bent (side to side) Check to see If the chain is loose. If it is, you'll need to loosen the rear axle nuts and pull the rear tire backwards to tighten the chain, then tighten the rear axle nuts. *Make sure that the rear sprocket lines up with the front sprocket*. Just lay a straight edge along the two sprockets, ( A yardstick will do), and make sure that the sprockets touch the yardstick along the whole length of the sprockets. If the rear sprocket is cocked (not lined up with the front sprocket) loosen the axle nuts again and push on one side of the rear tire or the other side until the sprockets line up.
When you are finished tightening the rear axle nuts, pull up on the chain between the sprockets... the chain should not move up or down more than 1/8 of an inch. The chain will stretch over time, and you need to check the chain for looseness before riding.


Happy and safe riding!

Raise rear tire off ground. Loosen chain adjusters, loosen and remove axle nut and remove axle. Remove chain from rear sprocket. Remove bolt from lower shock mounts. Loosen nut on swing arm and remove swing arm bolt.

Not much info to go on so I am going to make some assumptions. That is that you have hand brakes and multiple speeds so that you have several sprockets on the rear.

1. Take a pic or draw one on how the chain is run so that you can put it back the same way.
2. You will need to loosen the cable that operates the rear brakes to allow the jaws of the brakes to open all the way so that the tire will fit thru them.
3. Loosen the nuts on both ends of the rear axle.
4. Begin slipping the axle out of the slots in the frame and as you do that you will have to remove the chain from the sprockets. While doing that notice that the chain is on the inside of the frame so that when you are ready to replace the rear wheel, you will need to put the chain on the sprocket BEFORE you position the wheel in the frame and the axle in the slots on each side.

If you have another bike similar or a digital camera, the other bike or a good photo will be very helpful when putting the chain back on and the wheel in place.

Tools needed- appropriate wrenches- a small and medium crescent wrench would be ideal as you may have metric size nuts and not have the correct open wrenches.

Once the wheel is removed you will need to let ALL of the air from the tube to give the maximum flexibility to work with the tire. Use a medium blade screw driver to pry the tire over the edge of the rim. Once you have about 6 inches over the edge of the rim you can do the rest by hand. Now that the tire is half off do the same process for the other side of the tire.

indicates that the shear pin on the driven sprocket failed and the sprocket moved sideways breaking the chain
sprockets have to in line for operation

If the sprocket and chain turn on the rear wheel, it sounds like the freewheel on the rear tire is faulty.

Loosen the bolt on the rear axle after removing the cotter pin holding the bolt in place. Adjust the chain tension by rotating the adjuster cams on the left and right side of the wheel. See diagram below. Set the two adjusters evenly to keep the wheel inline on the swingarm. Retighten the axle nut and put the cotter pin back in place. Have the parts department look at the rear sprocket. Chances are the sprocket is worn out also. If it is, the front sprocket will be worn out also. Worn out sprockets will cause your new chain to wear out quickly. Please rate my answer. Thanks.

Wind the chain through the rear sprockets, grab a hold of the rear sprocket and rotate the smaller sprocket towards the pedal, that should give you enough slack to put the chain on the front sprockets

For every foot of space between sprockets, there should be slack equal to 1/2 the height if a chain link.
If the chain link is 1/2" high and the sprockets are 2 feet apart, there should be 1/2" of total slack. Measuring BOTH upward and downward into the whole number.

I think I can help. Place one end of the chain over the rear gear (doesn't matter which one, the biggest) and adjust the lever or twist ring on the handlebar so the derailleur lines up in a straight line with it. Pull the chain from the rear sprocket down and over the pivot wheel and back over the bottom wheel so it looks just like this S and the end comes forward. Join the chain links. Place the chain over a couple front teeth and turn the pedal carefully until the chain seats on the front sprocket.