Loose chain just want to tighten the chainits an 85 sportster

Should be a screw next to the bar. you can tighten it and it will tighten the chain. Keep in mind that the 2 bolts holding the bar and cover in place have to be loose to do this.

Tighten the adjusting screw with the two nuts loose but snugon the middle of the chain on the top of the bar. Tighten the chain screw until the chain is loose enough to raise the chain up about 1/2 inch then tighten the mounting nuts tight. Then see if it is ok.
Terry

Hi there, the following information are for a 2004 Grand Am 2.2L, I hope it helps:

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Timing Chain, Sprockets, and/or Tensioner Replacement
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Tighten the chain guide bolts to 10 N·m (89 lb in).
Tighten the chain tensioner bolts to 10 N·m (89 lb in).
Tighten the oil nozzle bolt to 10 N·m (89 lb in).
Timing chain tensioner guide bolt to 10 N·m (89 lb in).
Timing chain bolts to 10 N·m (89 lb in).
Chain guide plug to 90 N·m (66 lb ft).
Timing chain upper guide bolts to 10 N·m (89 lb in).
Timing chain tensioner to 75 N·m (55 lb ft).
Camshaft bolts to 85 N·m (63 lb ft) plus 30 degrees.
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Intake Manifold Replacement
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Manifold Nuts and Bolts: 10 N·m (89 lb in).

steps to loosen the chain on a CBF600:
-check the chain tension while the bike is sitting on the kickstand in neutral. It should have 1" to 1.5" FREEplay when measuring halfway between the front and rear sprocket.
-loosen the rear axe nut approx 1 full turn, this should require a 27mm socket.
-look for adjusting bolts on either side of the swingarm, sticking out from the rear plate. There will be an adjusting nut and lock nut on it.
- Loosen the 10mm locknuts on both sides (bringing it towards the rear of the bike) while holding the head of the 12mm adjusting nut from turning.
- Adjust both of the adjusting nuts outwards to loosen the chain, inwards to tighten the chain. 1/2 turn on the adjusting bolt will change the chain freeplay by about 10mm.
- Hold the 12mm nut, and snug the 10mm nut up to it. This will lock the adjusters in place.
- While holding the bike, press firmly on the back of the rear tire, This will move the rear wheel forward, and taking up any slack that was created by loosening the adjusting nuts.
- (Optional step but suggested) Use the hatch marks on the swingarm, just below the axle, to gauge whether the rear axle is adjusted evenly on both sides. Make any adjustments necessary to align the axle evenly on both sides. This will require moving the adjuster on one side ONLY. Consider your chain tension while doing this step (if necessary) since you can either loosen one side or tighten the other. After making any adjustments, press the wheel forward again and re-check your alignment.
- Using a 27mm socket, tighten the axle to the proper torque, which should be around 85 Ft.Lbs. If you are not sure about whether or not the axle nut was properly tightened, be sure to ride the bike carefully to a motorcycle shop and ask them to double check it.
-Finally, check the chain tension and make any adjustments necessary by following the previous steps.

Yes. Loosen the two nuts on the back wheel. When they are loose just pull the wheel back until the chain is tight enough and tighten nuts while holding the tire in the proper position at the proper tightness of the chain. Make sure that the tire is running true when tightened.

If your bike is a Big Twin, your primary chain is supposed to the adjusted to have 3/4 to 7/8 inches of up and down travel when the engine is cold. If it's a Sportster, it should have 3/8 to 1/2 inches of up and down travel when cold. As the engine heats up and expands, the chain will tighten up. The clicking could be caused by the engine compensator sprocket as well by weak springs in the spring cup or by the nut being loose.

Good Luck
Steve

The only drain plug on a Sportster is the "primary chain case drain plug". It torques to 14-16 foot pounds.

Have you checked the tension on your primary chain lately. The chain should be adjusted to have 3/4 to 7/8 inch up and down movement when the engine is cold.

Remove the top primary plug and you can reach in with your finger and lift the primary chain up and down. The adjuster is on the bottom of the primary cover. Loosen the nut and using an allen wrench adjust the tension on the chain. Screwing the screw inward tightens the chain, outward loosens it. Do not tighten the chain too tight. As the engine warms up and expands, the chain will become tighter. If you get it too tight, it could cause damage to other components.

If you don't think this is the problem, repost and we'll try something else. If you feel comfortable pulling the primary cover off, you might want to check for a loose engine sprocket nut. I've seen them come loose on many occasions. If you pull the primary, disconnect the battery. You' may need all your fingers in the future. Good Luck

To tighten a loose chain you need to pull the cotter key pin from the rear axle then loosen but do not remove the nut. It just has to be loose enough to slide in the swingarm. At this point there are tension adjusters on the ends of the swing arm you tighten them to take the slack out of the chain. NOT TO TIGHT! You should have 1 inch of play in the chain this is up down play not front to back. I push the chain up the highest it can go and measure how far it falls. NOTE: TURN THE TENSION ADJUSTERS THE SAME AMOUNT THE SAME DIRECTION IF THE AXLE IS TWISTED YOU WILL THROW THE CHAIN. This can make for a bad six months!

Make sure the bar is positioned on the bar adjusting pin before you tighten cover. Adjust tension with bar adjusting screw, then tighten bar bolts.