Chain Question

I have a 78 KZ1000 that has been chopped up. Anyways my rear fender is off of an old Harley. My probelm is when I hit a bump my tail light mount is hitting my tire. I am talking maybe a 1/16-1/8 of an inch and it is starting to scar my new tire. Where my axel is sitting right now is at least an inch or so from the saddles on the swing arm. And my adjusters are almost all the way tapped out. I was wondering if I might be able to just take a link out of my chain which would kick my tire in and get rid of my problem. Would this work or not? I hope it does it will sure be alot easier then rigging up a whole new tail light setup.

Is your chain badly stretched? If so I'd think about replacing it and both sprockets at the same time. If the chain isn't stretched and the sprockets are good, perhaps a non-stock sprocket was used (to change the gear ratio) in which case I don't see a problem removing one link. Oh, does your chain use a clip type master link?

Now that you mention it, I am wondering if my chain might be a coming to the end of its life. I got a new tire and when I put it on I set the chain with about 1 1/2 inch play about a week later I had about 2-2 1/2 inches. I adjusted it again with about 1 1/2 inch play and I rode probably about 400 miles this last weekend and it seems that it is around 2 inches of play. Maybe I should get a new chain and see were that puts my tire and if I need have a link taken out. Hope there not to spendy I havent had to buy a motorcycle chain before. My rear sprocket apears to be in good condition, there is no play in it and the teeth all look pretty good.

Give the good folks at Z1 Enterprises a call. I shopped around and found them to be the best priced for my KZ 1000 chain. If your chain is that stretched I would strongly recommend doing the sprockets also. Even slightly worn sprockets will shorten your chains life a bunch.

As for removing a link of chain, its not a problem if you can get the chain together again. But definitely check out a new chain and sprockets if they are worn.

piece of cake,restore it back to a regular boring bike! :laugh: just kidding