Adjusting Drive Chain Tension on the Yamaha XT-250 Motorcycle

In this video I will demonstrate how to adjust the drive chain tension on your Yamaha XT-250 Dual Sport motorcycle. I will be using information directly from the Yamaha Service Manual. This service procedure should be done on a routine basis per the factory service schedule listed in the owners manual.

[@Cessna8057F]

Thank you, I’m a greenie at this! Now I think I can do it.

[@usethenoodle]

Awesome!

[@NorthwoodsNomad]

Good video ! Nice and easy to understand.

[@usethenoodle]

Thanks for the nice words. I just do these to help people out. I’m not monetized at my level. I really appreciate your feed back as it lets me know it’s worth the time spent to shoot, edit and post them. I really appreciate it. Glad to help a brother out.

[@mikem5361]

Thanks for the video, nice and clear and to the point. I've always had difficulty with the nuance of the chain slack and what was meant by their images in the manuals for certain bikes, and when I got my XT, I didn't know what to make of that adjusting cam, but I like this system. If I can make a correction, at least as I understand it. I don't think you mentioned it in the video itself, but have addressed it in the comments. I believe you want to find the point at which the chain is its tightest at the midpoint, not loosest, so that you're not ending up with a chain too tight and putting a lot of stress on the transmission.

[@rorystibbs5164]

Best to clean o ring chain with kerosene and detail brush , chain will look great and it wont damage the o rings... great video Craig

[@Zx14rRider67]

Thank you for the video!

[@captaincrunch72]

sealed o ring chains require zero lube fyi

[@gongusdeedeetow1510]

That’s got to be Bull shit

[@captaincrunch72]

@@gongusdeedeetow1510 it's not.. cleaning is obvious, but sealed oring chains require zero lube..

[@usethenoodle]

Agreed.

[@JahR96732]

Aloha thanks for these service vids When measuring the slack do you put the straight edge up against the bottom of The swing arm when measuring

[@usethenoodle]

Hi. Here is the deal. Just rotate the rear tire 90 degrees. Check the slack. Do this through all four rotations, to find where it’s the most slack. You can measure floor to belt or just eyeball it. Go from there. Have the bike or rear tire lifted when you do this. The ruler I used In the video is per the Indian service manual. I’ve taken to eyeballing the slackest point. It’s not super critical but you want the loosest point so the whole belt is in spec when you are done. Also, don’t expect to have it run in rotation without hitting the inside edges of the rear pulley. It can wander just fine but it shouldn’t wear the edges or try to climb out. Cheers.

[@not1au]

Great video. Where did you get your bike jack from?

[@usethenoodle]

Amazon has many to choose from. Thanks for the nice comment!

[@johanusyolder]

Anyone ever have the adjuster plates spin while tightening the nut? Driving me effing crazy. I've resorted to vise gripping them in place and they still spin. All I've done is scuff the paint on my swingarm

[@usethenoodle]

I haven’t had that happen. Perhaps make sure the wheel is as far forward as can be and the axle well seated against the adjuster detentes before snugging up. Then torque to spec.

[@katyamato1347]

im not sure but it looks too tight to me???

[@usethenoodle]

It’s set to spec in the factory service manual. Of that I am sure. Do you have the factory service manual? It’s easy to look it up. Page 2-10 DRIVE CHAIN TYPE 428V/DAIDO LINK QUANTITY 128 DRIVE CHAIN SLACK 40.0-45.0 mm or 1.57 - 1.77 inches 15 LINK LENGTH LIMIT 191.5 mm or 7.54” Just curious, if as you say it looks too tight but you “don’t know”, why not just ask me for the specs. Why question my setting as looking too tight? Why would I make a misleading video? I find your comment insulting. If you don’t know, ask or look it up. Right?

[@katyamato1347]

@@usethenoodle yes, I bought the factory service manual from japan in japanese=not so easy to use. i too thought my xt's chain was too loose, then i measured the slack that was within specific. I'll measure it again for sure. it seems two of rubber sealers are sticking out little from side of chain. i think i have to repair that. a lot work... the battery was low, i just bought a Task lithium ion battery=very small and charger at Rockymountain atv. i already have a battery tender but you can not use it to lithium battery. anyway happy and safe riding.

[@usethenoodle]

@@katyamato1347 don’t charge the lithium battery unattended. My friend burned his garage up when the one he put in his snowmobile caught fire. Both the battery and special charger were new. Lithium batteries can catch fire so charge your bike while you are present.

[@Sacto911]

@@usethenoodle The specs provided in the manual are to be measured while the bike is on the kickstand. You measured this while the bike was lifted. As the swing arm travels up and down, the chain will tighten and loosen at different points so that's why they ask to measure while on a kickstand as the baseline. I'm not sure of how much of a difference is made between being lifted and on the kickstand but I can assure you that it does make a difference. Now is it enough of a difference to throw the slack out of spec once the bike is no longer lifted? Unknown to me as I don't right an XT250 but with some bikes it can make that much of a difference depending on how soft the rear suspension is.

[@usethenoodle]

@@Sacto911 Great points Sacto! I really appreciate your input. I stand corrected. I don’t own that bike any longer as I moved up to a new Husqvarna FE350. Another way to check chain tension is to fully compress the rear suspension and be sure there is adequate slack as that is where it will be tightest. Honestly, I go by rule of the eyeball. Better to be a little loose than too tight. Thanks for watching!

[@lynncurtner3486]

Too tight. Also, you need to measure the slack with the bike on the ground, not up on the jack.