Triumph Bonneville T120, HOW TO ADJUST YOUR CHAIN!

[@barryashton1404]

Thank you so much all these great videos stu I’ve saved so much money doing my own coolant,oil and now adjusting my chain. Great job and easy to follow for people like me who are not mechanically minded,cheers 😊

[@Supercruze]

Another helpful vid Stuart. Keep up the great work. A few tips that have helped me adjust my chain over the years. Take a white index card and on the plain side of the card draw a straight line with a pen. Then another line above that at 20mm and another at 30mm. You can then hold this card up to the back side of the chain the quickly measure chain tension to see if you fall within the 20mm and 30mm marks. Also, taking a bit of white model paint or a black sharpie and marking one of the flats on the adjuster nut is helpful in keeping track of how far you turn the nut during the tension adjustment keeping both sides the same.

[@stuartfillingham]

Thank you sir! and some useful tips from you also! thanks for watching!

[@SEANO1810]

@@stuartfillingham Hi Stuart another good video, i just thought you may like to know ive found that by modifying a couple of spanners i can adjust both sides of the adjusters without removing either silencer, i ground the head and shaft of the open end down and also heated and put a bend in it, and on the ring side i cut a groove in it so it can be slid over the threads and onto the bolt, its still a bit fiddly but saves taking the silencers off. Also i check each side is the same by using a pair of calipers i find it easier than using a rule/ tape. May not be for everyone but works for me.

[@peaceandcalm-paulruby9304]

Very good Stuart. I was just about to adjust my chain on my new to me 2002 Bonneville and your little details will come in handy and save me time. Paul of Boalsburg Pa

[@pauls8182]

Fantastic. just adjusted my speedmaster chain for the first time. A bit nerve-racking but this video was invaluable. thanks so much

[@paulyflyer8154]

Did you lift up the rear wheel to do it? I've always put my bikes on their centre stands but of course the speedy doesn't have one and I'm too scared to use the paddock stand because the bike weighs a ton!

[@jo3440]

Stuart, I used to suffer bad condensation in my brick built garage. I ruled out dehumidifiers as too unreliable. For half the cost I put in four air bricks just above ground level, 2 each side and the same in the soffit at ceiling height. Problem cured for the last 2 winters.

[@DougRansom1]

Have you thought about a video on side-stand and centre-stand maintenance? How to clean and how to tell if something needs to be replaced?

[@cixelysd4686]

Stuart, I just stumbled upon your channel. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Clear and concise and to the point. I'm going to the garage now for a little one-on-one with my SE. By the by, I put together several pieces of wood to create a stand that holds my girl almost bang on upright, seems to work well. All the best.

[@scottroberts4551]

Thanks Stuart, you saved me tons of time as usual! With my predator pro shorty's - life's easy.

[@mrrose6289]

Mr. Fillingham you are a Scholar and Gentleman, just the video I was looking for! 👍

[@stuartfillingham]

Thank you Mr Rose glad you found it helpful!

[@hermitmonk52]

Yep you're bang on as usual. I'm surprised you don't hear more about how difficult Triumph have made day to day maintenance of the water cooled twins. For a start, every S Twin should come with a Tec bobbin spindle........

[@stuartfillingham]

Yeah Steve, it amazes me that a lot of bike makers only put side stands on bikes but the bike needs to be upright to read the oil level! I think they are just taking the mick most of the time! Thanks for watching!

[@bornagainbiker2806]

Great Video once again Stuart. Thanks very much. Learning so much from watching what you have to say!

[@paulongley2033]

Hi Stuart Nice little vid ,on the chain . You took the words right out of my mouth with the man cave. It look like mine ,need a good sort out ( make room for next week ). Two bikes soon fill the garage up . All the best on that one . paul

[@stuartfillingham]

lol thanks Paul, and thanks for watching!

[@palve1]

Another great video! Thanks Stuart - I adjusted my chain today, and your video was great help :)

[@59jaguar]

This is precisely why I prefer shaft driven over chain , no messing with tightening chains. Good video Stuart as always!

[@wade619]

amen

[@Kavika-xh1qj]

Ok, now go do services on that drive shaft oil, or change little things like gear ratios…. Also, look at the weight, seal maintenance and the such. I’ll wait. Everything is a trade off, no one thing is better than an other given distinct use.

[@59jaguar]

@@Kavika-xh1qj I’ll take my bmw r90 shaft drive any day over any chain or belt drive!

[@Kavika-xh1qj]

@@59jaguar I’m glad you are happy with your choice, that’s exactly how I felt, happy that is, when I got rid of my Drive shaft bikes. For something as simple and easy to maintain, use and modify as a tried and true sprocket and chain. Of the 7 bikes I have now, Ducati, Yamahas, And Bonnie. None have it, and this was a decision not a consequence.

[@59jaguar]

@@Kavika-xh1qj and I might add I’d take a Suzuki shaft drive over any chain drive bike as well

[@andrewjamesphotography8888]

Great video and easy peasy. I once stripped my bike down on the kitchen table but the misses played hell, there just no fun sometimes lol. Keep the videos coming.

[@stuartfillingham]

yes funny creatures women! they can be a bit like that! same when you use the dishwasher to degrease motorcycle parts!

[@markcandlin6421]

Stuart, thanks again for some really good common sense advice.

[@stuartfillingham]

Your very welcome Mark, thanks for watching!

[@oceaniceos]

My first Triumph was a 1999 Legend. I ordered a tool kit for it and that kit has a wrench, that looks like it was made out of a 3/16" thick metal bar. It fits the axle nut on the T120 easily and totally eliminates the need to remove a muffler. If you can't get one from Triumph; I would measure the size of the nut. Go to a Honda dealer and find an axle nut that is the size as the one on your T120 and order the wrench from Honda.

[@Superdukeblack]

Hi Stuart just subscribed to your channel, i enjoy all your videos very informative you have a great way of explaining why your doing what your doing and your style is just so old school cool . Keep it up mate great job...

[@stuartfillingham]

Thank you sir and thanks for subscribing!

[@F4FPhantomII]

Have you noticed that the adjuster are almost maxed out right from the factory? I took mine back to the dealer and made them take a link out of the chain so i could have more adjustment available.

[@stuartfillingham]

I have sir yes! This sparked quite a lot of debate when the bikes were first released. however it doesn't seem to be a problem as the chain doesn't seem to stretch much. Thanks for watching!

[@funky-giraffe]

Would a cover be useful for condensation in your garage? Surely :)

[@joe2479]

Great video. Thanks. There are several KZbin videos where people adjust the chain while the bike is on the center stand. Thanks for doing it correctly.

[@bullthrush]

Very thorough tutorial, but I know how much you enjoy complaints, so I'll have a go. :)) I would suggest using a breaker bar instead of a ratchet for initial loosening or final tightening the axle nut (any large nut, really). A broken ratchet will slow you down more than the time it takes to switch tools.

[@stuartfillingham]

You Just have to don't you! don't you think I spend enough money!? LOL actually thats an old ratchet I keep for such jobs, I have plenty of spare good ones. You can never have enough ratchets you ! Thanks for watching sir!

[@chrisbailey600]

Good morning Stuart, Having for many years ridden shaft driven bikes, and now having a 2019 Speedmaster, I am having to 'relearn' chain maintenance and tensioning!! I noticed in your excellent video that when you measured your chain slack, you INITIALLY pushed your chain UP and then DOWN to check the slack, then later in the video finally checking it, you only pushed it UP. Which is correct? Up and down or just up? I am due to check the slack on my bike and the handbook is unclear on how the chain should be pushed (up and down OR just up) and I'm sure that I'd get very different measurements depending on how I moved the chain. If you could find the time, clarification would be very much appreciated. Brilliantly entertaining channel keep up the good work please. Kind regards, Chris Bailey

[@kiransingh2935]

YES! I've been waiting for you to do this one!

[@stuartfillingham]

Well I had to get around to doing it eventually Kiran I hope it proves useful, thanks for watching!

[@keithbarkhymer6144]

Thanks for the video

[@68orangecrate26]

Perfect video. THANK YOU Sir!

[@mordyd1770]

Love your videos. Thanks very much.

[@Malcarper]

Do modern chains stretch by different amounts along the length? I ask, as I have found this in the past, with various bikes. Would be interesting Stuart, if you can take multiple measurements of the slack in chain, by rotating the wheel say 2 links at a time. Then see if the slack is within spec all the way round or if there are any very tight or slack spots.

[@stuartfillingham]

Ill bear your request in mind for the future sir, thanks for watching!

[@hopgood007]

Hey Stuart. Cracking video sir - I'm sure The Peak Biker has done a T120 chain adjustment video? Nice and straightforward with easy to follow steps. I use a few coloured Sharpie pens and put corresponding blobs of colour on the adjustment nut so I know how far I've turned each side. I know you have OCD but mine is far worse...so can I come and sort out your garage? Thankyou again Sir...stay safe.

[@stuartfillingham]

Hi Paul, yeah I did have a look at the Peak Riders video, but he didn't actually do anything to the chain, he just did a video explaining that curved spanners may avoid the need to take the silencers off. Of course there maybe another video I missed! excellent idea re the sharpie pens ill give that a try next time! Re the garage sir! the kettle is on and I will be waiting! lol

[@hopgood007]

I'll finish putting the new roof on my T120's house then I'll be over.

[@stuartfillingham]

Too late now ive done it! oddly enough even though I have cleared loads of stuff out there doesn't seem to be much extra space!

[@hopgood007]

One thing I have meant to mention is the T120 headlamp. As a regular all year commuter on mine I am now leaving for work at 0630 and coming home at 1630, so riding to and from work in the dark. I have been very impressed with the T120 headlamp and how much depth and width it lights up. I have a 26 mile commute each way mostly on A & B roads (so no street lights) and I hardly ever need to switch up to high beam. Very impressed. Just thought it was worth a mention in case any budding T120 owners are watching!

[@stuartfillingham]

try an osram night breaker and it is even better!

[@jdubs-56]

You have to remove the silencers on both sides, right?

[@emiliomed]

hi, manual states that motorcycle must be stand up I noticed you adjust chain using side stand, No problem about it?

[@peterpeter-xt8mv]

you can buy a torque open face wrench..........hard to find but they are out there.

[@kramnam4716]

Smashing.

[@sethi2187]

Bravo!

[@mikeybass666]

Are the nut sizes 12 or 13mm? I've seen conflicting info online and both the Owners Handbook and Haynes Manual don't mention the nut size anywhere!

[@stuartfillingham]

cant remember off the top of my head just make sure you have both sizes!

[@mattcc6603]

Slightly off topic, if I may. Which winter gloves would you recommend?

[@stuartfillingham]

excellent question Matt, watch this Fridays Review!

[@mattcc6603]

stuart fillingham Perfect timing!

[@stuartfillingham]

of course!

[@randyallen2771]

Stuart, Thanks for another well filmed and quite useful video on maintaining our T120s. I've seen some chatter recently about the advantages of switching from a 37 tooth to a 39 tooth rear sprocket and I'm wondering if you have any thoughts. Mine does seem to be geared a bit "tall" with the 37. Keep up the good work. Cheers

[@stuartfillingham]

I like it as it is Randy it makes perfect sense on congested and British A and B roads. thanks for watching and for your comment!

[@pjl52]

I went to a 39 tooth rear not long after buying my T120, definitely a good move.

[@thanhto3023]

Hey Stuart after adjusting the chain I feel like my bike is leaning a bit left. Is it posbile that I misaligned my wheel?

[@stuartfillingham]

possibly, check the markings on you adjuster.

[@thanhto3023]

stuart fillingham you mean the dots behind the axel nut? Damn I didn’t even notice that. Wasted the whole afternoon checking the wheel.

[@triskelworkshop2855]

Hi Stuart I have done about 4500 Km (2800 miles) on my 4 months old T120 . After seeing this video, and checking my chain tension, i mesured the slack is around 35 mm. Think it's time to do a tension update. Question: do you consider it normal that the tension is already so slack after this milleage ?

[@stuartfillingham]

Hi steven, yes new chain do stretch a little in the first couple of thousand miles, so that sounds perfectly normal to me, however depending how you ride you should find you can do considerably more mileage before having t do it again.

[@triskelworkshop2855]

Hi stuart, I took me about 1 hrs to get the job done. But it' s back as it should be now. Info: it is not necsecary to completely remove the left hand silencer.(to much hassel, 'cause you would have to remove the rubber stop for the stand aswell) Just remove the pileon foodstand, untdiden the allen screw at the silencer's conection to the main pipe. By doing just that you will be able to lower the silencer untill you can reach the chain adjuster bolds. Thanks for your video, i wouldn't have tried it without seeing this first

[@stuartfillingham]

Im afraid I have to disagree with you on that one Stephen. using that method will put undue stress on the graphite exhaust seal which is very brittle and is not capable of flexing. you run a very high risk of scoring or cracking it. removing the silencer is a 2 minute job, replacing the seal takes considerably longer and costs around £8.00 for a new seal.

[@jockserb3405]

Your bikes must suffer from condensation in that sectional concrete garage??

[@stuartfillingham]

very much so!

[@jockserb3405]

@@stuartfillingham I have the same problem...

[@francescodivita2509]

your forearm hides the measurement of the chain's slack