I remember you recomending that we mark the rollers on the chain and a tooth on the sprocket so that the chain can be put right back on the same spot it came off the sprocket. Also careful to hold enough tension back when handling the chain so that it won't fall off the front sprocket.

Any other tips on wheel removal my service manual may not cover? I have to take off the front too. New tires.

Rook

Thanks, Hub. I had to remove a back wheel on my Vulcan years back and it was also chain drive so I think this will be pretty similar. Good suggestion on the white litheum. I'll bump this topic back up if i get stuck.

Rook

Indexing the chain and sprockets before pulling the wheel off for a tire change is a great idea........I can't believe I've never heard of it before. I guess an old dog can learn new tricks

Bad, not so fast here. Hub, let me get this straight. The OEM chain has 116 links, the front sprocket has 17 teeth, the rear has 41 teeth. Each time the chain passes with it's full length, the front sprocket turns 6.82353 times, the rear 2.82927 times. I do not have to go to further specifics proving that indexing of the chain with the sprockets is absolutely unnecessary.

Uh oh......

But if you keep turning the wheel about 65 times or more, give or take a few revolutions, you will see the chain and sprocket marks reline once every 65 times say or find the number of turns.

Yep, you got the idea alright. Now, if you offset the chain it by a single tooth, you move the entire cycle by a single tooth. What it means that every tooth will meet a particular chain roller in every 65 revolutions, over and over again, just the cycle is moved over by a tooth. Now move it over by 10 teeth, reassemble and start the cycle over and over again, just moved over by 10 teeth. It does not matter, the chain will travel over the sprocket evenly like a clockwork. Marking the chain with an attempt to put it back into the same spot on the chain just is not necessary. At least if we are talking about the motorcycle final drive chain.

I'd mark it just to be safe. Can't hurt.

Rook, of course it can't. It just does not matter, period. Take a pick.