PITA vintage bikes!

[Phenix_Rider]

Changed the chain and sprocket on my dad's old triple the other night.

What a PITA! Put the thing on the center stand, and put something under the stand to raise it, then weight the front so it doesn't fall back. You have to unbolt both rear shocks, block up the swingarm, remove the rear brake adjuster from the actuator rod, loosen the axle adjusters. THEN you can get a socket on the axle nut. THEN you have to lower the swingarm to remove the anti-rotation bar from the lower part of the brake assembly. Chain guard has to come off after all that.

Finally got the old chain off, and it had stretched two full lengths. Had to count the new one over and over because I couldn't believe the old one still worked. I didn't think the axle or brake adjusters had enough play to move the axle forward to get the right slack in the new chain. It works though.

Overall, it took far too long. I had to fight with the chain tool of course. I really need to mount it to a plate/stand to make it easier. Everything was moving around while I tried to press the side plate on, so I couldn't tell if it was lined up right. Then I had to be extremely careful peening the rivets because I didn't get him an extra replacement link and didn't want to ruin it like I did the first one on my bike.

So he's happy. Rides much smoother now and the chain doesn't bind at all. Replaced his non o-ring chain with an x-ring chain.