Hawk aftermarket chain tensioner

[Bill1]

I was looking around for a chain tensioner and found this on Amazon.

https://www.amazon.com/Chain-Tension...01M0D8RA3?th=1

There is only one review, but the reviewer installed in on a Hawk and included pictures.

Is this someone here? I searched, but did not find anything on it.

I was hoping to have enough chain slack to be able to swap out front sprockets without having to put the bike on a stand and remove the rear wheel.

I am about to swap to a 17/40 setup. I was thinking about being able to ride highway speed to the trail, then swapping the front out to a 14t within a few minutes and without a stand.

[roundhouse]

Looks pretty cool. Never read thread about it but I have only been on here a fairly shore while

[timcosby]

chain shouldnt be that tight as to not be able to get it off the sprockets. should be able to rotate rear and get chain off to change front sprocket.

[Megadan]

Originally Posted by timcosby

chain shouldnt be that tight as to not be able to get it off the sprockets. should be able to rotate rear and get chain off to change front sprocket.

What he is looking for is a way to run the chain a bit looser to simply make the job easier. You are correct that you can install and remove the sprocket without having to do anything else with the proper chain tension, although it can be a royal pain in the rear. Having the chain just a it more slack with a tensioner would allow him to simply remove tension, swap, and add tension again.


Honestly, I say give it a try. I don't know of anybody using one on a Hawk, but I miss posts sometimes and it may have been before I joined.

[timcosby]

Originally Posted by Megadan

What he is looking for is a way to run the chain a bit looser to simply make the job easier. You are correct that you can install and remove the sprocket without having to do anything else with the proper chain tension, although it can be a royal pain in the rear. Having the chain just a it more slack with a tensioner would allow him to simply remove tension, swap, and add tension again.


Honestly, I say give it a try. I don't know of anybody using one on a Hawk, but I miss posts sometimes and it may have been before I joined.

nah you can get it off easily even if its over tightened! just roll the rear wheel while pushing the chain to the side. nothing to it.

[pistolclass]

when putting a master link back on does it matter what way the little clip thingy faces?

[Its_not_a_honda]

Originally Posted by pistolclass

when putting a master link back on does it matter what way the little clip thingy faces?

I always put mine so that the closed end is in the direction of the chain while going forward. I figure that if you have it that way you have a better chance of something not catching on it and pulling it off. No proof of that. Just my thinking.

[Deckard_Cain]

nm....wrong thread.

[Merlin]

Originally Posted by Bill1

I was looking around for a chain tensioner and found this on Amazon.

https://www.amazon.com/Chain-Tension...01M0D8RA3?th=1

There is only one review, but the reviewer installed in on a Hawk and included pictures.

Is this someone here? I searched, but did not find anything on it.

I was hoping to have enough chain slack to be able to swap out front sprockets without having to put the bike on a stand and remove the rear wheel.

I am about to swap to a 17/40 setup. I was thinking about being able to ride highway speed to the trail, then swapping the front out to a 14t within a few minutes and without a stand.

Iam using something like that on my bike. It seems to work but I haven't tested it much yet.

[ChrisWNY]

I use a tensioner on my Hawk and have had it on there for about a year now. Tensioners reduce vibration on the chain which cuts down a little on noise and helps with wear resistance so they do have a positive effect, but how much of an effect is beyond me.



Just make sure the metal portion that clamps down on the rod for the roller-wheel has a set screw on it or it will come loose and fall off. I've noticed that some of the "universal ATV chain tensioners" on ebay don't have the set screw. It works well and keeps tension on the chain going around the sprocket. Never had problems with it and it bolted on to the swingarm with no modifications needed. Use threadlocker on the bolts and grease up the roller wheel bearings so that it doesn't bind or wear out prematurely. I didn't get the tensioner for easy removal of the chain...I still pop the master link clip off if I need to remove the chain, but it is easier to install the chain with a tensioner because you don't have to tighten the chain as much.


The one I bought is here - https://www.ebay.com/itm/Aluminum-Ch...IAAOSwkl5XdeYm - you can get it in 3 colors and it's made out of aluminum. You can find sellers in the US on eBay that have them, I don't recommend purchasing it from China unless you want to wait over a month for it. Typical price is $15-$20 for that particular model.

[Merlin]

Originally Posted by ChrisWNY

I use a tensioner on my Hawk and have had it on there for about a year now. Tensioners reduce vibration on the chain which cuts down a little on noise and helps with wear resistance so they do have a positive effect, but how much of an effect is beyond me.



Just make sure the metal portion that clamps down on the rod for the roller-wheel has a set screw on it or it will come loose and fall off. I've noticed that some of the "universal ATV chain tensioners" on ebay don't have the set screw. It works well and keeps tension on the chain going around the sprocket. Never had problems with it and it bolted on to the swingarm with no modifications needed. Use threadlocker on the bolts and grease up the roller wheel bearings so that it doesn't bind or wear out prematurely. I didn't get the tensioner for easy removal of the chain...I still pop the master link clip off if I need to remove the chain, but it is easier to install the chain with a tensioner because you don't have to tighten the chain as much.


The one I bought is here - https://www.ebay.com/itm/Aluminum-Ch...IAAOSwkl5XdeYm - you can get it in 3 colors and it's made out of aluminum. You can find sellers in the US on eBay that have them, I don't recommend purchasing it from China unless you want to wait over a month for it. Typical price is $15-$20 for that particular model.

That's the same one Iam using.

[ChrisWNY]

Originally Posted by Merlin

That's the same one Iam using.

Yeah it seems to hold up pretty well. I think I posted something on here a year or two ago about tensioners. Keep the tensioner spring and roller bearings lubed up and it'll last. The first tensioner I bought didn't have the set screw, just clamped onto the roller rod and I think it lasted 2 rides before the roller and rod came off during a ride. Never figured out where it went but I picked up another one and it has stayed put for many rides.