Hi guys, Just adjusted the chain on my CM tonight, and I noticed when I lit it back up, the rear wheel didn't spin in neutral on the center stand like it usually does. I checked the rear brake linkage and adjusted it, but it still doesn't do it like it used to. There doesn't seem to be much of any resistance, but it has me wondering why. Might I have overtightened the castle nut? I did it with a crescent wrench, I doubt that's the case but maybe it is. Thoughts?
If the change took place right after you tightened the chain, I would double check to make sure you did not over-tighten the chain. You might try loosening the chain and see whether the wheel spins normally again. I can't think of any reason the wheel would stop spinning with a properly adjusted chain. Check your shop manual and determine whether the chain adjustment should be made on the centerstand (with the rear wheel off the ground) or with the rear wheel on the ground. Sorry, I don't have my manual handy or I'd verify it for you.
Thanks Cowboy. The manual says 3/4" of free play on the center stand, and it had quite a bit more and was lurching. Even so, 3/4" seemed unrealistically low for an unladen bike, so in the interest of Philadelphia's road surface I erred on the side of caution and it's maybe an inch or so now. I tested the loaded tension with my brother's fat ass and there is still some play even, so I'm confident it should work. It's much smoother and feels faster somehow. I only had it up and down the street. It was dark and I had done the adjustment by flashlight. I'll give it a once-over before I head to work tomorrow - I just want to make sure nothing's going to be red hot and catching on fire during the commute, as things seem to tend to do when there's any sizable resistance anywhere.
Not familiar with that particular bike, but how about a spacer OR washer that got pinned in the adjustment slot? You know, if you loosened it enough for any of that to actually bind at an angle when you were tightening it again...
you should be able to tighten thew crap out of your castle nut with no change in friction (ability to spin) the rear wheel. the castle nut, inner bearing races, inner bearing sleeve and any required spacers will "stack up" . the outer races (and your wheel) should not notice how tight the nut is.
It was just paranoia on my part. As it turns out the wheel will only spin when the engine is turning on the faster side, ie only with the choke on while it's warming up. I did properly adjust the rear brake linkage. I am extra diligent with this step, as I am... aware of its importance