Chain adjustment when touring

[Desmo Dronic]

After a 2 year delay we're booked to go to Spain for a month in May but I'm concerned about having to adjust the chain at some point on the 2000 mile trip. There's nothing in the tool kit to do the job and the manual even says "Have chain tension adjusted by a Ducati Dealer". This is quite simply pathetic for a major manufacturer like Ducati. 

I can fit a 36mm 12-point socket under the seat along with the chain lube but I still have to undo and tighten the axle nut safely and reliably. No split pins or circlips on the axle to hold the wheel on if the nut becomes loose.
Options:
--Extending wheel wrench from the car
--Breaker bar
--Torque wrench

All 3 are less than ideal in terms of convenience, accuracy or both. The big wrenches are 55cm long so they won't fit inside the panniers and there's no other obvious way to carry them.
Any forum members out there with any better solutions?

Cheers, DD

[buzzardbilly]

when touring I take one of those compact stainless dual sockets that will fit both rear and front nuts (expensive at about £65 but super quality) and a telescopic wrench  - like the one in your photo but I am sure mine is shorter than 55cms as it fits easily inside a pannier. It has adequate leverage to undo the rear nut. I mark up the position of the rear nut so that I have a guide for retorquing (good enough for a touring fix). I have toured each year for the last five years on the multi and each one has been between 1500 and 2000 miles, I have ensured the chain is the correct tension prior to each tour and have never had to adjust on tour (Never consumed any oil or coolant either)

Enjoy those Spanish roads  - sheer delight after the crap we have in the UK

[Paul_Smith]

The simplest option is to keep the chain well lubed (Scott oiler etc) and there would be no reason why it would need adjusting on your trip. That said, any car mechanic or tyre center is going to have all the wrenches and breaker bars you might need and this bike uses a standard 36mm socket so you don't even need to bring that. I can recommend from experience the benefits of having good overseas breakdown cover (including repatriation).
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Edited.
Sorry, it is not (as you probably already know) a 36mm hex, it is a 36mm bi-hex. They are available for under a tenner on ebay but might be worth including one in your travel tool kit just in case.

[armageddon]

Just use the smaller/lighter one, your weight on top of it will be enough to loosen/torque the bolt.

[neilb]

Honestly fella, too much worry here. My 2017, 950 has done multiple trips of 3000+ miles and one close to 6000 miles and I’ve never given chain adjustment a thought. Provided it’s properly adjusted at the start and the chain isn’t on its last legs, you’ll have nothing to worry about. Better a chain that’s a bit on the loose side than overtight. Carry a can of lube with you and just enjoy your time away. Oh, and don’t forget to take a puncture repair kit and compressor along, and know how to use it!

[Desmo Dronic]

Unfortunately the car wheel wrench doesn't allow a good purchase on the axle nut as the 1/2" square section is angled by about 30 degrees or so. Combined with a deep drive socket it's a recipe for frustration and sore knuckles. The breaker bar and torque wrench are just too long to carry so I'll go with buzzardbilly's suggestion and take my 36mm socket and a telescopic wrench along for the trip. (As well as the tin of chain lube obs.) I'll also try out his idea of marking the position of the nut as a retorquing guide before heading off.

Thanks for the feedback guys.

DD

[buzzardbilly]

Desmo - yep I found the same initially with a deep socket that's when i invested in one of those dual (front/ rear nut combo) sockets as its really compact and little chance of wobble . As the other guys say , you won't need it (but nice to have the back-up just in case)

 

[Paul_Smith]

Seriously, bring the appropriate socket if you are nervous, but the is really no justification for carrying the wrench. Every garage, mechanic's workshop and tyre centre on the planet has wrenches.

[nasher75]

There is no need to be prepared to adjust chain tension on a 2000 mile trip.  As others have said, just check/adjust as part of your pre-trip maintenance.  I have 4500 miles on my 950S and have only adjusted the chain once during the 600 mile service.  It is still within range.  I would just  carry a small can/bottle of chain lube, but unless you are riding dirt, even that is overkill. 

We have sealed chains.  Auto oilers are a messy waste for a sealed chain.  If your chain got really dirty for some reason, you could literally get a few drops of diesel from the pump and use that to clean the chain with a rag.  That would also leave a small film of lubricant on the exterior of the chain to prevent corrosion. 

I would just carry basic tools; Hex wrenches, a couple screwdrivers, a tire plug kit and a small 12 volt pump just in case you get a puncture. 

Maybe a small hammer and pry bar in case you fall and need to "tweak" something back into shape.