Gille's tooling chain adjusters. I have tried to order these things twice but both suppliers discontinued them. Maybe it is a sign to give up on that mod. I was willing to take the risk in spite of the failure threads I've seen and a couple DISrecommendations. Hope somebody makes adjusters for the 14 some day.

I have read of failures on 600cc R-1 to 1340cc turboed, 500 hp busa. Seems the metal is not strong enough. The hook that catches on the back of the swingarm has snapped off and the outer frame that the axle puller slides in has cracked. The puller arm itself has broked as you can see in this pic posted by a member here on our forum. As you can see, the puller arm is hollow to save weight but that isn't always working for strength purposes.

I really like these. Other companies make them but I can't find them for the 14. Gille's updated the adjusters but not for the 14.

* Last updated by: Rook on 1/30/2012 @ 9:37 AM *

6 or 7k miles on mine... have to check my 14's odo ... without incident... bought a used set, for my 10r, that handled track duty for four years... but yeah, because of failures like Seno's, I can't recommend them.

Web sites should update when things get discontinued. I think the EBay ad you initially sent me with that killer 100$ deal is still up.. They do not have any in stock however.

rook are these what ur looking for?

Your text to link here...

If the adjusters are breaking, the axle nut is not tight enough. The adjuster's job is not to prevent the wheel from moving. If it was, it would have to be massive.

Mad

Good point Mad. however, if the axle nut alone was ample means of holding the axle at it's position in the swingarm slot, we would not really need the adjuster. I think they work together, axle nut and adjuster. By the feel of my torque wrench, 94 ft lbs is not all that much torque to hold the axle in place with just the axle nut.

The OEM adjuster blocks are pushback design while the aftermarket adjusters are pullback. Materials react dif to compression than they do the opposite force (forget the name of that ATM...ductile, I think it is). The OEMs are designed to resist compression and that intuitively seems a stronger arrangement to me. Plus, the Gille's are long hollow aluminum pieces. The OEM is a short solid steel screw that takes all the force.

Thanks for the PM reminder Scotty. I think I may have tried OPP already. But I'll try again. I still want these bad doggies on my 14!

OPP Racing has it

+$60 for annodizing Blue, Green, Red, Silver. You have to ask for it in the comments asection when you order online. I indicated titaneum but asked that they turn it Blue for me.

gonna be the shidz!

I had a set and mine snaped EXACTLY like the ones in the pic. As in the angle and location are the exact same. Axel nut was torqued to spec. Sitting at a uphill stop light, light turned green, I took off and BAM!!! thought I blew the transmition. Lucky for me I wasn't moving becaused it hucked the chain. Had my local Kawasaki dealership send them in for the waranty and have never heard anything back

Never again will I put those on a bike

* Last updated by: JBird on 3/7/2012 @ 3:39 PM *

yike! A lot of negative feedback on this. Damn, you can't do normal street riding without busting a chain adjuster??? I think I am going to look into finding a way to shim these at the front to ad some support.

That's too many negative feedbacks. I like the pretty stuff but if it doesn't do anything for performance and can become a weak point.....

I'm thinking about trying to cancel on my order. Been a month now. Still nothing. Those guys are not too fast considering they are a race outfit.

.....and another member just PMed me this

 http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-GILLES-TOOLING-KTS-GOLD-CHAIN-ADJUSTERS-FOR-06-08-KAWASAKI-ZX-14-128-8302G-/220971538948?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item3372ee1a04&vxp=mtr

can't win

what someone ought to do if they have access to a little foundry is cast that part of solid metal. If that was steel it would not break. I think solid aluminum would be strong enough. WTF were they thinking??? oh well, too late tto ask now.

Hey bud I was browsing for parts yesterday and found the site where I told you I found the lightech, give them a call and if these are made of steel cancel your order... I find them a little more sexy too. The have a shop here is Austin, really cool peeps.

Lightech Adjusters

* Last updated by: dragking on 3/11/2012 @ 12:05 AM *

Thanks, drag.

It just might be too late. But I will be pn the phone tomorrow.

Been over a month since I ordered the Gille's. They said they would be shipping out last week but Still have seen nothing. Cross your fingers for me.

From the photo, The LT are solid metal. The Gille's are hollowed out in the adjuster arm.

* Last updated by: Rook on 3/11/2012 @ 4:00 AM *

Thanks for looking out for me, buddy. I remember your PM about the LT chain adjusters from a while back. I'm really glad you posted that link for me cuz I might just go ahead and order.

According to an email I recieved this week, FedEx delivered a package to me from OPP racing. No signature was required. It was left at the front door.

Either some one is full of sh!t or that package got up and grew legs. I haven't seen anything. Was home at 2PM that day. Definitely used the front door and am quite sure I looked for a package as I have been every day. nuthin. I even have a sign on the front door asking for all deliveries to be left inside by front door.

I hear FedEx sometimes says they delivered something before they actually did. I'll check it out monday and if i'm out the 300 clams for the Gille's I'l take that as God's lesson to NEVER allow packages to be left at the door. Might be a blessing in disguise

---but what a pisser. I have been thinking about putting a nitrous system on the bike. What these chain adjusters cost me would have paid for that and then some. The irony is, I highly doubt that I would run chain adjusters with any kind of boost.

* Last updated by: Rook on 3/11/2012 @ 3:19 PM *

No problem, just make sure this is something they can ship asap when you call them...

The irony is, I highly doubt that I would run chain adjusters with any kind of boost

Talked to OPP today. Guy told me the package was delicered at 4:59 pm on Thursday. I came home from school 2 blocks away with the kids at 4:45 that day. I know I looked at my watch to keep track of service hours. COULD NOT have missed that truck. Kids went to mother's house at 6 pm and we went through that door. I went outside to throw kids up in the air like always. NO package. The OPP guy said he would check with FedEx to see if maybe the driver "left the package somewhere unusual."

...yeah, like maybe at the wrong address??

well, this was $300. I think I have a claim to file. There WAS insurance that I was also charged for. Somebody screwed up and on top of it, NOBODY has contacted me to explain anything. Am I supposed to wait and hope something happens? Now I'm pissed.

Too late. can't use the adjusters now. They were not delivered n a reasonable amount of time. I want my 300 back.

* Last updated by: Rook on 3/12/2012 @ 6:02 PM *

So the old lady two blocks down the street got my adjusters. She has been calling my ex who has the same name (first initial and last) as me (IDK WTF the old lady didn't call me --my name is first in the phone book). The ex asked if I was had a package not delivered. Went to the adress they left on ex's answering machine and knocked. She said she just gave it "to an older mail man in the neighborhood a few minutes ago."

MAIL MAN????? this was delivered FedEx. Well I tracked down the older mailman and he gave me the box and it did get deliverd by FedEx ti the wring adress and the sender shipped it in a priority US mail box which is why the older mail man (with failing eyesight, I guess) took possession of the package.....

I showed my drivers lic with adress and name and he handed over my Gilles.

BTW, no one from FedEx or from OPP Racing bothered to get back to me. very glad I was able to count on the old folks in the neighborhood to right there EPIC fucup.

So here are the adjusters. Dogo corrected me on anothet thread. These ar Ti Steel. Weight is good. Also, steel makes me a lot more confident in their strength.

Look fine from the front.

but the back is where it gets interesting

You can see the large hollow. That is what seems to be the weak point in th edesign and completely avoidable. IDK what ever possessed them to do that. Coulda just made the whole part solid and drilled the screw hole deeper.

Also, look at those four smaller holes. They have threads tapped. You can use those to screw this thing to your swingarm if you want to drill matching holes in your swingarm. Almost seems like they know this is not the strongest desin in the world. The small scew hole son the axle holder ring?---those would certainly help support the weak adjuster. Who the hell is going to drill their swing arm to fasten an adjuster slide? It is called a slide cuz it is supposed to be able to slide to adjust your chain tighter or looser. CRazy. I can't complain though. I was made aware of all of this before I ordered. What you buy is what you own.

* Last updated by: Rook on 3/13/2012 @ 8:33 PM *

I have an idea that I think will make this a safe mod. Use the stock adjuster screw to hold the front in. It has flats on the head and can be snugged right up to the front of the axle holder ring just as it would with the OEM axle block.

You adjust the chain with the Gille's adjuster arm, then snug up the OEM adjuster screw to the frontof the axle holder ring, then tighten a locknut threaded on the OEM screw up to the front of the swingarm block slide. Same idea as OEM but without the Axle block.

Will this work fine?

Recently found that my expensive aftermarket wheels will need to be torqued half spec. That doesn't help much, does it? i think I gotta have good support on that axle slide.

If the adjusters are breaking, the axle nut is not tight enough. The adjuster's job is not to prevent the wheel from moving. If it was, it would have to be massive.

I agree,those spindly adjuster bolts are not going to take any real force, torquing the axle nut to spec keeps things from moving around.

You adjust the chain with the Gille's adjuster arm, then snug up the OEM adjuster screw to the frontof the axle holder ring, then tighten a locknut threaded on the OEM screw up to the front of the swingarm block slide. Same idea as OEM but without the Axle block.

Sounds kinda like the guy who used suspenders and a belt to hold his britches up
because he didn't trust the belt by itself.

If it's that flimsy, I'd get something else, maybe Dragking's adjusters.

* Last updated by: Kruz on 3/14/2012 @ 8:53 PM *

Sounds kinda like the guy who used suspenders and a belt to hold his britches up
because he didn't trust the belt by itself.

I may upgrade to lighTechs. They look a little more clunky but I have a lot more confidence in them. I'm going to run what I have now because tese things are 300 a crack. can't see buying a set of LighTechs after I just got the Gille's.

also, my carros call for half torque on the axle. I don't agree that the chain adjuster does not hold the rear wheel in place. The breaking of the Gille's adjusters sort of support that notion if you ask me.

I am also pretty keen on getting a nitrous system and that is another reason to stay away from anything that might bust under a heavy load.

Firstly, do not run them... They have you worried (rightfully) which is no good.

Now if you decide to go ahead and use them anyway, put the adjustment as far forward as it goes, and make sure you have the axle nut on the brake caliper side. That way when you torque the axle tight it will snug them forward rather than pull them back away.

If your chain is too long to do this with your current 17/45 gearing, get a bigger rear sprocket.

Shortest wheelbase + lowest gearing = biggest smiles... IMHO

And before anyone tells me to clean my bike.

Great analogy, Kruz.

And Rook, I'll give you what you paid for the 45t AFAM if you need to go bigger... As long as you haven't already painted it orange.

* Last updated by: DogoZX on 3/15/2012 @ 12:03 AM *

NOpe, I'm keeping the AFAM and I am painting it orange. Acetone works great for removing dry enamel. nasty stuff though.

LOL, my axle is on the second mark. If I remove a chain link, that would put me right about all the way forward.

Why do you believe that all the way forward is better, Dogo?

See that round head bolt that holds the front in place (far right)? What if you just had a bolt with flats and a lock nut like the OEM setup and you threaded it out to snug up to the axle holder? Lock nut tightens up right where the the head of the bolt in your pic is. You achieve three goals: 1)Help the axle nut to hold fast the axle, 2)take stress off the adjuster, 3)fasten the adjuster to the swing arm. That is basically the OEM setup and that is safe as can be.

....I mean, even if the Gille's did somehow snap, the OEM adjuster bolt and its locknut are there to hold the axle in place. I doubt if you would even know anything busted until you saw it.

* Last updated by: Rook on 3/15/2012 @ 8:01 PM *

Why do you believe that all the way forward is better, Dogo?

Pertaining to the Gilles, there's nowhere for it to go.
Pertaining to bike handling, quicker turn in and bigger power wheelies.

See that round head bolt that holds the front in place (far right)? What if you just had a bolt with flats and a lock nut like the OEM setup and you threaded it out to snug up to the axle holder? Lock nut tightens up right where the the head of the bolt in your pic is. You achieve three goals: 1)Help the axle nut to hold fast the axle, 2)take stress off the adjuster, 3)fasten the adjuster to the swing arm. That is basically the OEM setup and that is safe as can be.

That sounds like it would work to me... and if that's what it takes to make you confident with the adjusters, do it.