Chain Tensioning - Ducati Monster 400 Owner's Manual

Chain tensioning

Turn the rear wheel slowly until you find the position where
chain is tightest.
Put motorcycle on the side stand and push the chain up
pressing with a finger at mid-length of swingarm. The lower
stretch of chain must have a slack of 22-27 mm (fig. 43).
Chain tension is adjusted as follows:
Slacken the nut (1, fig. 44) of the wheel shaft, tighten (turn
clockwise) or slacken the screw (2) on either side of the
swingarm equally to increase or reduce chain tension. If you
are slackening the chain, you will have to push the wheel
forward.
Important
Improper chain tension will lead to early wear of
transmission parts.
Make sure you have adjusted to the same setting marks on
both sides of the swingarm.
This will ensure perfect wheel alignment.
Grease the thread of the wheel shaft nut (1) with SHELL
Retinax HDX2 grease and torque nut to 72 Nm.
Grease the threads of adjusting screws (2) with SHELL
Alvania R3 grease and torque them to 8 Nm.
22 ÷ 27 mm
2
E
fig. 43
1
fig. 44
49