Clean your chain case

[Joe ltx-le]

just posting a reminder to everyone with miles on from last year. Take your chain case apart and clean the magnets while changing fluid. The magnets build up with metal filings and chew a round hole in the cover.

I used to just suck the oil out of the chain case to change it. After seeing this I will be pulling the cover every year.

5300 miles.

 

[nightrunner06]

I always pull the cover when I do an engine oil change. seems like a no brainer to me.

 

[Joe ltx-le]

I always pull the cover when I do an engine oil change. seems like a no brainer to me.

On your nytro?

 

[**sj**]

seems like there could be a spot to epoxy a rare earth magnet to collect all the metal and keep away

 

[nightrunner06]

I have a Ltx SW

On your nytro?

 

[Joe ltx-le]

I have a Ltx SW

Right on. Now that I found the chain case is actually easy to pull off. It's like you say. A no brainer

 

[Joe ltx-le]

seems like there could be a spot to epoxy a rare earth magnet to collect all the metal and keep away

Might be worth a try. The magnets on the axle will still get some though. Keep in mind my chain case had 5300 miles on the same oil.

 

[rnusr01]

just posting a reminder to everyone with miles on from last year. Take your chain case apart and clean the magnets while changing fluid. The magnets build up with metal filings and chew a round hole in the cover.

I used to just suck the oil out of the chain case to change it. After seeing this I will be pulling the cover every year.

5300 miles.

There is also a magnet on the reverse actuator clean that as well. I used a scotch bright pad and lightly went around the case to clean and remove any burrs then cleaned the cover really well. To make installing the bolts much easier I used a wire brush to remove the old loctite and added a small drop of blue when installing.

 

[XP123]

Joe mine looked a lot cleaner than yours but that's probably because of all the miles you had on yours. What oil did you use? Used oil from a diesel tractor? I think taking the chain case apart every year and checking and cleaning everything is well worth your time. This year I removed the lower panel and used rivet nuts in place of the rivets so I can remove it every year. Man did that make everything easier. I was able to drain the oil tank and chain case with no mess. I even removed the oil tank completely so I could get better access to the case and check and clean everything very easily. I find this Sidewinder is very easy to work on compared to my 1200 Doo.

 

[Joe ltx-le]

Joe mine looked a lot cleaner than yours but that's probably because of all the miles you had on yours. What oil did you use? Used oil from a diesel tractor? I think taking the chain case apart every year and checking and cleaning everything is well worth your time. This year I removed the lower panel and used rivet nuts in place of the rivets so I can remove it every year. Man did that make everything easier. I was able to drain the oil tank and chain case with no mess. I even removed the oil tank completely so I could get better access to the case and check and clean everything very easily. I find this Sidewinder is very easy to work on compared to my 1200 Doo.

That's the oil that came in it from factory with 5300 miles on it.
It was easy to clean up with rag and break clean. Picture below.

Make sure you re sealed the oil tank really well. They are known for leaking.

 

[XP123]

That's the oil that came in it from factory with 5300 miles on it.
It was easy to clean up with rag and break clean. Picture below.

Make sure you re sealed the oil tank really well. They are known for leaking.

I would never take the oil tank off by itself. I took it off in one piece together with the chain case cover. I should have been more specific. I see absolutely no reason to separate the oil tank from the chain case cover. What a PITA that would be.

 

[Joe ltx-le]

I would never take the oil tank off by itself. I took it off in one piece together with the chain case cover. I should have been more specific. I see absolutely no reason to separate the oil tank from the chain case cover. What a PITA that would be.

I've done it twice this summer. It leaked and it leaked again. The roll over valve was stuck shut and blew the seal out. It is a pain in the #*$&@

 

[DranttelSS]

Good maintenance tips! Interesting to see what happens after 5300 miles.

BTW Im jealous that you got to put 5300 miles on your Sidewinder last year.

 

[Joe ltx-le]

Good maintenance tips! Interesting to see what happens after 5300 miles.

BTW Im jealous that you got to put 5300 miles on your Sidewinder last year.

Aiming for over 6 this year then it's trade in time haha

 

[Beerman]

I've never taken the chain case cover off by myself, I need to find a video on how to, I'm too intimidated not having watched it done.