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New chain & gear question

Doc Harley

Doc Harley

TY 4 Stroke God
Joined
Oct 17, 2016
Messages
3,440
Age
55
Location
Here & there
Country
USA
Snowmobile
'17 Sidewinder LTX SE
VERY IMPORTANT QUESTION AT THE END...
So, it's very apparent to me that the #2 grade chain case fasters stretch over time & snap before you can reach 120inch pounds. Replaced with a larger head coated M6x1.0x25mm.
Installed brand new chain, & gear swap.
I tightened the tensioner bolt hand tight and then back it out 1.5 turns. The bolt is still making contact with the tensioner. And feels tight against the chain. Is that ok? Doesn't seem like it.
IMG_20231022_140546943_copy_1536x2048.jpg
 

The bolt should have a small gap between the tensioner, I like around an 1/8” or maybe a little less. Loosen your jam nut and slide the spacer and rubber seal towards the head of the bolt. Loosen it up till you know its free of tensioner and turn it in lightly and slowly till you feel it touch the tensioner. You feel the resistance soon as it touches. Once it makes light contact I usually back it off 3/4 to a full turn and that will leave you a small gap between end of bolt and tensioner.
 
justinator said:
The bolt should have a small gap between the tensioner, I like around an 1/8” or maybe a little less. Loosen your jam nut and slide the spacer and rubber seal towards the head of the bolt. Loosen it up till you know its free of tensioner and turn it in lightly and slowly till you feel it touch the tensioner. You feel the resistance soon as it touches. Once it makes light contact I usually back it off 3/4 to a full turn and that will leave you a small gap between end of bolt and tensioner.
Click to expand...
When you change the gear ratio it changes tensioner position and puts more pressure on the tensioner against the chain, and the tensioner spring. Should make sense.
I did as you say and it came out to three turns out from all the way tight.
To verify this I ratcheted the secondary back and forth until I could hear an audible clearance between the tensioner and the adjuster. Which was three turns as well.
Ty....Justinator
 
jtmetal said:
When you change the gear ratio it changes tensioner position and puts more pressure on the tensioner against the chain, and the tensioner spring. Should make sense.
I did as you say and it came out to three turns out from all the way tight.
To verify this I ratcheted the secondary back and forth until I could hear an audible clearance between the tensioner and the adjuster. Which was three turns as well.
Ty....Justinator
Click to expand...
Should be good to go. That method is the only way ive been able to find a consistent good way of setting tension. Finger tighten the tensioner means nothing imo, some guys could snap the chain and others could barely make the tensioner move.
 
jtmetal said:
When you change the gear ratio it changes tensioner position and puts more pressure on the tensioner against the chain, and the tensioner spring. Should make sense.
I did as you say and it came out to three turns out from all the way tight.
To verify this I ratcheted the secondary back and forth until I could hear an audible clearance between the tensioner and the adjuster. Which was three turns as well.
Ty....Justinator
Click to expand...
3 turns out? I've ran every gear combo there is I think and I'm always at 1 turn out. Always have 1/16th to an 1/8th between bolt and tensioner. 3 turns seems like too much. Just my opinion.
 
DMCTurbo said:
3 turns out? I've ran every gear combo there is I think and I'm always at 1 turn out. Always have 1/16th to an 1/8th between bolt and tensioner. 3 turns seems like too much. Just my opinion.
Click to expand...
He was tightening the adjustment bolt as tight as he could with his fingers which apparently was very tight because backing it out 1.5 turns left the bolt still in contact with the tensioner. I had him tighten it softly till he felt it made contact with tensioner and back it out 1 turn and now he has that 1/16-1/8 gap. This puts him 3 turns out from his original way of tightening.
 
justinator said:
He was tightening the adjustment bolt as tight as he could with his fingers which apparently was very tight because backing it out 1.5 turns left the bolt still in contact with the tensioner. I had him tighten it softly till he felt it made contact with tensioner and back it out 1 turn and now he has that 1/16-1/8 gap. This puts him 3 turns out from his original way of tightening.
Click to expand...
Ok now I get it. He must have strong hands!
 
DMCTurbo said:
Ok now I get it. He must have strong hands!
Click to expand...

Idk...lol. I noticed how tight it was with the case cover off. In my naive opinion when switching up to the 21/38 it took the dog leg out of the chain. Repositioning the tensioner to have more spring pressure on it. So I had to change my way of thinking. Or should I say, Justinator had to show me the way.
I'm not a tech...just a guy trying to go faster. Doesn't seem to be working thou...haha. I fear another season of more questions than answers.
 
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