sidewinder chain tensioner

[STAIN]

My 2 cents, plus dealer who has backed my warranty issues 100% also prefers my method. Will you?

No, I will follow spec. I adjust my chain with the cover off so I can see exactly what is going on. I am guilty of running one too tight and creating an upper bearing problem.
All dealers should be like yours and back these 100%. Excessive warranty claims on specific items is how changes get made.
I will say if you have a chain that had some initial stretch and then stopped you are OK. If your chain continues to stretch I would get a new one, that chain will never be right.
I know that the chain hitting that nub inside the case isn't right, but in the end I dont think it is as huge a deal as we make it. A larger top gear would probably cure it.
I know quality hyvo gears and chains are expensive, but that may be the fix for continuing chain stretch/ upper bushing wear.

Check these upper gears out out.

 

[Turboflash]

Looks like Taylor gearing?

 

[Motorhead]

No, I will follow spec. I adjust my chain with the cover off so I can see exactly what is going on. I am guilty of running one too tight and creating an upper bearing problem.
All dealers should be like yours and back these 100%. Excessive warranty claims on specific items is how changes get made.
I will say if you have a chain that had some initial stretch and then stopped you are OK. If your chain continues to stretch I would get a new one, that chain will never be right.
I know that the chain hitting that nub inside the case isn't right, but in the end I dont think it is as huge a deal as we make it. A larger top gear would probably cure it.
I know quality hyvo gears and chains are expensive, but that may be the fix for continuing chain stretch/ upper bushing wear.

Check these upper gears out out.

Yes those are beautiful and look to be top quality! Very nice

I agree that the larger diameter 22T also helps from keeping the cheap china chain from hitting that nub!

This second chain stretch took 4400 miles and was only half the stretch of the initial. I was fortunate to catch it when I did I guess. I do try and inspect my chaincase twice per season!! These are High maintenance sleds, and thanks to TY, I do realize that.

Someone had brought up that point concerning the better CAT gears which have bigger tops and smaller bottoms gears.

Sorry to hear about your premature top bearing problem by running your chain too tight. Could be my next issue huh? I just am not sure about this whole chain rub/top gear that does very little but wears prematurely thing. But with my tight chain my cheap 22T still looks new with over 4K on it! Knock on wood Dennis!

 

[Motorhead]

My understanding is that there should be some slop between the chain tension screw and the spring tensioner itself.... If I'm reading this correctly you probably have no slop and in fact have the bolt doing quite a bit of the work?

As I had said, I will take a look at that and let you know, concerning your question!

To start off with, my finger tight is very tight.

It takes about 1 1/8 turn out for that bolt to just touch against the spring tensioner wheel bracket. And with little force on the chain there seems to be my perfect amount of chain slop allowed. At 1.5 turns out it has about 1/8” of what you called slop between the adjustment bolt and the wheel cage. With that 1/8” of slop you can push on the chain with your finger and move the chain quite a bit, I would say 1/4 - 3/8” and that does not take much force to do because the spring force is not much, and once it touches the bolt it cannot go any further. At the 1 1/8 turn back position the chain movement is much less, about 1/8 - 1/4” until the bolt and bracket wheel keep it from going any further.
At 1 turn back, the bolt does have some force on the wheel bracket and the chain slop is very minimal, any less then 1 and the chain does get tighter, much tighter!

Now for the opposite, like what happens when your 1.5 turns to 2 or 3 because of chain stretch. The chain slop gets much worse fast and it’s easy to see why that loose chain can cause rubbing or chaffing problems to the inside of your chaincase. I can just imagine that chain slapping around every time one utilizes the brakes or gets on the throttle.

Anyways that is not my first time looking at this during reassembly, and I like the 1 turn out which allows for a bit of chain stretch and hopefully keep it from going more then 1.5 out!

Someone else may want to allow for more chain slap much like the manual wants.


By no means am I saying that my way is correct or better, just saying it is where I like mine.

 

[cannondale27]

Yes those are beautiful and look to be top quality! Very nice

I agree that the larger diameter 22T also helps from keeping the cheap china chain from hitting that nub!

This second chain stretch took 4400 miles and was only half the stretch of the initial. I was fortunate to catch it when I did I guess. I do try and inspect my chaincase twice per season!! These are High maintenance sleds, and thanks to TY, I do realize that.

Someone had brought up that point concerning the better CAT gears which have bigger tops and smaller bottoms gears.

Sorry to hear about your premature top bearing problem by running your chain too tight. Could be my next issue huh? I just am not sure about this whole chain rub/top gear that does very little but wears prematurely thing. But with my tight chain my cheap 22T still looks new with over 4K on it! Knock on wood Dennis!

Where is anyone getting cheap China chain? As far as I know all the Chains in Yamaha and now Cat are Borg Warner. Thats a brand. Not cheap chain.

 

[Motorhead]

Where is anyone getting cheap China chain? As far as I know all the Chains in Yamaha and now Cat are Borg Warner. Thats a brand. Not cheap chain.

Well from what I have heard, many of the not so well manufactured parts on the sled like the primary rollers, bearings, wheels are cheaply made China manufactured. And if I do a search on this site I will find mention of chaincase components that are not of good quality! So... But either way, my chain stretched like no other that I have ever had, right from after 500 mile easy break in!

I do have my case open at the moment and I shall take a look at the chain.

Will it have Borg’s name on it, and are you sure that they did not use China for cost saving manufacturing like many companies are doing.

 

[cannondale27]

Well from what I have heard, many of the not so well manufactured parts on the sled like the primary rollers, bearings, wheels are cheaply made China manufactured. And if I do a search on this site I will find mention of chaincase components that are not of good quality! So... But either way, my chain stretched like no other that I have ever had, right from after 500 mile easy break in!

I do have my case open at the moment and I shall take a look at the chain.

Will it have Borg’s name on it, and are you sure that they did not use China for cost saving manufacturing like many companies are doing.

Yea I hear you. I guess I assumed the BorgWarner listing under Cats parts and the tooth pattern/chain profile are a BorgWarner Patent but I am no expert. I do see some good in the system. Gears are hugely improved hardness wise from junk Cat used to run. The roller although faulty machining and Loctiting is really a quality piece other than the arm itself.

Anyone ever notice how the bung the tensioner swings on is tapered and wears? I wonder if the roller is actually hitting the chain straight? The top gear bushing wear at a taper bothers me. I think if we find why it wears at a taper we will solve the wear?

 

[Motorhead]

My sled is partially assembled but with chaincase being open and with all put back together and ready for the cover, all I can come up with on my chain is MRSE. That is stamped on the side of links that I can see without taking it off !

My new bearing and old brake side bearings did have China on them. Suspension wheels are USA, and the 22T that I purchase 2 years ago is a Borg made in Canada according to the packaging it came in. I put the original 21T in that so I was able to look. That 22T with around 4K on it, the bushing still looks new. The 21T with I think? 1400 miles was starting to show thru that grey coating a bit!

I say China sourcing because it has become very prevalent in our country, and much of it goes unnoticed!

Bought a powered reclining couch and love seat. Had to wait 9-12 weeks for delivery because of the color my wife wanted, (Not brown). Sales lady talked about this well known USA company and how they build to order in that special color. We got it delivered while I was out of town working! Once home I got underneath all 5 reclining components to adjust for longer legs, about 2-3” of adjustments. Guess what I saw “Made In China”.

So yea, I guess I think China when I hear and see cheap components as do many others on here also !!

 

[SPM]

I'm going back together with chaincase. What's the common practice, reuse red rubber seal or replace it every time?

 

[74Nitro]

Yes those are beautiful and look to be top quality! Very nice

I agree that the larger diameter 22T also helps from keeping the cheap china chain from hitting that nub!

This second chain stretch took 4400 miles and was only half the stretch of the initial. I was fortunate to catch it when I did I guess. I do try and inspect my chaincase twice per season!! These are High maintenance sleds, and thanks to TY, I do realize that.

Someone had brought up that point concerning the better CAT gears which have bigger tops and smaller bottoms gears.

Sorry to hear about your premature top bearing problem by running your chain too tight. Could be my next issue huh? I just am not sure about this whole chain rub/top gear that does very little but wears prematurely thing. But with my tight chain my cheap 22T still looks new with over 4K on it! Knock on wood Dennis!

The Cat gear set up is bigger top and bigger bottom also, 24/50 which is a lower overall ratio. Some Winder models also had this set up. I installed a 48 on the bottom of mine.

 

[Motorhead]

I'm going back together with chaincase. What's the common practice, reuse red rubber seal or replace it every time?

I have been in my chaincase many times on my 2017 Winder. The Rubber O ring type gasket that stays with the cover when you take it off, can be reused many times!

But mine is black and it stays in the cover. I would not try to take it out for cleaning. Those type have a way of growing once taken out, so putting them in the freezer to shrink can be a pain.

Red huh?

 

[scooterwj]

mine is red as well and I have reused it a few times so far

 

[cannondale27]

Red is the newer gasket. Supposedly better sealing. I have reused my original black one at least 6 times no issues.

 

[cannondale27]

Well from what I have heard, many of the not so well manufactured parts on the sled like the primary rollers, bearings, wheels are cheaply made China manufactured. And if I do a search on this site I will find mention of chaincase components that are not of good quality! So... But either way, my chain stretched like no other that I have ever had, right from after 500 mile easy break in!

I do have my case open at the moment and I shall take a look at the chain.

Will it have Borg’s name on it, and are you sure that they did not use China for cost saving manufacturing like many companies are doing.

Here from the 2019 Tech Spec Manual

 

[Turboflash]

My sled is partially assembled but with chaincase being open and with all put back together and ready for the cover, all I can come up with on my chain is MRSE. That is stamped on the side of links that I can see without taking it off !

My new bearing and old brake side bearings did have China on them. Suspension wheels are USA, and the 22T that I purchase 2 years ago is a Borg made in Canada according to the packaging it came in. I put the original 21T in that so I was able to look. That 22T with around 4K on it, the bushing still looks new. The 21T with I think? 1400 miles was starting to show thru that grey coating a bit!

I say China sourcing because it has become very prevalent in our country, and much of it goes unnoticed!

Bought a powered reclining couch and love seat. Had to wait 9-12 weeks for delivery because of the color my wife wanted, (Not brown). Sales lady talked about this well known USA company and how they build to order in that special color. We got it delivered while I was out of town working! Once home I got underneath all 5 reclining components to adjust for longer legs, about 2-3” of adjustments. Guess what I saw “Made In China”.

So yea, I guess I think China when I hear and see cheap components as do many others on here also !!

MRSE stands for Morse whuch is owned by Borg Warner.