I put my 25" tires on front and rear, and I'm going to gear it down a bit now. I know we've had this discussion several times, about how much you can gear the back w/o messing up 4x4 engaugement...

but...

I have decided on either changing to a 12 front or a 40 rear. Which one is easier to change. Would the bigger rear affect a skid plate at all because I think I'd like the slightly lower gearing.

It ends up that the 40 rear is a tad lower than changing the front to a 12. The 12-36 combo leaves 12.6% lower gearing in the front, and the 13-40 combo leave 9.9% lower gearing in the front (both numbers consider the change to the same size tire).


Thanks,

Mike

 

Can someone at least tell me if it's easier to replace a front or rear sprocket?

 

Probably the rear on a Scrambler. The front is buried under a ton of Sh_t! If all you are going to do is re-gear to compensate for the taller tires, I'd say you will be fine.

 

ive replaced mine, the rears alot easier

 

I too am doing the same thing, but I decided on changing the front instead of the back. I ordered a 12 tooth for the front. I originally thought you may have to shorten the chain. I guess since nobody has said anything, you may not have to. The diameter changes alot more with the back than it does for the front. I am doing it this weekend. Maybe I have underestimated the job, but it just looks like you take the snap ring off and slide it out. Maybe there is not enough room to slide it off. I hope there is.

 

there is enough room for it to slide off, that front sprocket comes off easy as well if u have the right tool, i should put a picture of my toothless front sprocket on my page[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-tongue.gif[/img]but when u use pop the snap ring off the sprocket just slides off

 

XtremeSkier is right,
I changed my front to a 12 tooth a few weeks ago, Loosen the chain first of course, the hardest part is getting the snap ring off and with the right tool it isn't that bad, it's a little tight but the rest is cake.

 

yeah wish we would of had the right tool for it, we worked on it for 4 HOURS! man it was a b!tch but the next mornin we went Sears and picked up the tool we needed and had it off in 5 minutes, so make sure u have the right stuff cuz if u dont ur gonna sit there cussin and u'll be all pissed the rest of the day lol

 

just wanted to let you know that the front sprocket is much easier to get to. Also you do get a better gearing ratio over changing out the rear sprocket. To get to the same ratio, you have to drop 2 teeth compaired to one up front.

 

Thumper33,
Go buy a pair of snap ring pliers that has the nose of the pliers bent maybe 30 to 45 degrees. It will take you about 5 minutes to change the front sprocket. One snap ring and it will slide off the spline. You have enough room to change it. Just don't send the snap ring flying across the garage floor when you take it off. Might be hard to find.