You guys are probably getting tired of my always asking questions, but heres another one. Sorry if I rattle on, just trying to explain what I've tried.

I have a 95 xplorer 400 that I bought used a couple of months ago. Today I finally got around to tightening the rear chain. I looked through the posts here and I also downloaded the 98 xplorer manual from polaris ( it was the oldest one they had). So I went ahead and followed all the instructions about lowering the rear of the quad, loosening the bolts and then I ran into a problem. Both the manual and some posts here say to insert a punch or screwdriver through the sproket into to axle housing. The diagram shows that its at the top, but I couldn't get it to work. I finally found a spot on the back that it went through, but then I couldn't roll the quad back to tighten the chain. If I just left it free I could roll it and get the chain decently tight, so I tried that. I tightened up the bolts and released the tie down that had the suspension collapsed and the second the quad came up the chain was looser than it was before I started.

So I looked through some posts here and found people talking about concentric and non concentric quads for certian years, and it looked like mine was non concentric. Still not even sure what that means though, so I decided to tru it without compressing the rear suspension. At first that seemed to do it, but then when I took the bike on a test spin, there was a clunk, and I checked, and sure enough, the chain was loose again. Can someone please tell me what I am doing wrong and how I am actually supposed to tighten the chain in this? Also, does anyone know where I can get the manual for this? All the ones I find are 96 or newer. Thanks.

 

I have a 93 350

As far as the rear chain goes I adjust it as follows.

Use a strap and compress the rear suspension so the drive sprocket, swingarm bushing and rear axel are all in a straight line. (This is the hard part.)

Then loosen up the two bolts that hold the rear axel berring housing. (loosen them up all the way but do not remove them)

Push the bike forward so all the chain slack is at the top of the chain.

Use a pipe wrench and turn the rear axel berring housing to adjust the chain tightness. (be carefull not to break the grease fitting)

When the proper tension is on the chain (I like mine about 0.5 inches play) tighten up the two bolts that hold the rear axel berring housing.

Then remove the strap and ride it.

Yes it will look loose when just sitting there. Loose is ok. it was designed that way. Tight will break things. Expensive things like transmission housings and stuff.

Concentric and non consentric refere to the placement of the drive sprocket and the swingarm berrings. A concentric one will not change the chain tension as much when compressing the rear suspension.

A non concentric system (like mine and I am 80% sure that yours is too) will make the chain looser with the suspension unloaded and tighter when pushing the rear of the quad down. that is why if you tighten it up too much it will break something when you take a jump.

Nothing wrong with loose. (up to a point) that is the way it is designed. If the appearance of a loose chain bothers you then you could get a chain tensioner. but remember that a chain tensioner is only a cosmetic fix. (I don't use one.) you still need to adjust and maintain.

 

ok sounds good, but I have a quick clarifying question. Do I turn the axel itself or the housing around it? Thanks ForestTrails!

 

You have to turn the grey housing that the axle rides in.

 

the little hole works good on mine there is 3 holes and it is the smallest one closest to the center

 

Why does Polaris choose to have such a goofy way to tighten the chain? Can't they come up with a better or more normal way of tightening the chain? I love my Polaris, but this is one complaint I have.

It takes some time and effort to tighten a Polaris chain. There is no way you could tighten your chain if you were out on the trails and needed to. Since they choose to have such a screwball way of tightening the chain shouldn't they supply the tools in the tool kit so you could possibly tighten it out on the trail if need be. The only thing they give you in the tool kit is the dumb rod on the spark plug wrench to put in the axle to lock it. Ever have that hole in the axle full of greasy debris? Try and get that metal dowel in the axle with any debris in the hole, you need to pressure wash the thing to clean it out before you can even try and get that dowel in there. I think they need to redesign the chain tension system and do like most other manufacturers and go with the threaded rod and lock nuts. That is something that can be done fairly easily. I am just venting some anger from some scratched nuckles while tightening my chain on my Trailboss.