I've been getting my 02 Scrammy ready for a big trip this weekend and have gotten around to the chain.

I realize how to loosen the axle to make the adjustment, however, I've got the axle pulled rearward as far as I can get it (those 2 square posts on the axle are bumped up to the swing arm), and there is still a CRAP load of slack in the chain. There has to be almost 1.5-2" of travel and the top of the chain is resting on the rear swing arm.

Is this normal? How can you tell if you've got the proper slack in the chain? My service manual says that 3/8" is the proper amount of slack needed... do I need a new chain? Please help if you can, thanks guys!

 

Hi,

If it's like my 400 Sportsman, they say 1 1/4" slack is just about right.
I used a ratchet strap and pulled down the suspension until it was level
then adjusted the chain from there. When it was squated like that I adjusted
it to have about 1/2" slack. Seems awefully loose when the suspension is all
the way up huh ??? I had to triple check the manual, but that's right.

Good Luck !!! [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

 

Just for search purposes.

I had to buy a new chain. Some O-Rings were missing and I figured it couldn't hurt to try. There is the recommended 3/8" of displacement now and the chain is taught enough to not touch any of the components on the rear suspension. I compaired the 2 chains side-by-side and you could definatly tell it was stretched out. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

Also, rotating the axle forward (as in the vehicle moving forward) tightens up the chain. I read a post or 2 on here that say to move the tires in the reverse direction which is incorrect. In hindsite, this should have been an easy fix... lessons learned [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]

BTW, someone posted a reply on here regarding getting the clip engaged on the master link. He suggested using a 10mm nut and vise grips to compress the o-rings for about 10 minutes. The technique worked great!!

 

When tightening the chain, I found that when you turn the axle, it gets tighter to a point, then loosens off a bit. So it isnt really all the way tight if it is turned all the way, it is all the way tight just before it is turned all the way.

I recently had the same problem on my 250's, and some new chains showed that the old ones were way stretched out.

 

depending on the current position of your rear, you may have to go forward to tighten or reverse to tighten, it is just an offset axle so it will tighten in one direction for 180 degres and then start to loosen it back up.

 

^^Thats what I tried to say lol