how do i shorten my chain on my 97' xplorer 300 4x4. when we bought it i took it out ridin with my girlfriend and the chain started poping and i was in some thick *** mud and the chain and sprocket just started missing and so i stoped trying to get out so i wouldnt strip the sprocket. my friend came and pulled me with his truck. i just dont really know how to go about shortening the chain. what do i do?

 

you need to replace both sprockets and get a new o-ring chain

 

Bing is correct, just let me add this so you understand why--- once your chain has streched to the point you can't adjust it anymore, you can NOT just take a link out and keep using it. The space between the pins in a chain are at a specific distance to match the tooth spacing on a sprocket, thats why we have 428, 520, and 530 style chains and sprockets. When the chain has streched enough to go out of adjustment, the chain will no longer ride in the bottom of the valley between sprocket teeth, and rapid sprocket wear occurs. If you just replace the sprocket,it will be junk in short order, At this point, the only safe alternative is a complete chain and sprocket set. Same with taking a link out, yes, you shorten the chain, but the distance between the pins is the real problem, so it won't match the sprocket any more, and teeth start chipping off and rounding off. Sorry to be long winded on this, just wanted you to understand why you shouldn't merely take a link out to fix your loose chain.

 

also, if you keep using it, the chain can break and tear your tranny up

you will be so happy with a new properly adjusted/lubricated chain/sprockets.

they will last a long time if taken care of