Is it normal for there to be any play between the sprocket and the shaft it slides on? The sprocket seems to slide along the shaft about 1/8" each way. It doesn't seem right, but I have never had the chain off before to know if that is normal. Is it supposed to be a tight fit? The reason I ask is because the left bolt on the swing arm on my wife's Trail Boss came loose and the swing arm was shifting from side to side as well as the normal up-down travel for good long time. This caused all kinds of problem, one of which I am afraid was to the sprocket...???
I'm talking about the front sprocket, by the way. Rear one looks fine.

 

Most likely you just need to replace the front sprocket. They are usaually made of a weaker steel than the output shaft so they wear first. Now here is what I recomend, you replace both sprockets and the chain. The side to side stress caused wear and play in your chain on the sideplates themselve. Also it would cause weird and premature wearing on both the front and rear sprocket. I would tell you this on any machine and is not exclusive to Polarises. Good luck! [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]

 

the front sprocket is supposed to move side to side a little bit, mine does and has always done this. i do keep a little grease on it to keep the wear down on the internal splines. it never hurts to change sprockets but if you change one you might as well change them all with the chain. if you have one new component in the system, it will get worn out faster by the older worn parts. my 2 cents worth.

steve