Over all,im very pleased with my Xplorer.It is a very versatile 4x4.I have worked it hard,played with it,hill climbed,and done some trail riding.It handled all of this stuff flawlessly,however,Im having to adjust the damn chain to often.I have 700 miles on it now.Probably between 15-18 chain adjustments in these amount of miles.The chain and sprockets remain in excellant condition.

There is not another chain driven quad out there that is cleaner than mine.I clean,and lube it after allmost every ride.Since I frequent the mud more than most,I really maintain the chain.

I have complained to the dealer about the frequent chain adjustments numerous times.He charged me 1/2 hr labor to clean debree from under the Concentric drive,at least,thats what he said.Well needless to say,it did NO good.Im still adjusting this freaking chain alot.Im torqing the two 5/8 bolts to 50lbs.The dealer is suppose to call Polaris on this problem.I havent heard JACK from them yet.

I really enjoy this quad alot,I need to know from other Xplorer owners if this is normal to have to adjust these chains this often?Perhaps im doing something wrong?

I hope not.Im allready starting to regret not having complete shaft drive.Is the new Kawasaki v-twin[ALL SHAFT DRIVEN] 4x4 in my immediate future?I hope not,
Bill

 

I feel your pain, Bill. At first, I had to adjust my chain after every ride. But lately it's not been that bad. About every third ride. I'm at the 500mi mark. Like you I'm **** about maintenance and cleaning. So I don't let it get to loose. I've probably had to do mine 10 times so far.

 

bill
is the chain streching that much that it needs to be adjusted? would locktight help keep the bolts to stay tight?

i dont think that u would be able to get the kawie650 intill at least february or march.

later
jon

 

Bill
I sorta had the same problem. My chain didnt need adjustment for a long time after I bought my Xplorer but after I adjusted it the first time it seemed like every time I rode it, it needed to be adjusted again.
The first thing I did was to remove the trailer hitch that bolts to the rear bearing hub. The hitch is really hard to compress therefore you dont get a good tight adjustment on the rear hub thingy..did that make any since? Anyway that helped a lot.
I was torquing mine to 60ft/lbs but it still seemed to loosen up too much too soon. So I stoped using a torque wrench and started using a 1/2 inch ratchet and socket and I tighten mine till the veins in my forehead are about to pop. Since then it rarely needs a chain adjustment anymore.

The problem{atleast in my case} is that the rear hub kept turning inside the brace causing the chain to loosen again. To check yours...adjust your chain to where you like it,then take a pocket knife are screwdriver and scratch a mark on the hub between the gap at the rear of the brace. Go for a hard ride then check to see if your mark has moved and if the chain is loose again. If it is I would say your problem,like mine, is that you arnt getting the bolts tight enough.

Just My 2 Cents
Andy G

 

Andy said it pretty good. Maybe I am not as precise on these types of maintenance as you but I hardly ever adjusted my chains. Sure, they were a bit loose once in a great while...or too tight on certain occasions, but all in all it kept rolling great. Only had to change rear sprocket at 2100 miles.

I too tighten the rear bolts till my wrists hurt!

 

Andy,
Thinking about your post?Its makes damn good sense.Im going to remove the hitch in the morning and re-adjust everthing.Maybe its NOT allowing me to tighten down on the hub enough.Im even going to tighten the bolts down to 60 ft lbs and see what happens.I hope this works,
Bill

 

i got a tight spot in my chain, and i adjust it, roll my Tblazer a few feet, and WTF, it's loose, roll it some more, and its tight, so then i find a happy medium, but if it ain't right it loosens up after a few miles. Maybe this'll help, or maybe you think i'm a rambling idiot, but there's my 2 cents worth

 

Mine needed adjusting at 100, 300, 500 miles. Then I really started to crank down on the rear hub clamp bolts. Since then I go about 500 miles between adjustments to my current 3500 miles. I must say I lube it often and rarely go through deep mud.
One more tip. Lube the chain immediately AFTER you ride it, unless the chain is muddy. Don't know why, but seems to work better. My theory is the chain is warm & lets the lube penetrate better.
Farmr

 

Andy's post makes a lot of sense. Since the Xplorer 400 now has concentric drive, it shouldn't need a whole lot of chain adjusting. Keep in mind that there's a lot of power going to that chain, and the chain is turning big tires and pushing weight of a 4x4. Be glad they went to shaft drive in the front instead of having 3 chains to adjust!

 

I had trouble with my chain getting loose also till I started using a large pair of channel locks
to hold the rear end while tightening the bolts.I
also don't tourqe the bolts I use a air rachet.I
did this on my 6x6, explorer 250 and will do the
same on my 400 explorer.I hope this helps.


TRUCK