I just came back from the pine barrens in NJ. I was supposed to stay till Sunday but as I was riding today I heard an awfull noise coming from the trans area. I inspected the trans, hubs and chain and saw nothing unusual. The only time I heard the noise was under load. Again I inspected the trans, hubs and chain to find nothing wrong. Then I made sure the chain was not loose and the sprocket was O.K. As you know the sprocket is only visible from the back. I noticed that the sprocket was kind of shiny. I brushed the debris of the sprocket to inspect the sprocket further and much to my dismay I saw that all the teeth were broken off.

Has anyone seen anything like this ?

Maybe I ride to hard ?

What maybe the possible causes ?

Thanks
Chris Picciotto
99 Scrambler 500

 

Cris,
Yeah, after a year and a half of HARD riding and LOTS of mud, my front sprocket wore out. Mine is a 97 model and doesn't have concentric drive... so it supposedly wears more than the new ones.
Anyway, I just replaced it all as a set... the front sprocket, chain, and axle sprocket. I tried to get a Sidewinder Stainless axle sprocket... but at the time they were just coming onto the market so I ended up with the stock Polaris pieces.
Good Luck!!!....

 

Chris; The Sprocket that you speak of is called the countershaft sprocket. It is normally the first to go on any chain driven quad. It turns many more Rpms than the rear sprocket and gets most of the wear. I have changed many of them there is a stack of them in my shop all worn out to diffrent degrees , I have seen and heard the sound you speak of when the teeth strip out it really makes a fuss. The sprocket is rather cheap and easy to change if you want to do it yourself. One thing you might try when you replace it to give the chain and sprockets longer lif is to not use any lubricant that will attract dirt and make it stick to the chain ,this is really hard on the sprockets and the chain. Just use something like WD-40 to keep rust from forming on the chain or use what I always have when I had Chain drives, Maximas, "Chain Wax" This is the best stuff I have ever used on chains . It not only helped with the life of the chain and sprockets but it reduced the amount of adjustments I had to make on the chains. Good product, I think Jack Schultz uses it and recommends it to.

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Kevin Gowdy aka Kagey 1999 Polaris Magnum 500

 

Kagey,
Where do you find this chain wax?
I use Honda O-ring chain lube. It's not too bad. BelRay is kinda heavy. The dirt likes to stick to it.
c-ya,

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Andrew Thomas

'99 Scrambler 400 & '99 Trailblazer, both with RCR mods.

 

Andrew; I have gotten it from my dealer but the last I got I ordered out of the dennis Kirk catalog. Maxima ussually has ads in Dirt Wheels and other atv magazines to.

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Kevin Gowdy aka Kagey 1999 Polaris Magnum 500

 

Are there any alternatives to using the stock sprocket ?

Do i need a chain breaker or any other special tool ?

I would like to change the swingarm and rear shock so maybe i'll do this all at once.

Chris Picciotto
99 Scrambler 500

 

Check with sidewinder for aftermarket sprockets also Dennis Kirk has a good selection. No special tools are required maybe a good set of snap ring pliers though would make it easier.

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Kevin Gowdy aka Kagey 1999 Polaris Magnum 500

 

FYI-I have been using Maxima too, and love it. It was reccamended to me by more than one shop. It doesn't seem to sling off the chain either.

[This message has been edited by quad_man (edited 10-17-1999).]