Hey guys, i was thinking about purchasing a '99 SPORT 400 and i have heard that it is good to get a chain tensioner for jumping so that you would not snap your chain. Does anybody in the forum have one, are they really neccessary, if so what are the best ones???? Thanx guys!!!!

BMXATV10

 

The 99 Sport has concentric drive. In my opinion, the chain tensioner would be a waste of money on it. My buddy has one on a 98 Sport, and he breaks the spring on it every other ride.

 

hey bmxatv10~

I've had a Hot Seat chain tensioner on my 96' Scrambler for about a year. My Scrambler does not have concentric drive, so I needed it more than you would on the Sport 400. So far I have gone through 3 springs, a roller, and the tensioner frame. So basically, I have replaced every part of the tensioner except for the bolts! The frame was made of aluminum, and since there is such pressure put on it by the springs, it had been worn all the way through. I fabricated a new frame from steel, so it shouldn't wear out anymore. Was it worth the money? Yes and no. Yes because I actually am more confident when I jump now because I don't really worry about landing too hard and snapping the chain. No because for 50 bucks, I expected a product that would last more than a year or 800 miles! If I had a Scrambler WITH concentric drive, the chain tensioner would not have even been considered. That's what I think about that.

 

I wouldn't say you DON'T need a chain tensioner on the concentric drives. There have been plenty of horror stories in this forum about snapped chains on concentric drive models. Just because something is supposed to work doesn't mean it will. If it were my money,I'd put one on as cheap insurance.

 

I think Mike Chero said it best!

The concentric drive does work but quickly becomes overwhelmed but a sudden and forcefull strain. I think the spring roller is a great idea it lets the concentric have time to catch up you do not loosen your chain as much as a normal one though.
This is my thoughts on this subject and as Mike Chero Said cheap insurance

 

WIscrambler,

I do know what you mean about the flimsiness of the chain tensioners. I'm on my second set (one for the Sport and one for the Trailblazer) the most important thing I've discovered is that if you keep them clean (clean them after every ride and grease them) they'll last a lot longer. It took almost three years to wear my first set out, and that was with out cleaning and greasing them.

You're right, they should have made them out of steel.

 

Bmxatv10, are you planning on doing alot of jumping? If you are, Polaris might not be the way to go. They are heavy for jumping. I have snapped several chains with my concentric drive. I keep my chain loose now & haven't had any problems but then I've cooled it with the jumping. I love my Scrambler but if I wanted to do alot of jumping I think I would look at another quad. The Sport is a nice quad but just make sure it suits your riding needs.

 

Do you think i could run alittle more slack in my chain and it might help to keep it from snapping from lading hard off of a jump????

Thanx

BMXATV10

 

Do you think i could run alittle more slack in my chain and it might help to keep it from snapping from lading hard off of a jump????

Thanx

BMXATV10

 

bmxatv10,

It's kind of a "catch 22" situation. If you run slack in the chain you run the risk of the chain coming off the sprockets. If you run too little slack, the chains have a tendency to break. A good chain tensioner will take up the slack so you can run your chain loose.