My 98 Scrambler 500 4X4 chain keeps loosening up. I had to tighten it before, and I still have to do it after replacing it with a new chain. My dealer said it should only have to be retightened once after replacing it. They also said the swingarm may be loose, but I checked and it isn't. When I checked, the adjusting bolts at the rear axle had backed off, so I tightened them rode it and it's loose again?! When you back up it actually will skip on the front sprocket, but the sprocket doesn't look bad. It does move around a little on it's shaft, side to side. I'm wondering if the chain guide has something to do with it. Can somebody who knows scramblers please help? I don't want to take it to the dealer and spend a lot of money.

 

You need to be sure you are torquing the bolts correctly. The 2 small bolts near the brake guard are only supposed to be torqued about 12 ftlbs, while the large bolts on the swingarm need to be about 60 ftlbs. It may also help to add lockwashers to the swingarm bolts.

 

thanks, I just got a torque wrench so I'll try that. The bolts aren't always loose, though. It was once, but usually it is just the chain. It isn't supposed to keep stretching.

 

Adjusting the chain is still gonna be part of your regular maintenance, but like Kevin stated, get the torques right, that should help. Also, you can use a little loctite blue on the threads of the bolts for the brake caliper.

Ken

 

gee, I wouldn't think I'd have to tighten it up after every ride. I think something must be wrong for it to keep happening this often, otherwise I would have heard more about it. It's my wife's ride and it doesn't get really hammered on, just regular trail riding. As far as the torque goes, I didn't check it with a torque wrench last time, but I cranked it down real hard, so I know I went beyond 60 lbs.
I just looked at it and noticed the three bolts going through the sprocket are loose! I wonder if that was part of my problem, or if my problem caused that to loosen up too. I'm getting frustrated, think I'll trade it in.
Thanks for the input guys.