8X8 response chains question

[sozo13]

I recently got a 2006 response with 132 hrs on it ..this is my first atv in 20 yrs so consider me a total newbie .
I been checking everything i can find on the forums that are known issues with used argos.. so far the bearings and everything seem to be in good shape . but i have 2 questions that i can seem to find a good clear answer on.

1. I have one chain that seems to be way out of adjustment/stretched or something..the passenger side right under the floor pan its the 2nd chain from the front and extends from the trans to right under the front of the seat area ...but this side is WAY sloppy on top compared to the driver side ...it seems to be normal on the bottom part but the portion on top of the sprockets has much more slop that any other chain in the system...which brings me to question 2

2. the "self adjusting" chain tensioners these apply pressure to the bottom of the chains ..the "Ratcheting" piece is raised and they appear to be resting at the lower part of the "slots" they ride up and down in.
Am i correct in assumeing these are in the position that has the most adjustment left ...meaning i should be ok with chain strech at the moment?
if so do these normally adjust well on there own assuming you keep them clean?

as i mentioned the chain seems to be ok on the bottom part of the loop but the segment of chain on top seems to have about 3x the slack of the other chains.
the service manuals mention removeing linnks installing half links ect...does this sound like the needed fix here ...and is there anything that could cause this i need to check into?

all bearing seem solid, it seems like it was somewhat maintained by previous owners ..

hope i didnt sound like a total idiot im still learning

any help /advice is welcomed ..thanks

[wern]

Hi there,
If you suspect you have one stretched chain a simple test is to remove that chain and another good one. Lie both of them down one a flat surface and push the chain links together.They should be the same length.Now pull the chain links apart.The difference is the clearance between rollers links and pins.Obviously the stretched chain will be longer than its partner.
Hope this helps.

[ARGOJIM]

Try to jack up that side of the machine and put the parking brake on for that side, now roll the 3rd tire backwards til the slack is on the bottom and hold the tire with your knee and pull up on the adjuster. That should remove slack, these adjusters need to be periodically pulled up to adjust, if the slack comes out and returns after first ride you may have a bad adjuster with the teeth rounded and not holding.

[sozo13]

ahh thanks ill try that first chance i can ..that sounds like it might work ..that was the thing i couldnt get, it seemed like there was room for alot of adjustment on the tensioner ..but it wasnt doing anything for the slack on top and the bottom didnt seem to have any.