Chain Tensioner

[ve1sar]

Hi All,

I have a new to me 2012 Argo 8x8 Avenger 750 HDI. THE Argo has 825 kl on it.
Recently the third and fouth chains on the passenger side started pounding when I make turns. The rachet type tensioners for both chains do not take up the slack in the chain. The tenionsers don't travel to the next level because the chain is to tight. Does anyone have an answer. Thanks Paul

[msafi65]

If it has tracks the tires may be sized wrong. The tensioners should jump up when mid chain play is about 3 inches. You can jack it up to release pressure on the chains and pull them up to the next notch. They may just be stuck in the slots. A small rock can jamb them up.

[Mike]

Hi All,

I have a new to me 2012 Argo 8x8 Avenger 750 HDI. THE Argo has 825 kl on it.
Recently the third and fouth chains on the passenger side started pounding when I make turns. The rachet type tensioners for both chains do not take up the slack in the chain. The tenionsers don't travel to the next level because the chain is to tight. Does anyone have an answer. Thanks Paul

If the tensioner doesn't move to the next level because the chain is too tight, just use the machine until the chain is stretched some more. Aren't those tensioners automatic anyway? If not, when you are trying to adjust them, make sure you have the tires off the ground.

[Noel Woods]

This is a fairly common issue for some Argos. Its happened to me once or twice where the automatic adjuster didn't engage to the next position and tighten the chains accordingly. If you note excessive chain looseness, you can easily grab the adjuster by hand and pull it up to the next position. The spring sometimes get gummed up with debris or gunk. Also if you sometimes hear a strange click coming from the adjuster, its working and engaging to the next position, it drove me crazy the 1st time I heard the noise because it sounded like something had broken, but its the sound of the clicker ratcheting up tension.

[Mflagg73]

This is a fairly common issue for some Argos. Its happened to me once or twice where the automatic adjuster didn't engage to the next position and tighten the chains accordingly. If you note excessive chain looseness, you can easily grab the adjuster by hand and pull it up to the next position. The spring sometimes get gummed up with debris or gunk. Also if you sometimes hear a strange click coming from the adjuster, its working and engaging to the next position, it drove me crazy the 1st time I heard the noise because it sounded like something had broken, but its the sound of the clicker ratcheting up tension.

That same noise happened to me. Or at least Im thinking that might be what happened. I was trying to turn and then I heard the noise and thought maybe the chain jumped a tooth. Head it 2 times and then I playing with it a little while tonight and nothing this time... New argo owner by the way and just got it running...

[foxvalley]

You can also go backwards a little,this will put the slack in the bottom of the chain. then you can manually try to lift the adjuster to the next notch.

[ve1sar]

Thanks for the replies. I will have to put up with the noise until the chains go slack enough for the tensioners to work. Paul

[Typical]

I looked at mine today, I jacked the argo off the ground, , the bottom chain became loose, but I must be stupid because I can't figure out how o lift the adjuster. I can turn the piece where the teeth are, it is spring loaded, but what do you guys mean by lifting the assembly to tight the chain, a little help would be greatly appreciated,
PS: this is my first argo

[philipatmaxfour]

I looked at mine today, I jacked the argo off the ground, , the bottom chain became loose, but I must be stupid because I can't figure out how o lift the adjuster. I can turn the piece where the teeth are, it is spring loaded, but what do you guys mean by lifting the assembly to tight the chain, a little help would be greatly appreciated,
PS: this is my first argo

I think that the "piece with the teeth" is the semi circle shaped chain tensioner. Each step on that tensioner tightens the chain if you turn it the right way by lifting on the white nylon piece. You are on the right track if you have jacked the machine up.

[Typical]

So if I understand, I have to turn the semi circle piece with one hand while lifting the plastic with the other one, is this right

[jhayden]

This is happening to me too. The middle chain is very tight and its adjuster is uneven on either side of the chain. One snail type adjuster is on step one and the other is jammed up on step two. The chain is pushing it firmly that you cant lower the high adjuster down to the same step 1 like the other . I guess in time it will stretch so the other adjuster comes up to the same level.
The only fix I can see is to take off the chain so there is no tension on the adjuster to be able to reset it.. but who knows...hopefully someone cause I'm thinking if you did all that to loosen the chain..as soon as you got it all back together and started to drive it would go back up that one step cause it is just how they wear and move to the next step..one at a time on each side of the adjuster..but this unevenness causes it to stay tight and the adjuster doesnt seem to budge a hair...does anyone know anymore about this..mine has 145 hours on it .

[Noel Woods]

Lift the machine up off the ground and supported by blocks or by jacks, then roll the tires on one side back and forth to remove the slack or over tightness, once done then you should be able to manipulate that adjuster that is uneven on the chain. Once you grab it you can move it up or down to go into the proper position. No big deal, the adjusters do get off position occasionally. That should take care of the problem.

[jhayden]

Thanks noel, I'll try that out !

[jhayden]

Raised argo,turned wheels, still the chain was too tight to budge the adjuster. Had newly made/ground vise grips with me..easily got the master link out of chain and then the adjuster was easy to reset. But now I need a new master link clip..but you have to buy the whole link assembly. No big deal but I'm not sure to order a #60 or number 60h (heavy duty).I'd post a pic but cant figure out how to
Does anyone know?

[Noel Woods]

It should be a regular #60 master link unless someone changed to 60H. Either way it is wise to have extra master links with you as this is where the chain typically breaks. Master links are cheap enough.
I gave vice grips up long ago. I got a Tusk brand coil spring tensioner that works perfectly for #60 and 60h chain. I just connect the Tusk tensioner to the top of the chain and use a wrench to tighten it. It also works when the chain is too tight like you ran into, it can get enough slack to pull the master link it just has to be set further back on the chain. For folks with #50 chain the same tool works if you grind the width of the teeth down to fit the narrower space of #50 chain.