super tight chain tensioner

[plott hound]

since we are slow at work ive been servicing an argo for a buddy of mine.its a 2014 700 avenger.today I removed the tracks and indexed the tires for him,greased the bearings and lubed the chains.checked all the chains for tightness and they were all good accept for one rear,it was so damn tight it was eating the tensioner pad.theres no damn way the sumditch got that way on its own,apparently the dealer told my bud that he backed the rear tensioners off to get some slack.it looks to me that he cranked the right hand one the wrong way.how in the heck can I get some leverage on the adjuster to back it off one notch? that sucker is as tight as a G string on a finlanders mandolin.

thanks

[ARGOJIM]

They are not designed to be loosened though I imagine it's possible with some expletives , remove the master link (hopefully with less expletives), slack tensioner and put it together.

[glen1971]

Not sure if it's possible, but can you cut the old tensioner pad out to gain some slack so you can take it apart? Then set it properly and replace the pad?

[plott hound]

thanks guys,im thinkin I'm gonna have to remove the track again then follow your advice.damn chain has eaten halfway through the pad.tell ya what though.i can get a track off and on again I mere minutes.lol

[Buzz]

you can see which way the the shark-fin tensioner needs to rotate to release the notched part from the frame. Just take a large flat screwdriver placed on the shark fin and tap the notched part with a hammer the correct direction and the notched parted should release from the frame. It might help it you can have someone rotate the tire by hand so that the tensioner side of the chain is as loose as it can get and you can leverage the tensioner up while you do this. It's even better if you can hit both sides of the notched shark fin body at the same time, you just need to use something wider. Hopefully that makes sense, I'm going from memory.

[plott hound]

I got that sucker unhooked with a 2x4" and a prybar.adjuster was on the 1st notch and boy was it tight.will get a new pad in there tomorrow after I get the chain removed.

cheers

[plott hound]

pulled the track off today,removed the chain and installed the new nylon tensioner.boy is it tight.i tie wrapped the tensioner down so it cant advance or I'm sure it will eat the new pad.wonder why the heck that rear chain is so mothertrucking tight?

[glen1971]

pulled the track off today,removed the chain and installed the new nylon tensioner.boy is it tight.i tie wrapped the tensioner down so it cant advance or I'm sure it will eat the new pad.wonder why the heck that rear chain is so mothertrucking tight?

Is the chain the right length by counting the links?