Frontier Front Axles...

[Silverbullet75]

Hi,
I have a question about the front axles on the Frontier. According to the manual, ALL models have a "floating" sprocket on the front axle, which requires no set screw. I'm really nervous about this and need confirmation from another Frontier owner or knowledeable person. I got home from a fun morning of play and noticed that the sprocket on the left front had slid about 3-4 inches over! I grabbed it and slid it 3-4 inches the other direction. I saw the hole for a set screw on the sprocket, and the counter-sink on the shaft-spline that line the sprocket up perfectly 90deg with the chain. So, it "seems" like it NEEDS the set screw.
So, I added one. (found at Lowes). Now wondering if I need to remove it.
BTW... the part in the manual where it says NOT to use a set screw was in the IMPORTANT! section...
Help!
I don't want to break anything by putting a screw in, or not putting one in.
Also... found that no screw was in the RIGHT side axle either! But, that one does not slide around..
Thanks!

[MaxRules]

The front axle has always been a floating sprocket on all models. Clear up this one for me though, you said the sprocket moved 3-4 inches? That's impossible since there is a chain on it (hopefully!). A very slight move left or right is all the chain will allow and the design works very well and does not need a set screw. I don't see how they could move more than 1/4" either way without throwing the chain.

[Silverbullet75]

rephrase...

Sorry..
Let me rephrase:
The sprocket moves about a total of 3-4 inches.

Something like this:

[====X====]
.......^ H ^
..........H
..........H
..........H
..........H

Ok... that's a very crude drawing... sorry! LOL

[Roger S]

Well Brandon and I are about being able to slide the sprocket that far. Sounds like a very loose chain.

On my Response, if you put set screws in the front sprockets, it looks ok at a glance, but using a straight edge it's off by a lot. I think the inner sprocket on the idler/counter shaft is not on the same centerline as the other inner sprockets. And if the frontier is like older argos, the lateral positioning of the idler shaft can vary an 1/8" depending on where the bearing set screw is tightened.

I would take the set screw out and worry about why the chain's so loose I like to use anti seize on the axle where the sprocket rides, as a lube.

[Silverbullet75]

According to the dealer's mechanic, the front axles don't have tensioners and basically don't matter if they are loose.
???

[MaxRules]

That clears it up. I would remove the set screw and leave it as it was. Like Roger said, the set screw might cause a slight misalignment. I am just as suprised as you are that the design works, but it does.

[Silverbullet75]

Video

Ok .. here's a video of the problem.
Still ok as is?

[greggv2007]

loose sprocket

It does look like it has an excessive amount of movement. Myabe you could put a collar on the shaft to restict the amount it can move

[eddieb1965]

Looks like the chain may be worn out,I dont think a new chain would let the sprocket move near that far.I would replace the chain ,for no more than it would cost. Eddie

[lewis]

Silver, the Avenger has no set screws in these locations either. Looked at mine it does not move like that. I think the guys are right, looks like the chain has a lot of stretch in it.

Roger made a very good point: anti-seize.

Lewis

[Silverbullet75]

update..

Hi,
I went riding for about 3 hours yesterday in the 108 degree heat. I had removed the set screws that I added, and I guess all is good. When I got back to where I had parked, I removed the firewall and floor pan and drove around a bit to see what the chains were doing. The sprocket that I was complaining about seemed to be ok... it was in a centered position.
Now, the only complaint I STILL have since day 1 is the chain slap! The darned chains keep slapping against the floor pan! It's SO annoying and embarrassing! Also, I found the source of another annoying noise... every time I turn the handlebars (while driving) it makes a loud "clack"... which turns out to be the front chains that have a lot of slack. When I turn, it does a harsh removal of slack in the chain... making the "clack" sound. So... I'm looking for a good chain tensioner system to add to both the front and middle chains. The rear doesn't give me any problems.
Thanks!

[philipatmaxfour]

Frontier front chain loose-slaps floorboards

Dear mr. Bullet-The Argo Avenger that I got from the factory in june 2007 has tensioners on the front chains. All Avengers since come without. The factory says you don,t need them. These chain tensioners are a bit different than the earlier ones. The teeth are fewer and farther apart,get a stronger bite,but the chain has to be more slack before they automatically click up to the next step. The ones from the idler shaft to the second axle,the adjuster is just behind the gas tank were the last to come into play after about 75 hours. I think Argo needed to keep the adjusters on the Avenger front axles.
Question: did Frontiers ever have adjusters on the front axle chain??? If so maybe you could order them, if not, maybe the Avenger adjusters are the same? (I think so) If your local dealer is not easy to reach,you could call Brandon Price. Hope this helps. Good luck

[Silverbullet75]

That's an interesting idea!
No, Frontiers did not have any chain adjusters on the front.
Can you tell me if the Avengers tensioner is a "top push down" type?
I'm also looking for something for the center axle chains... need a top push down type... something to keep the top of the chain from hitting the bottom of the floor.

Thanks!

[xrover]

Not sure if this was covered in the thread but Argo changed the tensioners for the 07 and up model year (some late 06 may have got them as well). The original tensioners had very small steps on them which did not create enough slack in the chain. The new ones have about 5 steps on them.

As for the initial issue in the thread, the front sprocket is meant to float that way. If you are getting excessive chain slap then I would check
- your tensioners where you have them to see how much wear is on them and replace the pads - if old style then replace with new style
- chain tension (the machine is not old/used enough to have worn chains) which may require removing a link

Good luck.

[philipatmaxfour]

Argo chain tensioners

That's an interesting idea!
No, Frontiers did not have any chain adjusters on the front.
Can you tell me if the Avengers tensioner is a "top push down" type?
I'm also looking for something for the center axle chains... need a top push down type... something to keep the top of the chain from hitting the bottom of the floor.

Thanks!

Dear Silverbullet- I will have to pull the floor out and look or I'll say something that isn't true re: the adjusters. About your chains slapping the bottom of the floor. My back chain did that, especially just as I went to turn,sounded terrible, like something was really wrong. Once the chain loosened enough to let the adjuster come into play,wow ,problem solved.That adjuster is a " bottom push up" model for sure,but by pushing up on the bottom part of the chain ,it keeps the top part of the chain tight enough that it can't slap. I loved the movie that you made to show the problem. Worth more than a thousand words! I can take pictures of the adjusters if you need them. Good luck.