Chain removal at 100 hours

[riverratt]

Just bought a 2008 Frontier 650 a few weeks ago and wondering what everyone's opionion on the removal and cleaning of the chains at 100 hrs? My 2008 is really clean and had never been in the water before I got it. I have lubed the chains and worked with the tensioners to make sure they were working but really dont want to pull all the chains. It is just over 100 hours now.

Thanks

[mowbizz]

Can’t you clean them in place with a pressure washer and some degreaser?
The “tub” is designed to be flushed out with the drain plugs unplugged....
If you don’t mind my asking, what did you do to “work with the chain tensioners”?
My Frontier seems to have one side that works better than the other...

[riverratt]

Had a hard time trying to figure out what makes the tensioner "tick". One side of mine had automatically taken up the slack but like yours the drivers side wasnt racheting. I lifted up the nylon block and rotated the part with the steps in it to tighten it up if that makes sense. The other side was already there. I might try the degreaser trick and flush out the tub.

[mowbizz]

Had a hard time trying to figure out what makes the tensioner "tick". One side of mine had automatically taken up the slack but like yours the drivers side wasnt racheting. I lifted up the nylon block and rotated the part with the steps in it to tighten it up if that makes sense. The other side was already there. I might try the degreaser trick and flush out the tub.

Exactly. I haven’t figured out how they tick either...when the weather warms up I’ll dig into this more.

[Noel Woods]

I just elevate the front of my Argo, pull the drain plugs, and pressure wash it out, sometimes using Super Purple cleaner when its really dirty. The chain tensioners don't take much, but like noted may occasionally need a grab and pull or push to remove debris and reset in position. There is no need to remove the chains to do this process. In fact the master links take a lot of wear and tear removing and reinstalling.
Once clean and dry, relube things. I use a high quality chain grease to do this. While I'm in the field running around for several days, I will also shoot some of the lighter grade chain lube on as well. When you have heavy metal on metal contact, you can't really have too much lubrication.

[riverratt]

Give me some recommendations for chain grease for these things. I have some light lube I just put on but it looks like the previous owner had something thicker. Thanks

[Noel Woods]

https://www.amazon.com/CRC-Extreme-Chain-Aerosol-Black/dp/B000R8EI08/ref=pd_ybh_a_2?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=SQWHGDPJ48JJ2WWHMYMH

This is a heavy duty lubricant. It sprays on thick, is black in color, and wears a long time. Don't get it on your clothing because it will not come off. As a matter of fact, even using a pressure washer and cleaner, it stays on until it has been sprayed off several times.

[Craig_B]

https://www.amazon.com/CRC-Extreme-C...PJ48JJ2WWHMYMH

This is a heavy duty lubricant. It sprays on thick, is black in color, and wears a long time. Don't get it on your clothing because it will not come off. As a matter of fact, even using a pressure washer and cleaner, it stays on until it has been sprayed off several times.

Wow is Amazon.ca ever a rip off sometimes. amazon.com $13.80 --- amazon.ca $58.36

[riverratt]

Noel: Thanks for the tip on the lube. I got a couple of cans coming. Like you are doing I am going to keep the lighter stuff for quick shots and put the heavier on after I wash the chains. Really having fun with my Argo. Wanted one for years and finally pulled the trigger on a nice used one. The thing is amazing in the river where I used to get my 3 and 4 wheelers stuck all of the time. My son and I are using it mainly for archery fishing.

[Coast2Coast]

I remove mine to clean them. I've cleaned them in place sometimes but they just don't get nearly as clean as doing it outside the machine. I put them in a pail and spray them with a spray can of kerosene while brushing them all the way along their length then continuing to flush them out with more kerosene. Then I wipe them all down with rags till they look brand new, re-install and re-lube. When you get them in your hands you'll be amazed at how much ground up steel and filings comes out of them. I used to pressure wash my old conquest but my new machine is so clean under the floor and especially under the hood that it would just make a huge mess if I pressure washed it. I'd like to keep clean as long as possible because my old conquest would get me greasy just if I looked at it the wrong way while passing by it in the garage from 10 feet away. The master links that came on my new machine have an unusual cheap and poorly designed clip that forces you to bend them for removal and installation so I locked them all on with aircraft safety wire.

[glen1971]

While the chains are out, I inspect the tensioner blocks and replace as needed. I also found out that the vertical guides under the tensioners get gummed up and the tensioners may not be as effective as they should be.. I'll be removing mine if spring/summer ever comes...