Chain tension

[DerekF]

Hey guys,

I changed a couple of bearings out on the weekend. While working on the avenger I took a look at the chain tightness and had a couple questions:

How tight is too tight for chains? In the manual it says the idler chains (specifically) should only have 1/8 inch deflection. Man that is pretty tight!

How about the longer chains? I could not find anything on the amount of deflection. Leave it to the chain adjuster?

Derek

[Rock Doctor]

The idlers should be tight, as you mentioned. Leave the chain tension on the drive chains up to the tensioners. As long as they are not "singing" tight, or so loose that they start skipping. A chain guage is available, and will tell you if your chains are stretched too much and need to be replaced.
If your chains are stretched, DO NOT just remove a link or two, and put them back togeather........it will work for awile, but will eventually damage your sprockets.

RD

[DerekF]

Thanks RD,

I had to take a link out while hunting last month as the chain was way too loose. I put an half link in to get through the week as I thought the chain had just stretched but I just figured out that the chain was actually loose because I had a bearing going in the axle. I changed the bearing the other day and now the chain is singing tight. I will put the link back in I guess.

On a positive note. I was pleasantly surprised how fairly easy changing a bearing was. I changed one on the second axle and one on the idler shaft.

On a not-so-positive note, I took the brake disc off to get at the inner bearing, I disconnected the brake line. Now I can't seem to get the master cylinder to pressure up now. It won't push any fluid out at all. I will try to changed the orings and see if that fixes it.......

[Rock Doctor]

Sounds like an airlock in the brake line to me, not O-rings.
Have you tried "pulling" the airlock through the brakeline?
This might take some explaining:
I have a vaccum pump that I had to use on my brake one time. Loosen brake bleed, open brake fluid resivoir, hook vac pump hose to brake bleed and give a little pull plus pump brake. This should move the airlock enough that you should be able to pump the brake and get the brakefluid moving. Remove vac pump, and run a little rubber hose from the brake bleed back to the reservoir, and pump brake. Brake fluid should circulate from the bleed back to the reservoir, allowing any trapped air to vent out.

Food for thought..........maybe

RD

[DerekF]

thanks RD, that just might be the problem. I'll try it and let you know......