floating idler sprocket?

[Robert]

I have a 2000 Bigfoot and when I was cleaning under floor pans I noticed that both of the dubble idler sprockets are floating and there are no set screws in the flanges,is this normal ? or should the sprockets be aligned and set screwed in place?
thanks Rob

[Roger S]

On these models you will find those sprockets, as well as the front axle sprockets, have no set screws. I confirmed this with the argo distributor years ago. I use an anti sieze paste on the splines to let them slide freely. I tried set screws in the front axle sprockets, and it held the front chain out of alignment with the idler sprocket.

I've seen in the newer frontier/avenger manuals, they use snap rings in various grooves on the idler shaft, the sprocket has to face a certain way, etc. So attention must be given on those models.
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Unrelated, but about your axle bearings.. if you go back stock, you can swap end axles with your center ones, if your seals have worn grooves in the axles. You may want to grind flats on the axle, where the brg set screws go.

[Robert]

On these models you will find those sprockets, as well as the front axle sprockets, have no set screws. I confirmed this with the argo distributor years ago. I use an anti sieze paste on the splines to let them slide freely. I tried set screws in the front axle sprockets, and it held the front chain out of alignment with the idler sprocket.

I've seen in the newer frontier/avenger manuals, they use snap rings in various grooves on the idler shaft, the sprocket has to face a certain way, etc. So attention must be given on those models.
------------

Unrelated, but about your axle bearings.. if you go back stock, you can swap end axles with your center ones, if your seals have worn grooves in the axles. You may want to grind flats on the axle, where the brg set screws go.

Thanks Roger for getting back to me , i will just clean and lubricate the shaft and make shure that the sprockets move freely on the shafts,also It sounds like I should just replace the stock bearings and seals and leave wellenough alone