Idler chain question

[steve w]

I have a 03 big foot is it normal for one idler chain to be tight (left) and the right one all ways seams to have a bit of play maby a 1/4 inch or more is this ok.

[Obsessed]

That does seem to be kinda common on that generation of argo...

A few things you might try....

remove the two sections of chain and check to see if the are worn or worn evenly, then if necessary, replace the two short sections of chain then try to adjust it again...

if the transmission is still on a tilt, you can try to loosen the front transmission bolt and that might help relieve the bind (although I have not had much success with that) make the adjustment and tighten everything back up...

Finally...if all else fails...i have used a common 6" x 1\4" eye bolt and a couple of fender washers, and slid it in from the backside of the chain, through both sides of the chain loop, to hold the chain loop with a little slack in it, then adjust the other side, tighten the frame bolts back down and remove the eyebolt, should be able to get both sides even this way...

Remember that too much tension on that chain will quickly damage the output shaft bearings on the transmission, and too much slack will eventually strip the teeth off of the sprockets, so it is an adjustment that should be checked about every 25 hrs...also remember to lubricate the chains carefully as to not get any oil on the brake discs or drive clutches...

hope this helps!

[number1cas]

I think that is still an ongoing thing, my 09 won't let me get them both the same either. I just find a "happy medium" and run it like that, seems to work. 1200 miles in 9 months so far......

[steve w]

thanks i will try that.

[Rock Doctor]

Might be worth dropping the chain off the loose side, just to make sure the bearings on that Idler Shaft are good (It's VERY hard to check with the chain on). Really, there should be no reason to have one side loose, and the other tight.
If you do go that far, might as well pull the idler chain off the other side and measure them against each other to see if one is streched more than the other. Other than that it could be a case of uneven wear on the sprockets, or maybe one brake disk was changed in the past and the other was not (one new sprocket on one side and the other is old)

Just thinking out loud a bit


RD