Big Foot Idler Chains

[Mitchell]

Hi All. Has anyone tackled Idler chain maintenance lately on a BigFoot. I want to remove the idlers and clean them up, but the task of removing them looks daunting with all the tight spaces around the brake calipers and disks. Is there a best way to remove the connecting link clip, which is on the inside of the idler chain jammed up against the brake disk.

For reassembly, the service manual suggest using a modified pair of 7R Vice Grips, with a 1/4" undercut, to hold the ends of the chain together while inserting the connecting link. Has any one made such a tool and used it to reassemble the chains back on to the brake sprockets. I would sincerely appreciate anyone's experience in removing and reattaching the idler chains. Thanks

[Slimpickin]

The vice grips work good. You need a good pair of needle nose pliers to take off and install the little clip. It isn't easy, but what is. good luck.

Slim

[mike bar]

Don't let the thoughts of it get to you. It is actually quite easy. Jack the buggy up and unhook the masterlink and pull it out. Reinstall using a piece of haywire to feed it through underneath and up the backside and over the top. rehook masterlink on the sprocket or not as long as you can get your hands at it. don't need vice grips as long as you slacken your adjuster.

[rapidroy]

Mitchell, mike bar is right on. Back off on the tension before you disconnect the master link and it will all go much easier. It helps if one of your skills is standing on your head and you don't wear tri-focal glasses. I use an old kitchen butter knife that isn't serrated to separate the clip from the link and then it helps to pop off the outer link also. Works the same for re-installing the link and the clip. One bit of advice would be to consult the manual on how to properly tension that chain, don't go too tight. Good luck buddy.

[glen1971]

Here are a couple of tools that I think make working with roller chains a bit easier..
To do any splitting and re-assembling:
MOTORCYCLE CHAIN LINK SPLITTER RIVETER TOOL HEAVY DUTY | eBay

To draw the sections of chain closer:
HEAVY DUTY CHAIN PULLER BRING ENDS TOGETHER | eBay

Relatively cheap in the overall scheme of things, IMO...

[Mitchell]

Thanks guys for all the advise, and yes I have to content with tri-focal glasses (what a pain). I will tackle them idlers tomorrow. Has anyone shortened up a chain to get more life out it. My front dives are dragging (no tensioner) and they look a bit short (12" sprocket to sprocket) to remove a link. Would like to hear from anyone who has a shortening experience. Thanks

[Mitchell]

One more concern about idlers. The service manual shows the connector link orientated with the spring clip on the transmission side of the chain. From an access point of view, it seems to me it would be a lot easier to mount the connector link the other way around. Does anyone have an issue or opinion of setting it up this way?