How To: Check and Adjust Chain Tension (snowmobile)

www.bkboatnsled... offers some helpful tips to the DIY'ers. Need any parts or more help? Call us at 815-363-1254

[@kayteeemm45]

and ur suppose to hold the bolt when tightening the jam nut down otherwise ur tighten ur chain even more.

[@garrycraig1425]

I have my cover off now so I can see the chain. If I can move the brake rotor ½-1" like you say in the video my chain is extremely loose. When I tighten the chain up too the correct amount like you show in the video I can only move the rotor about ¼". Huge difference if you're doing the "moving the rotor" way of checking adjustment.

[@danknugz7605]

Hey great info. I have a question i have a 91 venture 480 fan. What do set my rpm to after its been warmed up ( idle adjustment screw)

[@chriscates3352]

do you have video on how to change the pads on a 89 indy sport type setup?

[@trevorrowe6231]

What oil do you use in the chain case after you had it all apart?

[@MattB787]

Some people run ATF, some 80w-90, some mix the 2. No need to buy anything expensive, especially if you have a drain plug - it's so cheap and easy to change it out every season.

[@mikeswan1970]

Thanks for the how to vids! Appreciate the tips and practical explanation. It would have been helpful though to see how you drained the oil from it prior to taking the cover off, and explain that you'd already cleaned it out (I believe?). Thanks again!

[@danmandino9242]

Hey guys, good tutorial but I have to ask. The manual and everywhere else I read says I have to turn the bolt finger tight and lock the jam nut. I loosen the jam nut but that bolt is so tight it's impossible to turn by hand. It will turn only by wrench. I had the sled since new. I change the case oil every fall. 2010 Yamaha Phazer. Any ideas? Thanks.

[@Bigkidpowersports]

Its subjective to some degree depending on how stretched the chain is etc. Best bet is to take the cover off to see how tight it really is.

[@MrSnowman427]

Hay you guys should show how to change the gears and chain on the 2015 axys 800. Thanks!!

[@nightrider6769]

Question. This question is not about adjusting the chain it appears then I really get on it the drive is slipping to fix this I have to run the track tight. Track is stock Polaris. I had the drive shaft out then I replaced the track it looks good. It also slipped the the old track also. just doesn't seem right that I have to run the track so tight to cause it from slipping.

[@runningremingtons]

Great vid easy for a new guy to comprehend thanks

[@dustinbercier3502]

My polaris indy xlt 583 triple 1994 doesn't drive. Would that be the chain slipped off? Or what

[@chadmeyer9871]

Dustin Bercier pull the cover off chain case you may have broken chain or there is usually a keyway on the secondary clutch that might have sheared

[@MrGary583]

1999 Polaris XC500. Has reverse. Does the reverse gear have to be greased/maintained? If yes, have a video on doing this?

[@timmberthy]

hi i have the same problem as matt vuletici but now on my machine it shredded up the belt and when i pulled the secondary clutch it has a lot of play like 6 to 8 inch of play when you turn it and i just got it fixed i got the sproket bearing changes the chaincase chain change pretty much everything in the chain case including the sproket shaft i guess i wil take it back to the polaris dealer what do you think?

[@Kurogane_666]

I'm wondering would this be what's happening on my 04 viper, it's making a noise like the tracks binding

[@K1DTC]

i have a 2002 polaris 800 XCSP Edge and dont think it has a drain plug. should i just suction it out? really dont feel like pulling the case unless i have to.. thanks for any help

[@Bigkidpowersports]

It should - look in the area where your plastic belly pan is.. It may be hard to see, but its there.

[@K1DTC]

thanks for the quick response! love your videos..wish you lived closer to me lol.. ill look again..

[@Bigkidpowersports]

N1AGE No problem, let me know if you cant find it.. Also, we do ship all over if you ever need parts give us a shout! :) 815.363.1254

[@kayteeemm45]

lol that's to loose , suppose to be finger tight so basically as snug as u can get it with ur thumb and index finger. clutch should just have a tiny bit of play urs has way too much.

[@misters2837]

I have had many Polaris sleds just like this one, and you are 100% correct, if you have it that loose with a High Horsepower sled it can jump, and or whip on the roller side and damage the surface of the roller.

[@adamsullivan3502]

Half inch play is way to loose 🤣

[@rapaent]

Great video! My rule of thumb is to adjust until finger tight. Tahnks... Great job. 👍

[@scottwelinski8500]

can you maybe do a video on primary and secondary clutch alignment on polaris wedge?

[@BushBeret]

I have a 94 Phazer 2, and i want to lower the gearing for more tourqe, how would i do that?

[@xSKxCamper]

You actually finger tighten the bolt until its snug and then use a wrench to hold the adjustment bolt while you tighten your jam nut.

[@giniiarusso4748]

Hay guys, so I have a 1993 polaris Indy 500 I took the cover off the chaincase and there is like a spring thing and bolt holding on the bigger gear. Should it be like that or should there just be a washer and bolt holding it in like in the vid? Thanks

[@ElementofKindness]

Sounds like you have a reverse kit on there. (or part of a reverse kit)

[@mattv8400]

Have you ever experienced a loud whiney noise coming from what seems to be the chaincase? Gets louder with acceleration. My sled runs fine but i was just wondering if youve ever had anything like this.

[@Bigkidpowersports]

Hard to say - but perhaps a bad bearing? I'd open up the case to inspect before damage takes place..

[@codyraab1]

what kind of oil does the chaincase take and how much fluid should it take on a 1995 Yamaha V-max 600????

[@AmDrag5]

ik this was 9 years ago, but i have a 96 vmax and it takes 8oz of yamalube chain oil. It's not cheap stuff but it's some of the best imo

[@Bigkidpowersports]

You should use "chaincase Oil" it will take about 8oz. If you need oil feel free to contact us!

[@GraphicalWonders]

Sometimes my sled shuts off when I put it in and out of gear. I have a Yamaha sxr 700

[@peterobrien7784]

Hey i have a 97 polaris 580efi and it runs but my track wont move. Why is that?

[@genehentkowski4334]

do you know why my 2001 polaris 800 LE is so hard to pull start?

[@Bigkidpowersports]

do you mean literally it is hard to pull? Its a subjective question. What are you comparing it to? The 800 has a lot of compression and simply is not 'easy' to pull. If its so hard - maybe you have bad crank bearings? Really hard to answer that question - sorry

[@Bigkidpowersports]

to drain the oil you can either take the drain plug out on the bottom of the sled - directly under the case - or just take the cover off and let it spill, its only 8oz

[@Fransoo1405]

hey guys I need some help with my snowmobile, I have a 2012 polaris xlt, I was out riding it today and when I opened it up full throttle a terrible grinding noise started to happen, could it be possible my chain got really lose?

[@Bigkidpowersports]

Usually a loose chain will 'ratchet' before it does any grinding. It could be anything, without seeing it we would be totally guessing - sorry.

[@Fransoo1405]

Ill look into it thank you

[@ryon631]

Tyler Proznick-Fransoo. hey man did you ever find out what the noise was?

[@squatch518]

bearings bro.... get you wrenches out

[@Bigkidpowersports]

could it have been the track ratcheting?

[@luckyluke9225]

Typically they say to tighten the tensioner finger tight then back the bolt off half a turn. That way you can do it with the chain case cover on and you dont need to physically see or touch the chain. You should also turn the secondary clutch forward by hand to take up the slack in the chain to the tensioner side, then tighten the slack adjuster. Mic drop! Lol

[@Bigkidpowersports]

The secondary clutch should have a little play it allows the clutch to float a little.

[@tmotorman]

Pretty informative to me. Thanks guys!

[@Bigkidpowersports]

@HoonProductions thats correct.

[@JesusChrist-el6uf]

hello I have a z370 for my young son and it is only going in reverse. when it's in forward every thing spins with the sled not moving there is a popping sound when it does it and even the brake rotar spins with ought the sled moving. any thoughts?

[@johndoh3353]

Jesus Christ chain most likely slipping on the sprocket could be the drive sprocket as well

[@duanelarson6005]

Thanks

[@GeirKristianRonland]

Thanks a lot..

[@Bigkidpowersports]

Your the firs to complain, if you dont think its correct - lets hear what you would do differently. At least thats what I am trying to understand from your garbled English sentence.

[@xSKxCamper]

You actually finger tighten the bolt until its snug and then use a wrench to hold the adjustment bolt while you tighten your jam nut.

[@travasgregory8447]

@@xSKxCamper so how much play am I looking for?

[@xSKxCamper]

@@travasgregory8447 you finger tighten the bolt until it’s snug. Don’t vise grip it with your fingers. Just til it’s snug. Back it off 1/4 turn and tighten down jam nut.

[@travasgregory8447]

@@xSKxCamper sounds great thanks! Just seemed super sloppy to me. But, I trust ya

[@travasgregory8447]

@@xSKxCamper one last thing. Any indicators or to tight or loose while riding? Anything I should listen for or feelV

[@benjaminrideout9893]

I’ve bought parts from you on eBay lol

[@johndoh3353]

Benny Sledz. same lol

[@richjr500]

how do you identify what chain and gears you need if they need replacing I have a 95 indy trail with reverse when buying a chain and gears I see 11w 13w 15w what does that mean

[@Bigkidpowersports]

+Richard Last Open the case and literally count the number of plates on the chain (as in how wide is it) I sell them new and used if we can help. 815 363 1254