How To Tighten ATV Chain? Most Comprehensive Guide 2023

If you listen to an unusual, virtually grinding noise while rolling an ATV forward in neutral or feel resistance beyond the norm, you could have chain problems. A jerky sensation, or power loss as well as clicking sounds while driving, is an indicator that your chain is loose. The most awful that can occur is the chain coming right off.

Knowing how to adjust the ATV chain will help you maintain and operate the ATV in the best possible condition, and is the solution to the problem mentioned earlier. It additionally saves your time to a shop to handle something easily managed in the house. All it takes is some understanding, emphasis, and also sufficient time to get the job done.

To understand how to tighten ATV chain, you need to recognize what the chain is and also why it's there. An ATV drive chain looks similar to what you would locate on a bicycle. Some contemporary ATVs do not have a drive chain, so consult your guidebook if you can not discover one.

Here's how to tighten your ATV's chain with just the correct amount.

Signs Of A Loosened Chain

Let's check out the signs and symptoms of a loosened chain:

• Jerky sensation when you speed up due to slack
• Power loss as well as clicking noise from the chain skipping over gear teeth
• Your chain comes off during a ride

If you observe any one of these points happening while you ride, you need to tighten your chain ASAP.

As a matter of fact, you shouldn't allow your chain to get this bad in the first place.

Instead, you need to contrast the slack in your chain to your handbook's standards before it gets negative. As soon as you start seeing these problems, you have actually currently subjected your drivetrain and also gears to too much wear and tear.

Signs Of An Overtight Chain

You might be experiencing some problems that you're pretty sure are chain-related, yet it might be due to the fact that your chain is too tight.

Having a too-tight chain can trigger:

• Excess wear on your gears as well as drivetrain
• Much less rear suspension travel
• Power loss

So don't just assume your chain issues are because of a loose chain. Incorrect upkeep and overtightening can trigger similar drivetrain concerns. Examine your handbook and gauge your slack to see what your chain requires.

How To Tighten ATV Chain

Below is just a basic guide for tightening your ATV's chain. A few of the steps may be different for your particular four-wheeler.

Prior to you do anything, get your ATV solution manual and flip to the chain adjustment section for the specific procedure for your ATV. You'll additionally require to recognize just how much slack your ATV can endure.

Next off, gather all the devices you need. You'll need a wrench or an allen key, relying on the sort of screws on the center behind the ATV. You'll likewise require a smaller-sized wrench for the insurer bolt.

Examine your ATV's guidebook for the best device dimensions.

Prior to you adjusting chain stress, you require to check how much slack the producer recommends. This should be stated in the guidebook. It's normally 1 to 1.5 inches.

1. Measuring chain slackness

Examine the factory-recommended slack in your user guidebook.

Have a person sit on the ATV to imitate the tension the chain is under throughout riding.

Then, using a tape measure, inspect the chain's slack according to the directions in the guidebook. Various ATV producers have different ways of gauging slack.

Since you recognize how much slack is in your chain, you understand if it's in fact also loose or if you have actually obtained some other issues going on.

Typically, what you desire is a chain that is not as well tight that you can't move it up and down with your hand, yet not also loose either that it tumbles up and down. It should fit just fine.

2. Tighten your ATV chain

There is one pivot screw that holds the H shape axle framework (H-Arm) to ATV's main body frame. Inspect this very first to make certain the screw is tight yet still allows for up and down movement. This pivot screw maintains the H form axle framework as well as the main body framework abreast.

There are 4 bolts (2 leading and 2 bases) at the back ATV that moves the axle. Identify the 4 bolts that hold the rear axle. You'll require to loosen these screws, yet do not eliminate them. So you can relocate the axle back and draw tight the chain.

Make certain the axle is straight (align straight with the body) and also the chain runs right. Also, If one side or the opposite is not tightened (the 4 screws) the chain will fall off once more. Also if the rear end is not straight after that the chain will certainly fall off.

Now, recognize the screw to be adjusted. This is typically located near the 4 screws, however examine your guidebook for the right range for your ATV version.

Tighten up the adjuster screw, after that measure slack once again until you get within the manufacturer's advised variety. Re-tighten the primary screws.

Keep in mind that the chain tension modification process differs from model to model. Examine your solution manual on exactly how to tighten up or loosen up the chain.

Some ATV models do not have adjuster bolts. Instead, you insert a screwdriver or allen key in an opening on the axle. Then you press the ATV back a couple of feet to tighten up the chain, or ahead to loosen it.

In various other versions, you stick a thick screwdriver in a hole after that press the screwdriver upwards or clockwise to tighten the chain.

If your chain's slack is too tight, below's exactly how to loosen it.

How To Loosen An ATV Chain

An ATV chain that is as well tight can break sprockets too soon. While a loosened chain is reasonably apparent, it can be trickier to identify that your chain is also tight. One technique is to use your hands. If the chain does not provide much when you press down on it, it requires more slack.

You can additionally use your hands as a preemptive dimension device prior to every flight. Stack 3 fingers in addition to each other as well as place them behind the chain slider. With the chain draped across the top of your index finger, it must be taut overall. Anything looser or tighter calls for adjustment.

Fortunately, the procedure to fix it is the same as tightening up, backward. Rather than tightening up insurer screws or rotating the bearing carrier onward, loosen up. Measure for slack as you would certainly when tightening up the chain.

If the chain is still too tight and you can not loosen it further by adjuster bolts, you may need to extend the chain. That calls for taking the chain apart as well as adding a master link to it. You can also shorten a chain if requirement be by eliminating sections as well as utilizing a master link to put it back together.

What Should Be Done If The Chain Continues To Fall Off

1. Remove the chain

2. Raise the ATV under the engine electric motor mount location until the back wheels come off the ground.

3. Then see if the H-Arm (back) moves back as well as forth from 1 inch to 2 inches. If the rear H-Arm returns as well as forth, after that the rubber grommets inside the top of the H-Arm (going left to right are shot/bad. The very best method to repair that is placed in a metal pipeline that acts as a bushing (changing the rubber grommets).

How Often Should You Tighten An ATV Chain?

Don’t wait until your ATV chain falls off the sprocket to tighten it. Instead, tighten it regularly to maintain tension.

Check your service manual to see if there’s a recommended tightening schedule. But generally, it’s a good idea to check the chain slack every three years, and tighten it if it’s gotten loose.

Also measure the slack after a day or two of particularly hard and rough riding. The chain may have taken a beating and loosened a bit.

If you use the ATV frequently for heavy utility tasks or hard riding, check the chain more regularly – perhaps once or twice a month.

How Much Slack Should An ATV Chain Have?

It varies from version to version, yet the basic recommended array is 1 inch to 1.5 inches.

In some ATV models, you measure slack by measuring the travel of a chain from its all-natural relaxing point to the highest point it'll go. Inspect your ATV handbook for how to measure the slack on your particular design.

If you can't find the correct slack array for your ATV, select the advice we have actually given over: adjust the chain until it is tight, but not as well limited that you can stagnate it somewhat backward and forwards.

Keep in mind that both too much slack and absence of slack are bad. The first will certainly create the chain to embark on the sprocket, the second can break the chain.

How Do You Tighten Up A Chain On A Chinese ATV?

Chinese quads have been available in a vast array of configurations, so there isn't a standard way to tighten up the chain. Examine the manual that came with the quad.

Yet virtually every ATV, consisting of 110 quads, will have the four screws at the back. Seek those screws and loosen them.

Then, try to find a means to readjust the chain tension. In some quads, you utilize a thick screwdriver to revolve the axle, which tightens or loosens the chain.

Others have insurer bolts that you tighten up to enhance chain tension.

If the handbook doesn't state how much slack the chain should have, opt for the basic suggestion. It should be tight, meaning that you can move it up and down slightly with your finger, but it will not flip up and down.

How To Tighten Motorcycle Chain? Graphic explanation 2022

Rodney L Herron

Rodney L is a technical writer and product consultant with over a decade of experience in the motor industry. Rodney is a fan of performance machines that run fast and loud and an expert in all things custom. His numerous articles and write-ups are available at our knowledge base. Whether it’s something wrong with your motorcycle or you are building a custom bike, you can trust Rodney’s experience.