Primary chain question...

[187]

Ok as you all know from my last post I had a starter jack shaft seal leak.Well finally got the new seal and had it all torn down.While I had it torn down I noticed that some one had taken the adjuster and tunred it upside down to where the bolt was at the bottum and the shoe rested against the bottum.When I try to put it back the bay it is supose to go the chain is way way loose and I dont have enough adustment to get it adjusted.Can the chain be stretched that bad that someone flipped the adjuster to try and make up for the stretch??It is a 82 link chain on a 87 heritage so I dont know what to do.I am thinking about going up to the dealer and trying to match mine up with a new one to see what that looks like.Any ideas??I can take some pics tomorrow if that would help.

[Dave63]

Originally Posted by 187

I noticed that some one had taken the adjuster and tunred it upside down to where the bolt was at the bottum and the shoe rested against the bottum.When I try to put it back the bay it is supose to go the chain is way way loose and I dont have enough adustment to get it adjusted.Can the chain be stretched that bad that someone flipped the adjuster to try and make up for the stretch??

Yes, the chain can stretch. Adjuster should be mounted like this. The reason I replaced mine, was due to a stretched chain, and only having 2 more teeth to adjust the chain on, before it was totally out of adjustment.

[187]

thanks Dave.Yea thats the way I tried to put it,but there is not enough adjustment.Some one had it turned upside down with the bolt on the bottum.I will look into a new chain.Thanks.Just wondering are the chains on ebay any good or should I get any type over another because one is crap?

[illegal alien]

A word of advice about primary chains.. I ignored mine on my Triumph Trident [oh its just a little rattle, I'll take care of it when i get home] & sure enough it broke locking up the rear wheel sending me & the bike skidding out of control[thankfully at 35 mph & not 80mph that i was at minutes prior to] shattering the inner & outer casings, oil pump etc etc etc.. Ever since then I have a healthy respect for the primarys on all my bikes.. Take care of it man..it'll bite ya in the arse if ya dont..

[Dave63]

Originally Posted by 187

thanks Dave.Yea thats the way I tried to put it,but there is not enough adjustment.Some one had it turned upside down with the bolt on the bottum.I will look into a new chain.Thanks.Just wondering are the chains on ebay any good or should I get any type over another because one is crap?

Get one from HD. It's about $84. I'd rather have an HD primary chain, then some knock off that ends up not being hardened enough and stretches again, a year later, out of spec.

I gotta used one hanging on my wall you can have. Has about 2500 more miles on it before it's stretched out of spec.

Ya think I'd throw it away? Not meeeeeeee................

[187]

Hey dave I have a question maybe you can help me with.I went to HD today and was going to pick up a new chain and here is what happened.I told the parts guy what was going on and he asked if I had my chain with me(which I did)We matched my chain witha new chain and there was like 1/8" diff.(mine was longer)at that point he said he didnt think that was my problem and said to go out to talk to there lead tech Rob.Rob told me that I should make sure that someone didnt change out the counter shaft sprocket to a smaller one before buying a new chain because 1/8" is not much.Anyway do you know how many tooth sprocket is stock?Mine is a 24t.Also is a 1/8 seem like not much to you also?

[187]

Anyone got a idea on how many teeth the front counter shaft sprocket is on a 87 heritage softail??

[SCHMIDTYS]

Originally Posted by 187

Anyone got a idea on how many teeth the front counter shaft sprocket is on a 87 heritage softail??

If you mean the compensator sprocket it should be 24 teeth .
Also the chain should have 82 links per the book .

[ruby4me]

I put a Hayden M6 chain tensioner on my 02 tc and I love it,no more clunk when you put in gear and dont have to worry about noise

[Tennjack]

Gotta take care of the primary chain mine on the 77 jumped and busted the motor case & primary cover . had to find some aluminum welding rods grind and weld up the crack in the case then weld up the primary cover . talk about sick and pissed i was both . as strange as it sounds it did it in the garage when i turned it off .