[macsolocam77]

Well I got my 13 tooth today, just before practice. Got back to the guarge and went to work. I loosened the chain but still had to break the master link. It was pretty tight comming off. Pulled the chain off, pulled the factory sprocket off and put the xr650l 13 on, a perfect match. Put the chain on the sprockets and had a HELL of a time getting that master link back on. After about 30min of hammering, tring to hold one side from moving and tapping on the other I finaly got it on enough to get the key back on. I then proceded to tighten the chain. I had no problem getting the chain to tighten, but that grease zerk was just bearly under the swingarm where you just could not get to it. I felt of my chain and it felt ok. I tightened it like I had it before, maybe a little to tight cause I know if it is a little loose that chain rattle will drive you crazy. Went to practice 5/29/03 that night and broke my masterlink. Does anybody think I had my chain to tight???(had it where when the bike was sitting normal could move the chain about 1 to 1.5 inches from highest to lowest position. It broke on a jump when I landed it.
I probably should have squated the bike after that tightening to really see how tight it would get but I have beed running my chain that tight with the 14 tooth sprocket. Do you think I had it too tight or I could have flawed my masterlink hammering it back on, or some of the links need to be taken out. Hopefully I can find a master link before tommorow night I surely dont want to miss my race so respond fast for me please. The bike seems to have plenty of adjustment on it, i guess it is ok to rotate the back of the swing arm that far so that, that grease zerk is where it is? Just give me some feedback before 5pm central time, will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks
macsolocam77

 

[robg]

Wow, that sucks that your master link broke! I've never had to break my chain to put the 13 on, even with a 38 in the rear. I just recently went from the 13 back to the 14 for dirt riding, and had no trouble swapping sprockets. Then a few days later I put the 13 back on for the sand, and again, no problem.

Granted, you do have to have the front sprocket bolts out and you slide the sprocket off with the chain still on it, then pull it out of the chain. Insert the new sprocket into th chain and then slip it onto the splines.

I tend to run my chain a little loose rather than a little tight to avoid breaking anything.

Rob

 

[pismobeachbound]

Sorry that happened to you. O-ring masker links can be a pain to get back on sometimes. For future reference there's a little trick to getting it back on using a nut and a pair of vise-grips. Put the link back together and use a nut that is large enougb for the pin to slide through. Place the nut over the upper pin and use vise-grips to put enough pressure on the link plate to seat the o-ring. The nut will allow you avoid the pin sliding in and out. Remove the vise-grips and nut and slide the retaining clip into the slot that will hold the link together while you repeat the same steps on the other pin. You should never have to hammer on a master link to get it back together. You may have weakened the link when you did causing the breakage. I have never broken a master and I been riding for over 20 years, so my guess is either you damaged it or it was defective to start with before you hit it. Just my thoughts. By the way I change back and forth between a 13/38 and 14/37 depending on where I'm riding made this change at least half a dozen times and no master link problems. I've never tried Rob's suggestion I think I'll try next time and see if I can get it changed without removing the master. As for chain tension don't run it too tight, that can cause big problems, ie..sprocket wear and chain wear and too much force on the swing arm. Good luck racing, give them hell.

 

[thetooth]

Wow... strange that you had to take it off. I just put a 13 front on with a 39 rear and I didn't have to do anything to the chain.

I hope you're able to get the chain back together easily.

 

[macsolocam77]

Well I got up the next morning and the local atv store had a master link. I came to the conclusion that I had the chain too tight. Hey Rob I never thought about pulling the chain and sprocket all off at the same time, but your are right about that. I was in a hurry when I did it. I got the master link and got everything put back together before I raced that night. I made sure I had plenty of slack and it wasnt too tight. The race went real good, I placed third in both motos and second overall. Did not have a problem all night. Rode again sunday afternoon and the chain and sprocket is doing just fine. My left rear fender hanger bracket broke weld from the frame friday night and it caused the fender to crack a little right above the left side of the rear grab bar. Today at practice the finish line table top is somewhere between 80 and 90 feet and I liked about 5 feet clearing it. Man was it a rush!!! Thanks for the quick info guys maybe someday I can be of some help.

Macsolocam77

 

[cheesebowl]

I'm not sure if anyone has answered your question about the grease zerk.
You can tighten your chain both by moving your quad forward and backward.
My quess is you loostened your chain by moving your atv one direction and then tightening it the same direction causing your zerk to locate itself in an un-atainable position.

 

[clutchitr]

Can anyone tell me where to get the 13 tooth sprocket?
I have looked all over on-line and cannot locate a sight.

If you know of one, please let me know.

Thanks!

 

[modquad]

Sprocket Specialties is where to get one.

 

[j_man]

I ordered my 13 tooth from Sprocket Specialist (http://www.sprocketspecialists.com/html/main.shtml) yesterday and it should be here Friday. You may want to order one quickly, becasue she said the were selling them like crazy. The part number is 564-13. It fit's 2003 Polaris Predator and 2002 Honda XR650L. Should be a perfect fit. Good luck!

 

[clutchitr]

Does anyone know the part number for the 38 tooth rear sprocket from sprocketspecialists.com? I run mostly trails and I am trying to get more power in my lower gears. Is going with a 13/38 spocket combination the way to go? I am rather new to ATV's and was wondering if my thinking on this is correct.
Any help or advise woudl be appreciated! Thanks.

 

[j_man]

I don't know if SS carries the 38 tooth or not, but you can get the 38 from Pure Polaris. Here is the site. Oh...by the way, the 13/38 combo is excellent. I run the 13/37 when I'm hill climbing and the 13/38 in the trails. It's nice to have to run in 1st gear all the time.

http://www.purepolaris.com/Listing.aspx?Department=ATV(PolarisPGACatalog)&Category=ATVByModel(PolarisPGACatalog)&Listing=Predator500(PolarisPGACatalog)&nPage=3&nSet=1

or

www.purepolaris.com

 

[macsolocam77]

Any honda store should be able to order you a sprocket for a honda xr650 dirtbike in an aftermarket brand and if fits perfect. Thats what I did .

 

[tyler33]

I just loosened the tension on my chain before i switched sprockets, materlinks suck.

 

[predator03]

You guys do what you like, but the last two sprockets I bought from Sprocket Specialists did not last more than two weeks. This has been withing the last couple of months. I'm going back to using Sidewinder. A little more expensive, but they do make very good sprockets.

Scott