I'm heping a friend with his 1998 Panther 440. HE need to change the drive shaft bearing and the problem is that we have no idea how to get the tension off the drive chain, it has one of those self adjusting tensioners and I'm totally lost how to get it off. Any help would be great. THANKS

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a324/rws53/sled/chaintensioner2-1.jpg

Before unscrewing adjuster (comes out as a unit) out of chaincase remove #22 and screw in a longer 8-32 set screw lightly...this will prevent # 17 - 18 from unwinding.

Remove chain adjuster unit fom case.

Now you can work on your transmission...

When you get your transmission put all back together...

Reinstall chain adjuster...remove long set screw and replace small screw #22.

Now if for some reason you took the adjuster apart and need to put it back together:

1 turn adjuster bolt #18 clockwise into housing #13 a few turns

2 slide adjuster socket #17 over end of adjuster bolt...push socket down firmly...rotate adjuster socket #17 cw until flange seats against housing inner surface

3 with flat surface of adjuster socket #17 lined up with hole in housing install 8-32 long set screw lightly

4 install tab of spring #15 in socket slot of #17 with outer hooked end in a cw direction

5 put o-ring #19 and cap #14 on making sure tab is hooked

6 holding cap down turn cap 20 times cw and install screws #6

7 install coil spring #20 and stem #21 into end of adjuster bolt

8 install assembly into chain case

9 remove set screw and install cap screw #22 into adjuster housing

HOLY CRAP, THANKS for the great instructions, when you say it comes off as a hole unit does it unscrew, and is it standard threaded or reverse, because we tried that last night and for one there's no room to work, and the thing is made of white medal don't want to break it. THANKS

HOLY CRAP, THANKS for the great instructions, when you say it comes off as a hole unit does it unscrew, and is it standard threaded or reverse, because we tried that last night and for one there's no room to work, and the thing is made of white medal don't want to break it. THANKS[/b]

RH threads...see updated picture

The onlyt hing that is different from your picture and the one on the sled is the adjuster bolt (the small one ) is on the top of the body, not the side as shown and I'm having a hell of a time getting anything on it to turn it, any suggestions, Thanks