1985 ATC250R Chain Adjuster frozen Ideas?

[Faster32]

Just purchased a 1985 ATC250R. The chain was so loose and I now know why. The rear chain adjuster will not move. I loosened the 2 pinch bolts and the left side adjuster which the spanner wrench goes on will not move at all. Must have had problems in the past as a lot of the tabs the spanner wrench is suppose to go on are broken off. Has a Dura Blue axle in it. Any ideas on what to do? I have a half link from Dennis Kirk coming but that is just to get by for the time being. I WOULD LIKE TO free this up. Anyone else have this problem?

[factoryX]

dude, your rear caliper mount is corroded to the carrier. same thing happened to me and I almost destroyed my rear caliper mount.

[riverrat]

Heat is your friend

[Jason Hall]

Most of the time the brake stay Is siezed to the carrier. I would suggest removing the calipar and spraying the stay with penetrating oil.

[250rAL]

I've never had a problem with the stay sticking to the carrier(mine actually has some play) but after just a couple of years, the carrier will stick in the swingarm. You will need to remove the axle, remove the carrier and clean and grease everything. Don't forget to remove the two seals in the rear of the swingarm before you pound out the carrier.

[JohnR.]

While you're at it order up a nice new Lonestar Double Row carrier so you can pound that old stuck thing out without a care. If you don't already have a large, plastic, dead blow mallet now would be the time to pick a cheap one up from Harbor Freight. It'll allow you to smash the heck out of that carrier without damaging stuff around it when you miss a swing or two.

John

[Faster32]

Thanks for all the info. Got the half link today. I will put it on tommorrow. The chain is just way to loose to drive this way. I just want to test run this before I spend more time in it. The chain in the past must have jumped off because the clutch ajuster case is welded up as the chain must have hit it.

[JohnR.]

If you just cobble it together by putting a half link in it will either be too tight to get the two ends of the chain to reach each other or too loose and you'll end up needing to weld that case again when the chain comes off again. I can understand your rush to ride your new machine but do yourself a favor and fix it the right way so you don't end up destroying the case.


John

[250rAL]

I've heard half links are weak and prone to breaking.