Primary chain adjustment

[Tqui6]

On my 2004 FXDI when I loosened the nut to adjust the tensioner on my primary chain the tensioner body just fell to the bottom of the chain case and it was really a job to get the adjuster back up into position enough to tighten the nut and hold it in place. I thought the adjuster would hold when I loosened the nut. I feel pretty lame about this one...but am I doing something wrong or do you have to hold the socket with pressure on the nut during the adjustment?

[RamMedic]

There should be some small teeth on the back side of the adjuster, at most you should have raised the adjuster up one tooth. I would reccomend that you just swap it over to a Hayden M6 self adjuster and basically forget about it. I check the M6 in my bike every 10,000 miles or so.

Keep in mind there will be a slack spot in each chain. Roll your primary chain over several times to determine the slack spot and set your tension from there (using the stock tensioner)

[GzrGldGeo]

I always get to the point that this tooth is a tad loose and this tooth is a tad tight. I used to go with the tight side, now I go with the loose side. The tight side makes Neutral hard to find at times.

Back to the question a hand. That happens all the time Tqui. The more you do it the more you get a feel for it. Just put the socket back on and raise it all wrench, extender, socket, nut and adjuster all up and get it back close to in place and tighten it a little. Then check it need to be tighter or looser? This time be careful and move it one tooth as you know if you loosen too much and don't keep control with your wrench, extender, and socket on the nut it may fall all the way to the bottom.