Chain adjustments?

[skeer]

So, tearing down and cleaning this Western Auto Wizard walk behind tractor. In reassembling I’m noticing one chain doesn’t get as tight as the other. Both chains have 58 pins so I’m assuming either stretching or abnormal wear on the sprockets.
The top piece has slotted bolt holes, so adjusting and removing the slack from the right side, the lefts slack remains.

The goal here is not really to use it because I have no real use. But aside from replacing the chains, if I leave it as is the worst that can happen is faster overall wear right?

 

[skeer]

I did try to de-slack the right side while applying tension on the left but I simply can’t get all the lefts slack out.

 

[BillK]

Is one of the shaft bearings shot onthe loose side ? I looked at some pictures and that side has the belt drive from the engine so it gets a lot more wear ? I bet the bearing on that side of the shaft is worn out. Grab the big pulley and see how mich you can move it forward and back.

 

[skeer]

Yeah that’s a usual culprit but nah. These bearings are pretty tight.

 

[skeer]

correction, I felt a slight amount of looseness. Not enough to account for total chain slop though. A bit ago I went back out and swapped the chains around, the loose one on the opposite side was noticeably less loose. Makes me lean towards abnormal sprocket wear. But overall they are better.
Gonna finish the re-assembly and toss this guy on CL/FB.