If that's the device you're looking at (74HC163), it's not an up/down counter. Counts up only.
Here's the datasheet. Look at the timing example on page 9. It shows the counter being preloaded with a value (12) and the count cycles started, counting up to fifteen rolling over to zero, counting to two and stopping (count enable inhibited). Does that help?
It's a fairly complex little device. You need to become familiar with the nomenclature and terminology. "Px" are parallel inputs. "Qx" are outputs. The rest are basically mode-setting and enable/disable lines.