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Metalworking (rec.crafts.metalworking) Discuss various aspects of working with metal, such as machining, welding, metal joining, screwing, casting, hardening/tempering, blacksmithing/forging, spinning and hammer work, sheet metal work. |
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Chain tensioner ideas
Back to my post hole digger. I want to spring-tension the main drive
chain (5/8"). I was wondering if anyone has any useful ideas about putting a chain tensioner together. Part of the reason is that I wll have to use 2, because the chain fouls the mounting (my build :- ) if I just tension one side. I have thought of actually using a little sprocket, or a ball bearing on a shaft (no drive needed, of course). But there was one picture that appeared to simply use a piece of plastic! Presumably delrin, or some other slippery, hard material? It looked quite narrow. I assume it sits only on the chain rollers. The chain is in exposed, dusty conditions, I might add. That was why the dragging plastinc idea did not appeal. Any ideas appreciated. ************************************************** ** sorry ..........no I'm not! remove ns from my header address to reply via email Does Bill Gates dream of electronic sheep? |
#2
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Chain tensioner ideas
plastic slider chain tensioners are used on bazillions of off-road
motorcycles... "Old Nick" wrote in message ... Back to my post hole digger. I want to spring-tension the main drive chain (5/8"). I was wondering if anyone has any useful ideas about putting a chain tensioner together. Part of the reason is that I wll have to use 2, because the chain fouls the mounting (my build :- ) if I just tension one side. I have thought of actually using a little sprocket, or a ball bearing on a shaft (no drive needed, of course). But there was one picture that appeared to simply use a piece of plastic! Presumably delrin, or some other slippery, hard material? It looked quite narrow. I assume it sits only on the chain rollers. The chain is in exposed, dusty conditions, I might add. That was why the dragging plastinc idea did not appeal. Any ideas appreciated. ************************************************** ** sorry .........no I'm not! remove ns from my header address to reply via email Does Bill Gates dream of electronic sheep? |
#3
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Chain tensioner ideas
On Wed, 24 Mar 2004 07:03:59 GMT, "Jon Grimm"
vaguely proposed a theory .......and in reply I say!: remove ns from my header address to reply via email plastic slider chain tensioners are used on bazillions of off-road motorcycles... OK. That's a good indication they would probably be OK. AS I said in another reply, wearing abit of plastic makes much more sense than wearing out chain. ************************************************** ** sorry ..........no I'm not! remove ns from my header address to reply via email Does Bill Gates dream of electronic sheep? |
#4
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Chain tensioner ideas
you could fit a complete tensioner assembly intended for a vintage type
trials motorcycle..........try BJ racing "Old Nick" wrote in message ... Back to my post hole digger. I want to spring-tension the main drive chain (5/8"). I was wondering if anyone has any useful ideas about putting a chain tensioner together. Part of the reason is that I wll have to use 2, because the chain fouls the mounting (my build :- ) if I just tension one side. I have thought of actually using a little sprocket, or a ball bearing on a shaft (no drive needed, of course). But there was one picture that appeared to simply use a piece of plastic! Presumably delrin, or some other slippery, hard material? It looked quite narrow. I assume it sits only on the chain rollers. The chain is in exposed, dusty conditions, I might add. That was why the dragging plastinc idea did not appeal. Any ideas appreciated. ************************************************** ** sorry .........no I'm not! remove ns from my header address to reply via email Does Bill Gates dream of electronic sheep? |
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Chain tensioner ideas
On 24 Mar 2004 08:49:54 GMT, a (Dave Baker) vaguely
proposed a theory .......and in reply I say!: remove ns from my header address to reply via email Plastic tensioners are the standard method for cam chain drives in engines but of course it's clean and well lubricated in there. Also such tensioners are only used on the slack side of the chain. If you need to tension the drive side of a chain the tensioner will have to withstand a fair amount of force. A sprocket on a substantial bearing would seem to be the only way. Given that you might as well make two. hmmmm...yes. When I was farting about with the thing yesterday, I realised that I cannot expect to control the tight side of the chain. I may have to redesign the frame a bit :-. I expected to be able to "squeeze" the chain through the frame, but this would take a serious sprocket setup on the "working" side. Better to give the chain more clearance, and only tension on the slack side. Dave Baker - Puma Race Engines (www.pumaracing.co.uk) I'm not at all sure why women like men. We're argumentative, childish, unsociable and extremely unappealing naked. I'm quite grateful they do though. ************************************************** ** sorry ..........no I'm not! remove ns from my header address to reply via email Does Bill Gates dream of electronic sheep? |
#7
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Chain tensioner ideas
"Old Nick" wrote in message ... Back to my post hole digger. I want to spring-tension the main drive chain (5/8"). I was wondering if anyone has any useful ideas about putting a chain tensioner together. Part of the reason is that I wll have to use 2, because the chain fouls the mounting (my build :- ) if I just tension one side. I have thought of actually using a little sprocket, or a ball bearing on a shaft (no drive needed, of course). But there was one picture that appeared to simply use a piece of plastic! Presumably delrin, or some other slippery, hard material? It looked quite narrow. I assume it sits only on the chain rollers. The chain is in exposed, dusty conditions, I might add. That was why the dragging plastinc idea did not appeal. Any ideas appreciated. ************************************************** ** sorry I did see a plastic tensioner some while ago that would work for you. I looked like a thin walled plastic sprocket that sits between the two chain runs. It is compressed to an oval shape and pushes the two sides of the chain apart. Hope I have managed to describe it OK. John |
#8
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Chain tensioner ideas
I did see a plastic tensioner some while ago that would work for you. I looked like a thin walled plastic sprocket that sits between the two chain runs. It is compressed to an oval shape and pushes the two sides of the chain apart. Hope I have managed to describe it OK. John You could also make a floating tensioner like this http://www.tonysbuggypage.btinternet...tensioner.html John |
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Chain tensioner ideas
On Wed, 24 Mar 2004 13:10:25 -0000, "John Manders"
vaguely proposed a theory .......and in reply I say!: remove ns from my header address to reply via email I did see a plastic tensioner some while ago that would work for you. I looked like a thin walled plastic sprocket that sits between the two chain runs. It is compressed to an oval shape and pushes the two sides of the chain apart. Hope I have managed to describe it OK. John You could also make a floating tensioner like this http://www.tonysbuggypage.btinternet...tensioner.html Tricky! Unfortunately, while it's very elegant, it allows too much movement of the whole chain on both sides for my purposes. But handy to remember for other times.... ************************************************** ** sorry ..........no I'm not! remove ns from my header address to reply via email Does Bill Gates dream of electronic sheep? |
#10
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Chain tensioner ideas
On Wed, 24 Mar 2004 13:07:06 -0000, "John Manders"
vaguely proposed a theory .......and in reply I say!: remove ns from my header address to reply via email It's called a roll-ring. I foun d it in a search. If it works as dedigned, I reckon discovering it _had_ to be an accident! It looks brilliant. I bet they manage to charge too much to make it a world beater! hmmm...made by Renood. So it's not some flash in the pan! I rang Ren0old this morning before I had read the blurb. They did not mention this product. I laugh and say "This is Australia".... Unfortunately I need to make the chain path narrower, not wider.... I did see a plastic tensioner some while ago that would work for you. I looked like a thin walled plastic sprocket that sits between the two chain runs. It is compressed to an oval shape and pushes the two sides of the chain apart. Hope I have managed to describe it OK. John ************************************************** ** sorry ..........no I'm not! remove ns from my header address to reply via email Does Bill Gates dream of electronic sheep? |
#11
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Chain tensioner ideas
"Old Nick" wrote in message ... Back to my post hole digger. I want to spring-tension the main drive chain (5/8"). I was wondering if anyone has any useful ideas about putting a chain tensioner together. Part of the reason is that I wll have to use 2, because the chain fouls the mounting (my build :- ) if I just tension one side. I have thought of actually using a little sprocket, or a ball bearing on a shaft (no drive needed, of course). But there was one picture that appeared to simply use a piece of plastic! Presumably delrin, or some other slippery, hard material? It looked quite narrow. I assume it sits only on the chain rollers. The chain is in exposed, dusty conditions, I might add. That was why the dragging plastinc idea did not appeal. Any ideas appreciated. ************************************************** ** sorry .........no I'm not! remove ns from my header address to reply via email Does Bill Gates dream of electronic sheep? Check these simple tensioners, I like the simplicity, sold through Lovejoy, so they're surely available through a local bearing distributor. Good luck Kai St-Louis |
#12
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Chain tensioner ideas
On Wed, 24 Mar 2004 09:03:33 -0500, "Kai St-Louis"
vaguely proposed a theory .......and in reply I say!: remove ns from my header address to reply via email You seem to have forgotten the URL? Check these simple tensioners, I like the simplicity, sold through Lovejoy, so they're surely available through a local bearing distributor. Good luck Kai St-Louis ************************************************** ** sorry ..........no I'm not! remove ns from my header address to reply via email Does Bill Gates dream of electronic sheep? |
#13
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Chain tensioner ideas
Sorry about that!!
here it is http://www.lovejoy-inc.com/motorbases.htm Regards, Kai "Old Nick" wrote in message ... On Wed, 24 Mar 2004 09:03:33 -0500, "Kai St-Louis" vaguely proposed a theory ......and in reply I say!: remove ns from my header address to reply via email You seem to have forgotten the URL? Check these simple tensioners, I like the simplicity, sold through Lovejoy, so they're surely available through a local bearing distributor. Good luck Kai St-Louis ************************************************** ** sorry .........no I'm not! remove ns from my header address to reply via email Does Bill Gates dream of electronic sheep? |
#14
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Chain tensioner ideas
On Fri, 26 Mar 2004 15:08:47 -0500, "Kai St-Louis"
vaguely proposed a theory .......and in reply I say!: remove ns from my header address to reply via email Sorry about that!! here it is http://www.lovejoy-inc.com/motorbases.htm Ahah! Yes. Thanks. The farm shop had those. They were Aud$100 or so each! Nice simple idea, but why not a nice simple price? ........because they can??? ************************************************** ** sorry ..........no I'm not! remove ns from my header address to reply via email Does Bill Gates dream of electronic sheep? |
#15
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Chain tensioner ideas
If you can avoid anything that turns the rollers on the chain, you may
get a little better life in a dirty environment. Even though the bushings are hardened (and sometimes the rollers, sometimes neither in really crappy chain), you have a steel against steel wear point. We use what we call a "follower wheel". Basically, it's a UHMW wheel with a bump that sticks out for some guiding between the chain sidebars. The bump doesn't stick out quite to the point of touching the rollers. The sidebars of the chain sit on the shoulders of the UHMW follower wheel. Sidebars can wear down quite a lot and still not cause sprocket engagement problems whereas if the rollers wear even a little, you can start having problems. I'm not sure of the speed of the chain or the overall tension so cannot say if UHMW would be adequate for your application. A spring system will probably be enough to apply the tension you need. Oh yea...go as large as possible on any tensioner so that the chain doesn't have to bang it's way around a small diameter bend. Koz Old Nick wrote: Back to my post hole digger. I want to spring-tension the main drive chain (5/8"). I was wondering if anyone has any useful ideas about putting a chain tensioner together. Part of the reason is that I wll have to use 2, because the chain fouls the mounting (my build :- ) if I just tension one side. I have thought of actually using a little sprocket, or a ball bearing on a shaft (no drive needed, of course). But there was one picture that appeared to simply use a piece of plastic! Presumably delrin, or some other slippery, hard material? It looked quite narrow. I assume it sits only on the chain rollers. The chain is in exposed, dusty conditions, I might add. That was why the dragging plastinc idea did not appeal. Any ideas appreciated. ************************************************* *** sorry .........no I'm not! remove ns from my header address to reply via email Does Bill Gates dream of electronic sheep? |
#16
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Chain tensioner ideas
On Wed, 24 Mar 2004 11:48:26 -0800, Koz
vaguely proposed a theory .......and in reply I say!: remove ns from my header address to reply via email If you can avoid anything that turns the rollers on the chain, you may get a little better life in a dirty environment. Even though the bushings are hardened (and sometimes the rollers, sometimes neither in really crappy chain), you have a steel against steel wear point. Yeah. I was thinking about this. Chain wear is the biggest problem, not some bit of plastic. But as you say, a static piece of plastic will turn the rollers. We use what we call a "follower wheel". Basically, it's a UHMW wheel with a bump that sticks out for some guiding between the chain sidebars. The bump doesn't stick out quite to the point of touching the rollers. The sidebars of the chain sit on the shoulders of the UHMW follower wheel. Sidebars can wear down quite a lot and still not cause sprocket engagement problems whereas if the rollers wear even a little, you can start having problems. I'm not sure of the speed of the chain or the overall tension so cannot say if UHMW would be adequate for your application. A spring system will probably be enough to apply the tension you need. Fairly slow. It comes of a 3" sprocket on a 500 RPM PTO on a tractor. Oh yea...go as large as possible on any tensioner so that the chain doesn't have to bang it's way around a small diameter bend. Yes. I thought of this when I considered a ball bearing (now discarded as an idea). If the tensioner does not use a sprocket, too small wheel will cause a constant chattering. ************************************************** ** sorry ..........no I'm not! remove ns from my header address to reply via email Does Bill Gates dream of electronic sheep? |
#17
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Chain tensioner ideas
On Wed, 24 Mar 2004 14:41:25 +0800, Old Nick
vaguely proposed a theory .......and in reply I say!: remove ns from my header address to reply via email Thanks for all the food for thought, guys. ************************************************** ** sorry ..........no I'm not! remove ns from my header address to reply via email Does Bill Gates dream of electronic sheep? |
#18
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Chain tensioner ideas
Old Nick wrote in
: Back to my post hole digger. I want to spring-tension the main drive chain (5/8"). I was wondering if anyone has any useful ideas about putting a chain tensioner together. Part of the reason is that I wll have to use 2, because the chain fouls the mounting (my build :- ) if I just tension one side. I have thought of actually using a little sprocket, or a ball bearing on a shaft (no drive needed, of course). But there was one picture that appeared to simply use a piece of plastic! Presumably delrin, or some other slippery, hard material? It looked quite narrow. I assume it sits only on the chain rollers. The chain is in exposed, dusty conditions, I might add. That was why the dragging plastinc idea did not appeal. Any ideas appreciated. ************************************************** ** sorry .........no I'm not! remove ns from my header address to reply via email Does Bill Gates dream of electronic sheep? whatever you use on the drive side to run against the chain, you really should think about a ratcheting or hydraulic locking method of keeping the tensioner tensioned. The idle side has no real pressure on it (unless it's reversing), the drive side does. A spring taunt enough to adequately control whip at start/stop may put too much added load on the chain. -- Anthony You can't 'idiot proof' anything....every time you try, they just make better idiots. Remove sp to reply via email |
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Chain tensioner ideas
On Thu, 25 Mar 2004 01:02:51 GMT, Anthony
vaguely proposed a theory .......and in reply I say!: remove ns from my header address to reply via email I have modified the whole frame that the chain runs in. I will only need to tension the slack side now. Thanks for all the help, guys. I realise I am not going to directly use it all. But the bit about the drive side having all that force decided me to "simply" (BAH! It never is!G) mod the setup a bit. whatever you use on the drive side to run against the chain, you really should think about a ratcheting or hydraulic locking method of keeping the tensioner tensioned. The idle side has no real pressure on it (unless it's reversing), the drive side does. A spring taunt enough to adequately control whip at start/stop may put too much added load on the chain. ************************************************** ** sorry ..........no I'm not! remove ns from my header address to reply via email Does Bill Gates dream of electronic sheep? |
#20
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Chain tensioner ideas
On Wed, 24 Mar 2004 14:41:25 +0800, Old Nick
vaguely proposed a theory .......and in reply I say!: remove ns from my header address to reply via email Ok. I went to the local ag shop today. They understand us RAG (rough as Guts) backwards...errr backwoods...engineers! They have a 10 tooth sprocket, with pressed (sweated?) in bearing, which simply mounts on a threaded 1/2" rod. You then use two nuts (with locks if needed) to move the bearing along the rod to line up with your chain, and lock it in place with the nuts. No pressing etc. $18 or so for the sprocket and bearing. I supply the spring loading. I like the sprocket as it feels as if it disturbs the rollers on the chain least, and wears least. Sprockets are what chain was made for. Again. Thanks for all the replies. This one suits me this time, but I have other applications coming up. Some of the other ideas are most interesting. ************************************************** ** sorry ..........no I'm not! remove ns from my header address to reply via email Does Bill Gates dream of electronic sheep? |
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