Chain tensioner "suggestions"

A primitive ornament installed by many who have too much time on their hands or in rare cases actually required by those who made poor choice in bike design.

Kinda messed up dissin people like that. What's next people who pass gas cause all they can afford is rice and beans?

lol - I'll be the first to admit my frame was a "poor choice" requiring excessive amounts of effort to fit an engine to - including the dreaded tensioner/guide to route the chain up and over my chainstay...

Still, it came out acceptable - alla this is kinda a moot point anyway as a jackshaft is the only real solution.

The alternator/generator bracket idea has been tossed around for a while. I've never actually used one but the only issue I can see is that most alternators and older generators used a 3/8" bolt through the adjusting slot. Most tensioner wheels and skateboard wheels, or all that I've seen, use a 5/16" (about 8mm) bolt/bearing. You could probably take up the slack with washers if it's not an appearance issue with you. The curvature would lend itself well to most bikes. If you're fortunate to have access to a mill making the elongnated slot is a snap and some heat to bend the bracket. I use 3/16" flat stock. 1/4" would work but would be overkill for our purposes.
Tom

__________________
Age and Treachery Will Always Triumph
Over Youth and Skill

Normally I wouldn't say anything but the number of guys that came back with busted rear wheels makes my life a living hel. I started taking the tensioner out of the kits before handing them over but "where there's a will there's a way". Some picked up after martket tensioners.

Hopefully a few will read these posts and connect the dots.

"That's right boys just don't put those beansinyourears... beansinyourears... beansinyourears..."

As we all know every bike frame is different...I bought my bike as basic transportation to subsidize riding on the bus...buyin the motor kit was an afterthought. I paid a whopping $40 for the bike at a pawn shop. I LIKE using the tensioner for several reasons. I don't have the money for a jackshaft. I like the ability to service my back tire easily. It raises the chain up to give extra teeth grab on drive and back sprocket. And most of all it agrivates my Yankee friend in NY LOL

ooh - I like that reason!

c'mon, he put the smiley faces in there...

I see no connection between shift kit and tensioner. Do you have money for a new rear wheel? As far as servicing wheel and chain... that was one of the other reasons I REMOVED mine. Maybe does put another tooth (or half of one) in the chain but is a major factor in loss of efficiency due to friction. Specially when the chain is deflected at such a ridiculous angle as some. I've seen measurable increase in mileage and top speed after pulling the tensioner on a few of the bikes.

The only real reason for using one is if you are unlucky to have dropouts that don't allow wheel adjustment. Even then I would personally go to the "t" engine mount trick now that I know the deal with those tensioners.

PS No aggravation at all unless you're one of the guys who paid me for the optional 5yr warranty.

*sneaks o'er to xlite's bike and bolts on a tensioner when he's not lookin'*

|.o