chain tensioner mod (in response to norman)

Ok heres mine

this is just a regular spring found almost everywhere using a washer type piece from a cheap batery lead. and the metal strip that is supposed to be used for the chainguard


this is the chain tensioner with the bearing, not the regular one.


and keeping with tradition. I present to you Elgren: (applause)

this is when he is clean

I will try out normans mod too.

a bit of both actually. it keeps the chain taut. theres not really much "tightness" actually. I got the idea from regular chain tensioners, for cars and motorcycles.

then thing is that this kit did not like any slack at all on the tensioner. when there was more torque on the engine after a while the tensioner kinda moved back towards the front wheel and it looked like it tilted a bit towards the spokes, even though I had tightened the thing "gorilla tight".

I had thought of drilling a hole through the tensioner plate, into the chainstay of the bike, a-la norman, but I decided to look for an alternative to drilling a hole on the frame. (the frame is a raleigh and it think its nice )

The bikes coasts freely with NO vibration from the chain, very smooth. I think because its the "sealed bearing tensioner" and not the regular one that I was able to get away with this. I remember trying to get the stock tensioner taut on my 2stroke kits when I first got them, and NO-GO. too much friction the tensioner wheels would not spin properly. the stock tensioners I think run better with a good amount of play on the chain. it rattles a bit but it they run just fine. I think it was actually one of YOUR posts that convinced me to let the chain loose, before that I wanted to get it to have some "tension".

Toytime: yeah actually I did that too. I had to bend the tensioner plate a bit to get the derailleur wheel to line up exactly, because the first one I put did not line up PERFECT and it broke. I think the same happened to largefilipino with his.

If you try it make sure it lines up perfectly with the chain, at least that what I found out....the hard way

that actually made the ride a little smoother yes. When I read what I believe was bikeguy joe's post on leaving 1 inch or more slack on the chain I couldnt resist messing with it and tried it. it worked just fine, I just have not had a need to change it over. but when I do I'll probably find something with a bearing to experiment.

GOOD LUCK!

dont missunderstand, the derailleur wheel does work VERY well. you just have to aling it just right. I would use it again, only I have a problem with leaving well enough alone, gotta keep fiddling with things

YES! youre completely right, actually tried that, but I got lazy did not want to figure out how to attach it to the top and keep it from rolling down (hose clamp maybe ) I only took 10< min to think about it get the parts and rig it up. Its a VERY simple and lazy mod, with definite room for improvement.

you know? thats crazy enough to work.

hmmm....