Do i really need to use a chain guide?

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ACIDBURN

New Member
Feb 16, 2009
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Brisbane Australia
Hi guys,

Can anything bad happen if i dont use the chain tensioner on a CIF50?.

Also what if the chain is to tight/ too loose (apart from it falling off etc).

Thanks guys

Info much appreciated


.wee.
 

leftywoody

Member
Aug 23, 2008
405
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16
Lagrange Indiana
loose chain's can result in sprocket prematurely wearing out and shreaded pant legs . Tight chains can add premature wear to sprockets and shaft bearings and prematurely stretch chains .
 
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Dan

Staff
May 25, 2008
12,765
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Moosylvania
Howdy AB. On china girls, I had always waited for the chain to stretch out then re broke the chain so as not to use the tensioner. I had thought it was just one more thing to go wrong. The only down side is that chain now only fits that one MB and engine. (I swap stuff around a lot) On new 4 stroke, I am planning to keep it. Not suggesting either, just what I have tried.

What is a CIF50?
 

2door

Moderator
Staff member
Sep 15, 2008
16,302
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Littleton, Colorado
A too loose chain can be downright dangerous. If it bunches up on the engine drive sprocket, or comes off the rear wheel sprocket it will be the best brake you can imagine. Sudden stop, for sure and can result in damage to the engine case, rear spokes/rim etc. I'm a firm believer in chain tensioners for several reasons. Chains, even good quality industrial chain will wear and loosen over time. If your bike does not have adjustable drop outs then you'll be faced with cutting the chain and using half-links to keep the tension right. Another reason I like them is that they help guide the chain onto the rear sprocket, if installed correctly. The kit tensioners have some design problems in that they often do not run true to the chain angle when installed on the chain stay. They all seem to require a slight twist to get the pully wheel exactly parallel to the chain path. In addition the tensioner bracket needs to be secured to the frame of the bike to prevent it from rotating into the spokes under load. I've used a 10/32 screw through a hole drilled completely through the bracket and chainstay and others have had good luck with a self tapping screw. Currently I have stopped using the kit tensioner bracket and have opted for a welded bracket that I know will not/ can not move. Hope this helps and it might interest you to know that Dan and I usually see eye to eye on everthing else.
 

Dan

Staff
May 25, 2008
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Moosylvania
Makes good sence Tom. Really think you should market your tensioner. Lost very first rear wheel to faulty tensioner install. (my fault entirely) Think it made me leery.
 
Sep 20, 2008
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Clearwater, FL
web.tampabay.rr.com
Acidburn,

I've looked at this too...and I don't see how it is possible. I know several people here on the forum do not use tensioners.

I've set up a few new bikes that, (just by luck), the pedal side chain and engine side chain were perfectly tensioned. The problem is that, as Tom pointed out, it doesn't last for long. A new engine chain will need adjustment almost immediately just like on a motorcycle.

Even with a decent amount of adjustment on the dropout, there's nothing you can do because the pedal side chain must also be tensioned correctly. If the pedal side chain was tensioned properly along with the engine side chain...the pedal side is going to remain correct as the engine side stretches.

The only bikes that I have seen with a decent amount of dropout adjustment have been single speed coaster brake bikes, or bikes with an internal planetary set for multiple speeds. In other words they do not use a chain tensioner...the chain is tensioned by the slot in the dropout so that the wheel can be moved back as the chain stretches.

A multispeed bike that uses a deraileur does not need a frame with a lot of adjustment at the dropouts, (it's for wheel alignment), the Deraileur takes up the chain slack.

The difference between a chain that is tensioned properly to one that is dangerously slack is less than one link.

The chain will not fall off when it gets slack...At the perfect amount of slackness the chain plates will ride on top of the sprocket teeth, and not fall off. The portion of the chain that is still seated in the sprocket will ensure that the chain will continue to ride on top of the teeth. In the first 5 degrees the chain will become TIGHT. In the next 5 degrees of rotation the chain will become REALLY TIGHT. After this the engine will be snatched from the frame, or the spokes will snap! It will happen too quick to prevent. On a motorcycle the rear wheel will lock up! On an engine powered bicycle there will be damage!

I have yet to do it, but I have an Electra here at the shop that has long slots in the dropouts for the rear wheel. I'm going to put a chain tensioner on the pedal side chain so that I can use the slots for keeping the engine side tensioned correctly. Correct chain tension is about 1/2" of up-down travel mid chain with the opposite side tight...just depends on which way you roll the wheel whether you're checking from the top or bottom. I prefer to roll the rear wheel forward and check the top, or drive side, of the chain...no reasoning behind it...just habit from MC days.

Without a great deal of fiddling around, and possibly a bit of expense, (high quality hardened chain), I don't see any way around using a tensioner for most bikes?

Jim
 
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Tinsmith

Well-Known Member
May 15, 2009
1,056
259
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Maryland
Acidburn,

Just finished my first build, and after reading most of the threads on chain tensioners I opted to replace the plastic roller with a sprocket. I bored it out and pressed in a small bearing and it quieted thing down a great deal and I have ridden nearly every day for the past couple weeks with no chain problems. There are a few posts with pics showing a sprocket tensioner. When I get some photos and figure out how to post them I will show what I came up with. Nothing new, but it seems to work real well. Good Luck
 

2door

Moderator
Staff member
Sep 15, 2008
16,302
175
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Littleton, Colorado
I've attached a picture showing what I did to eliminate the clamp-on tensioner bracket. Hope this helps. It also shows the skateboard wheel used in place of the kit supplied pulley.
Tom
 

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trackfodder

Member
Sep 8, 2008
347
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Timely. I was just about to post a bit of wisdom I picked up from Spooky Tooth. I was asking for a drive chain offset link so I could do away with the tensioner. He suggested using an offset link in the peddle chain instead for a safer alternative. It changes the length of the chain 1/2" either way. DUH!
 
Sep 20, 2008
1,668
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Clearwater, FL
web.tampabay.rr.com
Track,

That's exactly what I did to the GT Deuce that is shown on the home page of my site.

I went all over town looking for a 1/2 link for the kit chain, and then realized Doh! all I need is a bicycle chain half link.

Both chains were tensioned perfectly, but not for long. The engine chain stretched after the first few miles, so I put the tensioner on. For that build I didn't even think about getting a longer pedal chain and a spring loaded tensioner.

This would have allowed me to keep moving the wheel back periodically to keep the engine side chain adjusted.

This is what I plan on doing to the Electra. It should work out great!

Jim
 

drhofferber

New Member
Jun 22, 2008
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Two Door...that is the best chain tension solve I've seen...I believe Ridley motorbikes has one similar that bolts on...thank you for sharing that...thats going into my GREAT MOTORBIKE...ha...thanks...Dennis
 

Cabinfever1977

New Member
Mar 23, 2009
2,288
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Upstate,NY
two door thats the same idea i had,thats what id like to do sometime but with one that bolts on both frame rails(i cant weld).you did a amazing job on that tensioner,i bet it works great and its safer too. a bolt on one simular to yours should come standard with our kits,for safety reasons.
 

deacon

minor bike philosopher
Jan 15, 2008
8,114
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north carolina
I always found the tensioner did better on the pedal side. I adjusted for the motor chain then tensioned the pedal side chain. Worked great for me. all my chain problems, and there were many, came when I used the tensioner on the motor side.