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View Full Version : Chain Tensioners.. Yes or No


Frank
08-20-2003, 07:15 AM
Interested to get a consensus on this issue

Use a chain tensioner or not.. and why?

regards all

Frank
Frank
08-20-2003, 07:15 AM
Interested to get a consensus on this issue

Use a chain tensioner or not.. and why?

regards all

Frank
Dominic Venieri
08-20-2003, 09:32 AM
Though not really a tensioner, we ran an idler on 2002 to keep the chain line from running through our rear suspension. we redesigned our geometry to eliminate this on 2003. several issues. the tiny gear (12 or 13 tooth) spins so damn fast that the bearings it rode on would fry every few weeks. also, the added friction of the gear was a nasty power robber. we also thought about using a "slider" like what you see on dirtbikes - basically a long nylon/plastic block that the chain would run against. this would have to be replaced periodically, as the chain is going to eat right through it, but might not be as big a hassle as the other setup.

www.formularpi.com (http://www.formularpi.com)
2003 Formula Student Runner-Up
Moeye
08-20-2003, 07:01 PM
We had problems with the chain eating up the tensioner quickly on our 2001 car.
Schumi_Jr
08-22-2003, 12:42 PM
Have any of the teams that run a chain tensioner measured the resultant power losses?

Aaron Johnston
University of Waterloo FSAE

www.eng.uwaterloo.ca/~fsae (http://www.eng.uwaterloo.ca/~fsae)
D Mack - CMT
08-26-2003, 06:55 PM
hey Moeye, your tensioner was a nylon slyder type or a sprocket type or something else?
Moeye
08-28-2003, 07:18 PM
It had a plastic outer ring and it rode on a inner bearing piece.
Garbo
09-02-2003, 02:39 PM
From a variety of *uckups and oversights, we have to run a delrin (or teflon, depending on what we can get for free) block to stop the chain eating the chassis (I guess this could be a 'tensioner'. It lasts for about 5 to 10 test days and can be replaced in about ten minutes.

As the real 'tensioner', we use sliding diff bearing carriers. They move at bad times.

Garbo