Out of ideas on chain tension

electricorange

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The electric motor sprocket configuration in the pictures below worked beautifully for about a month and then all of a sudden the chain will jump over the sprocket gear. The skipping caused the original sprocket to be worn down which I've replaced with a new one. I put washers under the electric motor and it made it too tight. The chain did not skip but it was very loud and the chain would get warm.

I'm trying to figure out how to create an adjustable base for this motor and I am flat out of ideas. I can do my own (crappy) welding if needed but I'm stumped and would appreciate any ideas!!

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anderkart

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Maybe it's just an optical illusion, but your pics seem to show the inner width of your chain is a lot wider than the teeth of your drive gear and axle sprocket.

Does your chain seem to have excessive side to side freeplay?

Did You install a #40 pitch Chain on one of the narrower width 1/2" pitch axle Sprocket and Drive Gears by any chance?

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madprofessor

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I don't know how many sprocket types there are of the flat-sided sprockets for electric motors, but this ad alone shows 3 of them..............
Electric Motor Sprocket #35 T8F 25H 11T 9T Tooth For Gokart Scooter Quad Buggy | eBay
Is it a certainty that you ordered correctly, and received a correctly shipped one, for your type of chain?
Now for one of my particular peeves that folks have called me out on repeatedly.................When the 2 sprockets are that close together, the number of teeth on the motor sprocket that get wrapped around by the chain is reduced, making skipping more likely with, say, 5 teeth as opposed to, say, 7 teeth. The longer the sprocket separation distance, the more teeth get engaged on the smaller sprocket.
 

electricorange

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Maybe it's just an optical illusion, but your pics seem to show the inner width of your chain is a lot wider than the teeth of your drive gear and axle sprocket.

Does your chain seem to have excessive side to side freeplay?

Did You install a #40 pitch Chain on one of the narrower width 1/2" pitch axle Sprocket and Drive Gears by any chance?

View attachment 134594
Not an illusion - the chain is wider than the sprockets. I bought the kit partially used so it may be the wrong chain (or the wrong sprockets?). There is some side to side motion. I just measured the distance between the inner plates which was 0.193 inches or somewhere between 3/16 and 1/4. The sprocket width was 0.107 towards the outer edge. The sprocket on the motor is a T8F MY1020 11 tooth sprocket from amazon that is 4mm (0.15 inch) wide.

Maybe I should go with a #410 (#43) chain per the chart above?

Thanks for the info!

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electricorange

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I don't know how many sprocket types there are of the flat-sided sprockets for electric motors, but this ad alone shows 3 of them..............
Electric Motor Sprocket #35 T8F 25H 11T 9T Tooth For Gokart Scooter Quad Buggy | eBay
Is it a certainty that you ordered correctly, and received a correctly shipped one, for your type of chain?
Now for one of my particular peeves that folks have called me out on repeatedly.................When the 2 sprockets are that close together, the number of teeth on the motor sprocket that get wrapped around by the chain is reduced, making skipping more likely with, say, 5 teeth as opposed to, say, 7 teeth. The longer the sprocket separation distance, the more teeth get engaged on the smaller sprocket.
Yes I've been wondering about how close the two sprockets are. The chain is only touching about 4 teeth at a time. I thought about raising up the motor (or pushing it forward) and adding length to the chain. It seems in pictures of other karts that the sprockets are close together too so I figured this wasn't too much of a problem. Thanks for the reply.
 

electricorange

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A bit more research... The chain is a #35 chain (it's stamped on the side of it). The sprocket that is currently on there is for a T8F chain. The drive axle sprocket is 72 tooth for a #35 chain. So the sprocket is not ideal but it's not too far off. I think the problem is more about how much the chain wraps around the sprocket. I'm going to try to move the sprockets farther apart.
 

Willie1

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I'd definitely consider raising the motor to make room to install an idler sprocket.
This would improve the "wrap" around the drive sprocket to increase tooth contact in the chain.
It could also be used to tension the chain. Excuse my crude illustration.
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madprofessor

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I've got some hardcover books that have covers thicker than those skimpy little T8F sprockets are. You've got #35 chain and #35 axle sprocket. Get one of the #35 sprockets from the link I posted earlier, there's a 9-tooth and an 11-tooth, and it's a good bet your problems will mostly vanish.
 

Willie1

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But do not use red lines, use chain instead it will work better. The red string will slip too much.
I usually have Grammie crochet traction loops onto premium polyester twine.
If that twine is strong enough to keep thongs and G-Strings on the girls at the ThighFlapper Lounge,
it will hold up to sprockets spun by a Predator.
 

Functional Artist

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All (3) chain drive parts (drive sprocket, chain & driven sprocket) should be the same (all 8mm or all #35)
...& moving the motor as far forward, as possible, should give you a better "chain wrap" ;)
 
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