DIY Chain Tensioner

[gx390]

Hey guys, it's me again needing some more advice. So my go kart has a #35 chain, but it is too loose. But if I shorten it it gets too tight. I have considered shimming the engine, but I also switch between 72 and 60 tooth sprockets, so this won't work. (72 for bashing and 60 for speed). My next idea it to make a spring tensioner out of a spring, flat steel, and an idler gear, kind of like this picture. Will this prevent the chain from popping off?

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[firemanjim]

Yep......

 

[landuse]

That is a slick tensioner. If you do something like that you will be fine

 

[Poboy kartman]

Since you didn't fill out your profile I don't know if there is one around you but. ......Tractor Supply should have an off-set link that may solve the problem. It basically eliminates 1/2 of a link.

 

[anderkart]

This pic gives a better reference of where a chain tensioner should be located.

 

[buckwheat]

The overhung load on that bolt looks excessive. I would heat & bend a dogleg in the flatbar arm piece to reduce the overhung load. What kind of bearing is in the idler sprocket?

 

[gx390]

Buckwheat, which picture are you talking about?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[OzFab]

The pic you posted; a tensioner mech should be as close to the line of the chain as possible; the farther away from the chain, the longer the bolts you need & bolts tend to bend under load

 

[buckwheat]

Fabroman has said what I was thinking. The bolt needs to be shortened to reduce the over hung load. This will require moving the mounting bracket or re-engineering the arm and its pivot point. You might have to go to a larger sprocket so you can incorporate a ball bearing or at least a bronze oilite bushing.