sprocket question

[devino246]

this sounds kind of crazy. Right now I have a 40 tooth sprocket on my go-kart and it runs great on the street. I want to run it off road, but still be able to go fast on the street. would it be possible to have both the 40 and a 60 tooth sprocket on the hub at the same time. of course the sprockets would be seperated by spacers, and I would have a different chain to use for each sprocket. I dont have the money for a torque converter so this seems to me like a good solution. What do you guys think. any problems i could run into?

 

[Freakly]

It would not work. If you were to do that the gearing would be always the 60t one and the 40t would do nothing. Might mess it up Idk. Now if you meant that you would only run one chain at a time and just swap out the chains from going onroad to off then it could work. You would need a Dual Sprocket Clutch ( EXAMPLE 2nd one from top) then place a sprocket on either side of the hub.

 

[porsche930dude]

you might also consider a 2 speed jackshaft but that would end up costing as much as a tc. If your patient and ask around you can piece together a tc for under 100$ like so http://www.oldminibikes.com/forum/general-minibike-talk/20960-comet-clutch-set-up.html. Your idea will work but youd also have to adjust your engine or perhaps position the sprockets so you can just flip around your clutch

 

[devino246]

i do mean run only 1 at a time. i was thinking of just mounting a box on the go kart and puting the extra chain in there. hypothetically, if the chain is only moved over a 1/2" or so it wouldnt need to me realigned. Plus theres about 14-16" between the clutch and the axle so it seems the angle change would be miniscule. thanks for the quick replies.

 

[modelengineer]

if the chain is only moved over a 1/2" or so it wouldnt need to me realigned

Yes it will. If it's 1/2" out it will wear the sprockets much more quickly than if it was correct.
If the hub carrying the sprockets is keyed to the axle, it's only a 10 second job with an allen key to move it over 1/2".
I vote you just go with a sprocket in between, like a 50t, and be happy with the increased acceleration.

 

[Russ2251]

Have you considered split driven sprockets?
Takes just a few minutes to swap them out.
I often alternate between 66 and 72 tooth without changing alignment.
One drawback is that they are limited in size. Perhaps not smaller than 52 or 54 teeth.
Sprocket hub is determining factor.

 

[devino246]

Thats true about the increased sprocket wear. I have considered a split driven sprocket, but the hub I have on the kart is the wrong size and id rather not spend money on a new hub. I'll probably just keep an allen wrench on the kart and move the hub over a little when i change the gearing.

 

[Freakly]

You can get the hub i have LINK and put both sprockets on the hub. One on either side. The chain will clear the other sprocket and then all you have to do is switch out chains and move the hub a little bit. You can still use a solid sprocket. If you want pictures to show how it will look and chain clearance then just say so and ill try to find m camera.

 

[WI_Chopper]

what about two sprockets connected on a keyway, where you could flip it around with a spacer in between to keep the chain off the other. Take the 40, weld on 1" of pipe, weld on the 60, but know that you have to flip the 40 and 60 when you want to switch, then you stay aligned

 

[devino246]

what about two sprockets connected on a keyway, where you could flip it around with a spacer in between to keep the chain off the other. Take the 40, weld on 1" of pipe, weld on the 60, but know that you have to flip the 40 and 60 when you want to switch, then you stay aligned

But i wanna be able to quickly move from one to the other. I'll probably just add the 60 on the other side of the hub and move it over a little when i wanna change.