Bike is nearly perfect NOW....

[BoltsMissing]

Has anyone come up with a way to build a tensioner that is quieter? I hate how much noise mine adds.....I attract attention riding under pedal power only simply because the tensioner makes so much noise.

On one build I used 15 tooth de-railer cog, but has to be lined up straight and some side play, ( left to right ) on the bolt the cog runs on.
On another bike this method did not work so well, but it was a a bit of a odd frame set up. spring tensioner got it going again.

As LW suggested, spring allows for that extra bit of flexibilty, too much tension and you tax some power off the final drive, too lose and it does all sorts of aother nasty thngs too.

 

[MotoMagz]

Hey, if you want a quiet tensioner it must be a small sprocket/Idler wheel not the standard pulley type. I ride with a 11 tooth metal idler sprocket and it's smoooth,or you can use a old derailier gear from a ten speed which will also cut down on the noise. MotoMagz

 

[pessen]

MotoMagz, BoltsMissing,

Thank you both for your suggestions:

Hey, if you want a quiet tensioner it must be a small sprocket/Idler wheel not the standard pulley type. I ride with a 11 tooth metal idler sprocket and it's smoooth,or you can use a old derailier gear from a ten speed which will also cut down on the noise. MotoMagz

On one build I used 15 tooth de-railer cog, but has to be lined up straight and some side play, ( left to right ) on the bolt the cog runs on.
On another bike this method did not work so well, but it was a a bit of a odd frame set up. spring tensioner got it going again.

Ya, I'll bet that would be a lot quieter, and produce a lot less friction. How did you go about attaching the derailer/small sprocket? Do you have any close up pics of your set up? Thanks much!

pessen

 

[BoltsMissing]

How did you go about attaching the derailer/small sprocket? Do you have any close up pics of your set up? Thanks much!

pessen

It started here

Large Filipino posts had originally developed what your asking
http://www.motoredbikes.com/showthread.php?t=8394
1st pictures here
http://www.motoredbikes.com/showthread.php?t=8394&page=2
Pictures with bolt dimensions here
http://www.motoredbikes.com/showthread.php?t=8394&page=3

 

[pessen]

Thanks for the links. That looks like it would be so much better than the cheap plastic rollers. I like the idea of using the derailleur sprocket, but also making it have adjustable tension by adding a spring as I have seen some others do.

Just have to find somewhere that I can pick up a used derailleur and I'll be set.

 

[KeepOnKeepnOn]

A skateboard wheel works well and is quiet. The softness of the urethane wheel makes the chain to tensioner friction quiet and the wheel has bearings so the rotational friction is minimal and quiet.

 

[crlefley]

thats a great idea.. could you possibly post a picture of the back side?

 

[ty151]

In Lonewolf's original post on his spring chain tensioner....how is the new piece of metal attached to the stock tensior? Is it bolted down tightly or just tight enough to allow the piece of metal to move up and down with the soring? Thanks

 

[give me vtec]

very nice... good thinking