Chain Tensioner idler wheel

Anyone know of anything to replace this. Is there anything at a hardware store I could buy to make one.Mine broke dont really want to wait a 2 weeks to get one. Thanks

 

Sure..

Get a Roller blade wheel with Abec bearings and and some flat washers and make a new Idler wheel. You will need to cut a small grove in the wheel for the chain to ride in. I use a drill press and make a lathe out of it and a chisel to make the groove. Enjoy the ride..

 

I know that I saw a picture of that done on here. I now cant find it. Anybody else see that picture of the roller blade wheel?

 

http://www.motoredbikes.com/viewtopic.php?t=181

 

Thanks

 

yes...but....

If you look at that pic. That idler wheel is on the power side of the chain. Not good. You can put a wheel on the power side to take up chain lash when slowing. But..It should be spring loaded. To put a wheel with no give on the power side is not the best. Enjoy the ride..

 

Well I made a atempt at the roller blade wheel. I made the groove which is good. I put it on the bike but when you tighten it. The wheel wont spin so the chain just drags across it. How do I secure it so that the wheel will spin with the chain? Dac you made it sound so easy just get a couple of washers yeah then what? I put the bolt through the wheel with a couple of small washers on both sides. What am i doing wrong here?

 

hey Bert, I haven't tried this mod yet, but you may be tightening the nut and bolt too much. What you need is a locknut so the skate wheel can still turn,

 

Well that looks like what i did except I put it were the old pulley was I dont want it on top . I am looking to put it were the old one was. That bolt looks no different than the one i was using expect for that one is longer. I didnt have that many washers either. It has to be tight otherwise it just falls down and the chain gets loose which defeats the whole purpose of it.

 

So, you're still using the old idler bracket?... toss that thing away, nothing but trouble.

 

Yes I am I thought it would be a easy fix just put in a roller blade wheel were the old one was. Didnt know I should also replace the bracket as well.What do you recomend to replace that thing? How can I make this roller blade wheel set up work? Have you done the roller wheel thing yet?

 

See the pics above, that bracke is an old seat pole bracket.

 

Yeah i can see the pics would i have to use a thousand washer to get it out that far?Is that really a good place for the idler wheel. Do you have this setup on your bike?

 

"IF",,, you replaced the original tensioner with the wheel did it turn freeley with no contact with the chain?? If it won't turn freely with no contact, then it probably won't turn with the chain contact either! Use your old bracket and install the new wheel, but make sure it will turn! Even if you do a mock install without the chain on it to test it. The photo's here are for the general idea and concept,, in this case it was a demo of a top tensioner to be used more for chain creep when you decelerate. Hope this helps.

Papa

 

Now with that all said and done,,,,,,, you might be tightening the whole unit to tight and it locks the wheel up?? like chopper mentioned you might need a lock nut to set the wheel so it will turn even after you put it on your bracket. Hope this helps.

Papa

 

Has anyone put the roller blade wheel on the bottom for the tension. If you have done this let me know how. I cant seem to figure out a way to keep it tight and get the wheel to spin with the chain. The nut has nothing to do with this I went and got a lock nut its the same as with a regular nut. That pic yeah looks all simple cause its on the top which is really not doing anything but hanging on there.proably just keeps the chain from bouncing. Anyone have any other ideas?

 

I am going to assume,,, that the wheel you are trying to use is equipped with bearings. Next, You will have to make contact with the races of the bearing and NOT the wheel when tightening the bolt. This may mean you will have to use small tubing or small washers on both sides of the bearing making sure they do not touch the wheel. Then use what ever you need to, to get the wheel in the right position to make contact with the chain. The bearings have to "races",,, one is next to the wheel and the other will ride on the shaft ( bolt or stud ) that you use for an axle. You only want to make contact with the race that is next to the shaft,,, not in the middle of the bearing or the race that is in contact with the wheel. Once you do this then you can tighten a nut to secure the bolt,washer,wheel,washer,then the nut. This is before you add washers or tubing or whatever to get the length needed to reach the bracket, (maybe all you will need is the nut), and then a nut on the outside to tighten the unit in place. It sounds like to me that you are just putting washers next to the wheel and cranking them tight, this only locks the wheel up. Hope this helps,,,

Papa

 

Thanks I just went out and put a piece of tube that i had left over from my fuel tube. I put a little piece on both ends. It worked but as soon as I dropped the clutch to start it got loose and fell down. I went and tried and tried again tightening it over and over. Same thing it just falls down cant get it tight enuff to hold it in place. I put some washers around and got it really tight then the washers dug into the tube. I have had it with this roller wheel mod. I am just going to order one to save my self the hassle of trying to rig this wheel up so that it is reliable. Thanks for all the help. Have you done this yourself nobody has answered that yet?

 

I have two wheels on order and waiting for them, then I will be able to say,,,, I did it on mine. The tubing I was refering to was meant to be steel tubing, not hose or fuel line. You need something that will take the tightening of the nut and not collapse. Sorry it didn't work out for you.

Papa

 

O I didnt know what kind of tubing you meant. :???: Oh well thanks again anyways I might have to try that one. Then if that dont work then i am done with it.Thanks