Chain tensiorer

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lakesmod
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SELF INTRODUCTION: I'm a 60ish owner of a late '84 model H-D Sportster. I live on Taylor Bay on the Key Peninsula coast of Puget Sound in Washington State. I've had the bike about 1-1/2 years. Changed drag bars to apes. I'm in the process of lowering the rear about 4". I don't like stock & I enjoy modifying. Have had Honda's, Triumph's, Sportsters and Shovelheads.
Location: Taylor Bay, Washington

Chain tensiorer

Post by lakesmod »

Has anybody made there own chain tensioner.
Pictures?
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curt
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Re: Chain tensiorer

Post by curt »

i remember some on the old bord maybe dan can get em for ya but i think he said it was fragmented so he might need time
ever notice when you hit somethin or someone with a hammer you feel instantly better
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sleepyonthree
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Re: Chain tensiorer

Post by sleepyonthree »

Picture from the old board of three tensioners, not sure of the thread it came from. Appears to used a modified
auto drive belt tensioner.

Serpentine belt tensioner from napa for a 1998 GMC Yukon showen. Doubt the plastic belt
pulley would hold up to a chain. The nub on the housing fits a hole to restrain the spring tension
and provide the tension factor.
Attachments
auto drive belt tensioner.JPG
auto drive belt tensioner.JPG (53.02 KiB) Viewed 5379 times
chain ten idler.JPG
chain ten idler.JPG (104.57 KiB) Viewed 5379 times
nothing is foolproof to a sufficiently talented fool
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Maxthegardener
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Re: Chain tensiorer

Post by Maxthegardener »

I had a load of links and picture and variations on the old board. I'll look.
Jeff L
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Re: Chain tensiorer

Post by Jeff L »

I made this one.
IMG_0012.JPG
IMG_0012.JPG (39.44 KiB) Viewed 5376 times
Changing the shape of the Earth...1 bucket at a time...IUOE local 825 top of the food chain
lakesmod
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Posts: 11
Joined: Thu Jan 05, 2012 3:07 pm
SELF INTRODUCTION: I'm a 60ish owner of a late '84 model H-D Sportster. I live on Taylor Bay on the Key Peninsula coast of Puget Sound in Washington State. I've had the bike about 1-1/2 years. Changed drag bars to apes. I'm in the process of lowering the rear about 4". I don't like stock & I enjoy modifying. Have had Honda's, Triumph's, Sportsters and Shovelheads.
Location: Taylor Bay, Washington

Re: Chain tensiorer

Post by lakesmod »

Thanks for the replys.
Jeff L-Can you give me some details ,like what sprocket and bearing did you use?
Thanks, Fred
Jeff L
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SELF INTRODUCTION: Hey...I live in South Jersey (the Super Fund State) work as an Operating Engineer local825.Besides bikes I love to fish the surf.I have my current & seemingly endless project a BSA 750 Rocket3, a 72 Honda CB750,79 Kawasaki KZ1000, 48 Simplex, & a 62 Norton Atlas engine
Location: South Jersey

Re: Chain tensiorer

Post by Jeff L »

The sprocket is an industrial ider sprocket from tractor supply.I forget what size, but its same size as 530 chain.The bearing I got in a bin at the steel supply I go to.It was a little bigger than the bore in the sprocket, so I just opened it up to fit.
Changing the shape of the Earth...1 bucket at a time...IUOE local 825 top of the food chain
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yona
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Re: Chain tensiorer

Post by yona »

The Chevy tensioner and the sprocket ( Grainger's ) is the cheapest unless your time is not worth anything ......I have cut the Chevy one down to use on a lot of different cars and bikes....... they polish out nice also.....The junk yards are full of them, I buy them by the 5 gal bucket full...i get the one that are locked up and say I am getting them to melt down and cast stuff. they weight the bucket and charge me the going price of scrap ! i mounted one on my Mower deck , when the stock piece of crap broke ...cuts down on the slippage so the belts don't burn up as fast1
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Jeff L
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SELF INTRODUCTION: Hey...I live in South Jersey (the Super Fund State) work as an Operating Engineer local825.Besides bikes I love to fish the surf.I have my current & seemingly endless project a BSA 750 Rocket3, a 72 Honda CB750,79 Kawasaki KZ1000, 48 Simplex, & a 62 Norton Atlas engine
Location: South Jersey

Re: Chain tensiorer

Post by Jeff L »

yona wrote: unless your time is not worth anything ..
...Wow dude...that is so far from the point of why you would Make a part rather than buy it.Considering what I make an hour at my job,everthing on my bike I could have probably bought cheaper than make.
Changing the shape of the Earth...1 bucket at a time...IUOE local 825 top of the food chain
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yona
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SELF INTRODUCTION: Automotive weldor and fabricator for 45 years, like to dip in to both pools............make hand-tooled leather covered seats and bags.................jack of all trades........................63 years old......live in Baja Georgia, on the coast...former military
Location: Baja Georgia - St Johns River Inlet
Contact:

Re: Chain tensiorer

Post by yona »

Was not my point but what I make an hour is to help feed and care for my family....why cobble up something that can break and leave you on side of the road....? guess I am too old to what to be different...I just like stuff to work....Sorry for butting in ....
I.D.G.A.F.H.T.D.I.A.O.C.C.
Jeff L
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SELF INTRODUCTION: Hey...I live in South Jersey (the Super Fund State) work as an Operating Engineer local825.Besides bikes I love to fish the surf.I have my current & seemingly endless project a BSA 750 Rocket3, a 72 Honda CB750,79 Kawasaki KZ1000, 48 Simplex, & a 62 Norton Atlas engine
Location: South Jersey

Re: Chain tensiorer

Post by Jeff L »

My appologies dude....sometimes its not easy to get someone point through a typed sentence.And fyi its not butting in....its called discusion.Different viewpoints are always good.especially when you dont agree with some...it makes you think.
Changing the shape of the Earth...1 bucket at a time...IUOE local 825 top of the food chain
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Re: Chain tensiorer

Post by gearhead1951 »

If it is MY time , not out of my work day and not costing me any money then it is FREE !

And if it ends up sold then that is extra money I wasnt expecting !

Other wise the value is the fun I had creating and using what I have made from scrap and labor !
:lol: :dance: :auto-dirtbike: :obscene-drinkingcheers:
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Re: Chain tensiorer

Post by Dan.in.Can »

also what else would you do with spare time, for me i'd way rather be out in the shop tinkering away on a project, than sittin on the couch staring at the tube.
if you have two or three wheels and a smile on your face then its all good
lakesmod
NewB
Posts: 11
Joined: Thu Jan 05, 2012 3:07 pm
SELF INTRODUCTION: I'm a 60ish owner of a late '84 model H-D Sportster. I live on Taylor Bay on the Key Peninsula coast of Puget Sound in Washington State. I've had the bike about 1-1/2 years. Changed drag bars to apes. I'm in the process of lowering the rear about 4". I don't like stock & I enjoy modifying. Have had Honda's, Triumph's, Sportsters and Shovelheads.
Location: Taylor Bay, Washington

Re: Chain tensiorer

Post by lakesmod »

Can a fixed tensiorer be used with a swing arm or do I need a spring loaded one?
http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z238 ... ral185.jpg
Anyone know what material is pictured in the above address? UHMW?
Thanks for your reply's.
Jeff L
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Posts: 687
Joined: Fri Oct 28, 2011 5:09 pm
SELF INTRODUCTION: Hey...I live in South Jersey (the Super Fund State) work as an Operating Engineer local825.Besides bikes I love to fish the surf.I have my current & seemingly endless project a BSA 750 Rocket3, a 72 Honda CB750,79 Kawasaki KZ1000, 48 Simplex, & a 62 Norton Atlas engine
Location: South Jersey

Re: Chain tensiorer

Post by Jeff L »

With the movement of the swingarm & chain, Id go with spring loaded tensioner....From what I can see of the weld...Id say Aluminum.
Changing the shape of the Earth...1 bucket at a time...IUOE local 825 top of the food chain
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