Floating Chain Tensioner

[jwiereng]

Has anyone used floating chain tensioner? I came across these at McMaster-Carr.

Easy to install, these tensioners get the job done without mounting them to a structure. Each has saddle blocks that ride on your chain between the drive sprocket and driven sprocket and are joined by adjustable straps that take up the slack. They require no lubrication, idler sprockets, or bearings. All are UHMW polyethylene (FDA and USDA compliant for food contact) with a stainless steel housing and zinc-plated steel screws and lock nuts. Max. operating temp. is 200° F. Tension force not rated.

[kenintrees]

I'm going to keep an eye on the comments you get back, if those chain tensioners work they will save me big hassel.

[plott hound]

i remember reading a thread here on that topic.

[Bw6]

Has anyone used floating chain tensioner? I came across these at McMaster-Carr.

Easy to install, these tensioners get the job done without mounting them to a structure. Each has saddle blocks that ride on your chain between the drive sprocket and driven sprocket and are joined by adjustable straps that take up the slack. They require no lubrication, idler sprockets, or bearings. All are UHMW polyethylene (FDA and USDA compliant for food contact) with a stainless steel housing and zinc-plated steel screws and lock nuts. Max. operating temp. is 200° F. Tension force not rated.

I've used these tensioners before. A company named "Snapidle" was the originator of this type of tensioner. They work OK, but you need to have a lot of slop in your chain in mid span of your chain loop, if you have chains that are pretty snug the chain tensioner will start to slide either forward or backwards depending if you are going in forward or reverse and will travel right up to your sprockets. I tried to anchor them mid span but it was difficult. They also take up a lot of room. The best chain tensioners I've found is the type Argo uses on their Centaur, if you are close to an Argo dealer check them out. I just purchased the tension spring from Argo and fab'd the rest myself. Anyways here is a link to Snapidle.Snapidle Chain and Belt Tensioners

[jwiereng]

Here is a diagram of how the Centaur tensioners work. Wonder what they cost at the dealer. I might be able to make something like this work for my 6x6

[jwiereng]

Does anyone know the spring rating of those torsion springs? Most likely the dealer is asking too much for them.

[Bw6]

Here is a diagram of how the Centaur tensioners work. Wonder what they cost at the dealer. I might be able to make something like this work for my 6x6

Jwiereng: Thanks for posting diagram. Those are almost exactly what I fab'd for my Bushwacker II, I consider them to be the best tensioner out there (if you have the space to mount them). Here is the theory behind how they work, they are not simply a torsion spring squeezing the top and bottom chain stands together, but they will rotate up or down depending if you are going forward or reverse, so that you are only taking up the slack side of the chain. By doing this they don't add any real tensioning pressure to the chains which rob HP and cause chain stretch, like most other fixed type tensioners do.

The downside is they are expensive, the assembly if I remember was about +$80.00 each. I just purchased the SS torsion springs at about $13.00 each, and fad'd the rest. Your diagram is slightly out of date as they now offer a different (better) UHMW slider, which is double sided, so if one side wears you simply flip it over. The siders are about $4.00 each.

I changed the mounting arrangement and some hardware to allow more flexibility in finding mounting locations. The best mounting location I found was closer to a sprocket, and not mid span. I'm attaching a few pics that show a few different ways you can mount them, as well as some fabricating ideas.

Tensioner.jpgTensioner1.jpgP1040326.jpg

[thebuggyman1]

"I changed the mounting arrangement and some hardware to allow more flexibility in finding mounting locations. The best mounting location I found was closer to a sprocket, and not mid span. I'm attaching a few pics that show a few different ways you can mount them, as well as some fabricating ideas."

WHY???? What happens when they are mounted in the middle?

[Bw6]

"I changed the mounting arrangement and some hardware to allow more flexibility in finding mounting locations. The best mounting location I found was closer to a sprocket, and not mid span. I'm attaching a few pics that show a few different ways you can mount them, as well as some fabricating ideas."

WHY???? What happens when they are mounted in the middle?

Well, what I found was on most AATV's there is not a lot of room between the bottom chain strand and the tub (clearance). If this is the case and you mount this tensioner mid span, when you go in reverse and the bottom stand goes tight and the top is slack, the tensioner wants to pivot down and it will hit the tub. It will still work, but not as it was designed to do. Clearance is need, see marked up tensioner dwg.Tensioner dwg.jpg

[mightymaxIV]

I have used those tensioner's on my T-20, they did work but there were a number of features I didn't care for ( a popping noise as they take up slack) other than that they did the job but I wouldn't recommend them. I love the self adjusting tensioner's on my Argo HD, you never have to worry about the chains being in adjustment.

[jwiereng]

Diagram of Centaur tensioners, the newer style I think

[jwiereng]

BW6

Would you know the rating of those torsion springs? I am going to try to source them elsewhere

[Bw6]

BW6

Would you know the rating of those torsion springs? I am going to try to source them elsewhere

Jwiereng: The easiest way to source those torsion springs out is to buy a spring from Argo ($13.00) and then UPS or Canada Post it to a spring manufacturer. I don't think you will be able to buy something off the shelf. Also to spec a torsion spring there is a lot more info required than just the spring rating, which you will need to get from an actual spring. I was in the process to get a manufacturers quote, but for ($13.00) I decided it was easier/quicker to just buy them off Argo. I had a couple links but can only find one right now:http:
//www.newcombspring.com/canada.html

This company is not too far from you, if you want to try. But for small quantities you many find charges for setup and a high piece rate. These springs are a Stainless Alloy which is expensive as well. But good luck. Keep us posted.

[Bw6]

Diagram of Centaur tensioners, the newer style I think

Yes, that's the latest.

[jwiereng]

thanks, I may do that when I get to that point in my rebuild