anyone make auto chain adjusters for max IV

[micmac]

Just wondering if anyone has done this? I was thinking you could hook springs up to either side of the idler sprocket and use a axle instead of a bolt. Lets here your ideas

[Beeman]

Unless I'm reading this wrong, you'll need two idlers if you want to use springs (or one idler that sandwiches the chain on a spring). Otherwise, the slack generated by the compression of the idler (in one direction or the other) will create an unwanted slack on the other side of the chain if unaccounted for.

[micmac]

Beeman,

The Max Iv has an Idler sprocket on each chain. the chain tension is adjusted by loosening the bolt and pushing the idler down (it's on the top of the chains) until the desired tension. Then you re tighten the bolt holding the idler. I was thinking you could use an axle instead of a bolt with holes through the axle on either side of the idler sprocket (outside the frame that the sprocket sits in). The attach two springs on either side pulling in a downward direction. That way as the chain stretches the spring keeps the idler with tension on the chain.


Here is a picture of the standard setup

[Roger S]

If you did springs, when backing up the adjuster would be pulled up to a slack position, overcome by the chain tension. All the slack would be on the bottom of the chain/sprockets flopping around.

[micmac]

I'm not following you Roger. The springs would pull the sprocket straight down putting tension on the top of the chain regardless of direction the chain were moving

[Beeman]

Right, I have the same setup on my Prairie Bobcat except with idlers (plastic) instead of sprockets.

Although I would never want to interfere with ingenuity, The idea of a fixed idler is to provide a certain "throw" or "allowance of give" on the chain in the normally driven direction (in this case, letssay forward, as going with your picture) but also to provide the same throw in reverse. So, when you are driving foward, the chain will be tensioned fully on the driven side of the chain (the bottom portion of the chain length in the picture from middle to front) and the fixed idler will pick up the slack (the top portion of the chain). If you indroduce a springed idler in replacement of the fixed, you may auto adjust your chain with great results in the forward position. However, If travelling in reverse, in a springed idler senerio, the single springed idler will only be forced to work against the normal tensioning of the chain (in reverse the top will want to be tensioned. The chain will want to be straight depending on the amount of force you send to the chain and the friction encountered on the tires, ie.. if the force and friction are enough to overcome the spring constant, the chain will be approximately straight). If this is to happen, then you simply loose all tensioning on the other side of the chain (the non-driven side aka the one that needs tensioning in reverse) - which could cause a number of problems including chain de-railment and chain buckling both which could cause some damage to parts or body.

This is not an absolute of what will be, but the way I see it as what could be.

If you did want to create something like and "play" with it, I would suggest instead of going two springs and an axle (because it will be hard to keep the axle holding the idler level to the chain with just two springs), maybe a bar mounted to the frame with a pivot bearing, and on the other side of the bar is attached the idler sprocket... then a single spring can be mounted in between the frame and the bar to kept tension.

Cheers,

Beeman

[Roger S]

"The springs would pull the sprocket straight down putting tension on the top of the chain regardless of direction the chain were moving."

Yes, but the pull on the chain will overcome any spring you put in there. In reverse that is. Everything would be fine till you backed up.

[micmac]

ok I understand now. How are the Argo adjusters set up?

[mossman381]

I would leave the factory tensioner. You are probably going to spend more time trying to make an auto adjuster than just adjusting your factory adjusters when your chains get loose. You have to do other things like lube the chains anyway.