Chief Delphi - Sprockets as Chain Tensioners?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ether (Post 986916)

My gut instinct is that the friction at the interface of the idler sprocket teeth with the chain would be a bigger factor (albeit still small) than the idler's ball bearing friction.

That's my guess too. Which is why it would be most instructive to see some real apples-to-apples data comparing a well-designed system to itself: with and without a tensioner touching the chain.

Aside from the increased efficiency, another reason we negate the idler tensioner is that it saves weight and reduces the overall part count.

It's easier for us to make a tensioner using a sliding bearing block than any other method, and it's agreed that it is most efficient. In drive, we don't even consider other options.