Jose,
I clearly haven't searched McMaster closely enough. The rod ends seem like a great idea; I used the eyebolt mostly because it was the first thing that came to mind, and will work just fine, as I only need to pull on the bearing block to achieve correct chain tension. If the rod ends become necessary, I will be indebted to you for having brought them to my attention
Garrett,
Again, I was not a member of Team 846 when we first used this design, so I do not know what ferocious punishment was threatened upon those who tightened the bearing block too tight
I imagine that if you put some sort of spacer inside (or stack a bunch of those cool little VEXPro washers inside), just a touch smaller than the width of the tube you are clamping with the bearing block, you would prevent the bearing block from ever being tightened tight enough to cause failure.
All you fixed C-C proponents:
Yes, I wish we could go fixed C-C . . . with belts! That would be amazing. I do not think we would ever go fixed C-C with chain, we've just had too many issues with sprockets wearing down and consequently changing the tension on the chain . . . never mind just the stretching with time. As we get a little more experience with using 7075 for our sprockets or even implementing our off-season belt drive design, we may reconsider that stance. If any of you guys try it out (or in 973's case, have), we'd love to hear how that went.