Quote:
Originally Posted by Mk.32
I don't think he's misleading anyone Andrew.
And in away you are more so misleading, stating that "it doesn't" and is "fine" for "most" use. And how did you arrive at the 17' number?
And for this type of questions really depends. How precise can you make the C-C with your fabrication techniques, what length run, what kind of power is being put though the chain etcetcetc. The key as usual is making sure the sprockets are lined up and proper tension is applied.
With the WCD type design adding in adjustable bearing blocks are easy and imho give lots of ease at mind for anything that could come up. Abit I personally used and seen C-C on chain work IF the machining tolerances are held up to spec (personally I did +.01 for a 15in run) and on a HAAS mill so it was dead on. But again it comes down to testing and experience.
My suggestion, always have some kind of tensioner and in many industrial applications this is an requirement to.
Edit* Forgot this, but C-C is a great thing and works great on theory and sometimes in real life... but I've seen it fail quite often in practice due to many reasons. And know teams that have regretted it more the once.
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I'm referring to OP's use in a drivetrain. There is no question about the application in question. OP asked a question, I answered it with the answer OP was looking for. No hypotheticals - just a straight answer. The 17" number was based off of the older frame dimensions where the longer lengths around that number would lengthen more over a season.
Precision for chain isn't difficult to do, since you just need a multiple of the pitch, which is in eighths and easily measurable with a tape measure or ruler. It doesn't take precision fabrication to get C-C distance with hand measurements and an electric drill (something I've done for the past 4 years as a student on 256). While power is indeed a variable to look at, this returns to the fact that OP was referring to a drive system, where judging by even the really extreme systems shows that 35 chain can consistently and reliably handle the loads thrown at it, as it has for years.
I agree that adding a tensioner is simple in a WCD. I'm not saying it's not. OP asked if it's needed. I'm saying it's not.
You are correct in that there is much more that is being overlooked, but judging by OP's question I do not doubt that this is the question they wanted answered and that - possibly - an excess of extra information like others have been posting may take away from the original point of this thread.