[ChrisH]

Originally Posted by Al Skierkiewicz

Pattie,
There is no glaring reason against your idea. Most teams will center up the transmissions to balance the weight over each of the wheels. Your configuration may cause some steering instability as the wheels under the trans will have slightly more weight over them than the other wheels. The longer chain paths do have a little greater chance for problems as the loop developed as the chain stretches is more capable of throwing itself off a sprocket. There are ways to prevent that but they come at a cost of additional weight. No matter what you decide, plan on some device to take up the slack in the chain and check for slack before each match. Correct chain alignment is a must for efficient drive so make sure all your sprockets line up (in the same plane) before driving as well. Let us know how it worked.

We haven't been as extreme as your sketch, but we normally have one chain longer than the other when we're doing a tank type drive. Like Al says, keep your chains and sprockets in the same plain and keep the chains tight enough but not too tight and you should be fine.