pic: Precision Guessworks 1646 - 2009 Drive Teaser

[Booksy]

Originally Posted by Kyle Love

Nope, it's still really tight, after an hour or so of driving.



It's been measured, there will be a 6 in bumper segment on the front of the sides, it will be entirely legal.

Our testing used forward/backward quickly, long stretches of driving, and vigorous motions to try to throw the chains. So far, this chain set up has really impressed me, previously I have been told you need 120 degrees of wrap around a sprocket for it to stay on, but this has proven that wrong, so far. Chain tensioners will not be necessary due to the extremely tight chains that are on it currently. The frame is very sturdy, although it appears weak due to the hole in the front, that is conveniently about 24 inches wide, I don't know why it would be that wide? hmm...

Yeah, I realized the bumper piece could be longer a while after I posted but w/e. Any reason you cut it to 5 instead of 6?

We actually did the same thing as you, but we cut ours to length and installed it and then I remembered the 6 inch rule, and measured it, luckily it was 6 inches exactly, so this is why I noticed.

[rsegrest]

I am the coach of a 2nd year team so please take what I am saying as such. This is identical to the setup we used last year and we had HORRENDOUS problems with chain skipping etc. and did not realize the FULL extent of if until we drove on various surfaces. We seemed to have no problems until we had done almost 40 hours of test driving. By then the chain had stretched to the point that we could not move hardly any distance at all without skipping teeth on the sprocket. Once we switched over to the carpet the problem was compounded by the higher traction vs. a tile floor. I know that this year we are running on a "slick" surface however you will still deal with the chain stretching esp if you have it as tight as you say you do. I would strongly encourage you to rethink you're position on the tensioners. At least have them available in case you wind up needing them quickly between matches in case you don't have time to do a full chain swap. Also, another thing to consider is the amount of chain wrapped around the sprocket. Check the recommendations and compare to what you have, we are using a new design (for us anyway)that gives us a 180 degree wrap around EACH sprocket and in combination with the floating tensioner assembly from Andy Mark (6.00 each) we expect MUCH fewer problems with the chain skipping this year!

[Travis Hoffman]

Can those wheels be cleaned up any?

I'd eventually like to know if this is a good example of what a "non-stock", no-go wheel surface would be for inspection. Have you attempted to clean the wheels and restore the tread surface?

Wonder how FIRST will advise inspectors to handle things (sample pics/wheels for reference?) when teams show up with "dirty" scuffed up wheels? Have them fork over $20 per for replacements?

[Kyle Love]

Originally Posted by Travis Hoffman

Can those wheels be cleaned up any?

I'd eventually like to know if this is a good example of what a "non-stock", no-go wheel surface would be for inspection. Have you attempted to clean the wheels and restore the tread surface?

Wonder how FIRST will advise inspectors to handle things (sample pics/wheels for reference?) when teams show up with "dirty" scuffed up wheels? Have them fork over $20 per for replacements?

See this thread discussing possible ways they can judge "normal wear".