pic: Kitbot Chain Tensioner 2

[Richard McClellan]

Originally Posted by Doug G

We tried an approach like that in 2006, but yours is very elegant. In 2007 we gave up with it and used a super simple solution... A chuck of UHMW PolyEthylene Rod with a hole drilled in it offcenter. Rotate it into the chain and whala... Tension!! Rotate it the other way and you can remove chain off the wheel. Very simple and worked well. True there is a bit more frictional loss - but in 7 years of competing, we never had a simpler, more reliable solution. .Here's a pic..

Just out of curiosity, where did you get those gears for the encoder setup you have? And how is the lower gear on the 1/2" Banebots shaft attached? Is it a set screw? Did it come with that 1/2" bore or did you have to enlarge it?