VEX 3CIM Ball shifter with WCD add on. Using #35 chain

[cpapplefamily]

Our team is about to build our first WCD chassis using the 3 CIM Ball Shifter with WCD addon. On the original BOM [West Coast Products MCC] we used to purchased the parts called out #25 chain but our team decided to up the size to #35. We don’t like how frail #25 chain looks specially for a drive train.

Now after dry assembling the gear box my concerned that using this as the center wheel drive that there would not be enough room to output to the other wheels is realized. The question is do we simply make longer standoffs to fit the double #35 chain? Or use #25 chain? How reliable is #25 chain in the drive train.

These are the discoveries that building in the off season is absolutely critical. We are looking for your collective experience to guide our decision.

[juju_beans]

#25 chain is perfectly fine for a drivetrain, as long as you don’t put an excessive amount of stress on them, such as powering 2 shafts through a single chain or use large 10" pneumatic wheels. On our team we have run chain-in-tube with #25 chain for the past 2 seasons and have had zero issues with it.

[SpruceyBrucey]

@cpapplefamily

Our team is about to build our first WCD chassis using the 3 CIM Ball Shifter with WCD addon. On the original BOM [West Coast Products MCC] we used to purchased the parts called out 25 chain but our team decided to up the size to #35. We don’t like how frail 25 chain looks specially for a drive train.

Now after dry assembling the gear box my concerned that using this as the center wheel drive that there would not be enough room to output to the other wheels is realized. The question is do we simply make longer standoffs to fit the double #35 chain? Or use 25 chain? How reliable is 25 chain in the drive train.

These are the discoveries that building in the off season is absolutely critical. We are looking for your collective experience to guide our decision.

We ran into the same problem last season, we simply made the standoffs longer and solved all our problems. However I can say for most all games 25 chain is perfectly fine if not better with weight/size savings. It was a bit annoying to get 35 chain to work with our drivetrain so I would have to recommend 25 chain, but if you want to go with 35 chain it will still work.

[troy_dietz]

We used the VexPro 3CIM ballshifter in 2016 without any issues. Our configuration was 8wd with 8" pneumatic tires, and a climber PTO off the back wheels all with #25 chain and 22t sprockets; I can’t think of anything that would put more strain on a drivetrain setup. We had no issues throughout the season, except the occasional tension adjustment.

[s_forbes]

@cpapplefamily

Now after dry assembling the gear box my concerned that using this as the center wheel drive that there would not be enough room to output to the other wheels is realized. The question is do we simply make longer standoffs to fit the double #35 chain? Or use 25 chain?

Both of these solutions work. If I was in your situation I’d opt for the cheaper one. If you do the standoff route, make sure that there is enough room between your two transmissions to allow for the extra standoff length.

25 chain works fine in a drivetrain as long as you aren’t using very large wheels with very small sprockets to power them.

[Oblarg]

Even better solution: use belt.

[IndySam]

@cpapplefamily

Our team is about to build our first WCD chassis using the 3 CIM Ball Shifter with WCD addon. On the original BOM [West Coast Products MCC] we used to purchased the parts called out 25 chain but our team decided to up the size to #35. We don’t like how frail 25 chain looks specially for a drive train.

But isn’t the offseason the perfect time to try 25 and see if it works? If not then you can switch.

[cpapplefamily]

Belts would or possibly need as much or more room from our perspective. As an off season project space between left and right is whatever we wish there is no constraints. Since we have #35 queued up that will be the answer. Plus looks like all the #25 stuff is out of stock currently. Maybe the our pre-build season order I’ll bundle up some #25 parts.

Thanks for your insight. The few responses so far help ease the #25 hesitation with reasonable wheel selection.
Still i know someone out there has had trouble with the #25 stuff. That maybe was Strongholds 8 wheel pneumatic drivetrains.

[cpapplefamily]

@IndySam

But isn’t the offseason the perfect time to try 25 and see if it works? If not then you can switch.

My thought too till i just checked availability.

[juju_beans]

@cpapplefamily

My thought too till i just checked availability.

It looks like the 25 chain is in stock on Vex, and if you don’t plan to do chain in tube then you won’t be needing the 16T sprokets which are the only ones out of stock. Even then, you could buy the 1/2" ID 16T sprokets and broach them to 1/2" hex. (We accidentally had to do this one year).

Also get yourself a chain breaker, Vexpro sells one here and the one my team uses is the DarkSould chain breaker.

[cpapplefamily]

@juju_beans

It looks like the 25 chain is in stock on Vex, and if you don’t plan to do chain in tube then you won’t be needing the 16T sprokets which are the only ones out of stock. Even then, you could buy the 1/2" ID 16T sprokets and broach them to 1/2" hex. (We accidentally had to do this one year).

Also get yourself a chain breaker, Vexpro sells one here and the one my team uses is the DarkSould chain breaker.

Thanks I’m one who likes options. The plan will be to watch for the 16T 25 to restock so on tube can remain an option.

[Jon_Jack]

@cpapplefamily

Our team is about to build our first WCD chassis using the 3 CIM Ball Shifter with WCD addon. On the original BOM [West Coast Products MCC] we used to purchased the parts called out 25 chain but our team decided to up the size to #35. We don’t like how frail 25 chain looks specially for a drive train.

Now after dry assembling the gear box my concerned that using this as the center wheel drive that there would not be enough room to output to the other wheels is realized. The question is do we simply make longer standoffs to fit the double #35 chain? Or use 25 chain? How reliable is 25 chain in the drive train.

These are the discoveries that building in the off season is absolutely critical. We are looking for your collective experience to guide our decision.

If you purchased this sometime this year, you should have received this bag which should have spacers for both 25 and #35 chain.

[cpapplefamily]

@Jon Jack

If you purchased this sometime this year, you should have received this bag which should have spacers for both 25 and #35 chain.

We just received the order last week. (From West Coast Products) I’m sure there was only one set of stand offs. I’ll check tonight.

PS one of the kits had the wrong flanged bearing. It was a 1/2 round not hex like pictured

[cpapplefamily]

@Jon Jack

If you purchased this sometime this year, you should have received this bag which should have spacers for both 25 and #35 chain.

Looks like there is some confusion on both ordering sights. When ordering the 217-3269 [3 CIM Ball ball shifter with WCD 3rd stage] yes it comes with the stand offs and plates but not the new WCD hardware kit that includes #35 and 25 standoffs.

[rlounds]

With some clever positioning/placement, one can use the stock standoffs with #35 chain, or you can buy some Thunderhex, drill it out to clear the bolt and use that solution if you need the extra distance.

#25 is perfectly fine on drivetrains, on 865 in 2017, we never broke a drive chain, if the sprockets are lined up correctly and you’re not putting too much stress on it, it will hold up fine. On 1310 this year we used #25 on our drivetrain and had a few breaks due to misaligned sprockets. We sorted that out quickly and have been through 3 events since with no more breakages.

We (both 865 and 1310) also use DarkSoul chain breaks to break and reassemble the chains without a master link, a similar product can be found from Vex here for both #25 and #35, or you can make your own if you have access to a mill and lathe.