How is the lining added to the cam chain tensioner blade

Dellortoman said:
There's a steel blade between the tensioner slider and chain Andre, so the chain doesn't contact the slider at all. But you brought to mind an interesting thought. It might just be the key to the difference between roller type tensioner and slipper shoe type.
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you are right, it was my mistake. 🤭
 
GregT said:
As i read it, the shoe has a longer contact patch with the flexible tensioner blade. This is more likely to damp out harmonics in the chain which are what will destroy a tensioner blade. I'm still saying more chain guidance and stiffer guiides.
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I discussed this point with Red. The original material is 1.6 x 20. Red wanted to go to 2 mm, but finally we decided to 1.8 mm which in theory will increase the stiffnes by 50%.
 
Fascinating problem.
Andre's point on the tensioner blade sides being very rough is valid.
The blades seem to be cut by a brake press/guillotine and there is evidence of tearing on the edges of the used ones I have.
Even linishing these edges would be an improvement, tho linishing and then polishing to very fine finish could provide incremental improvements.

Laser or water jet cutting new ones would provide a much finer finish without the edge grain distortion caused by brake press/guillotine.
 
andre g said:
I discussed this point with Red. The original material is 1.6 x 20. Red wanted to go to 2 mm, but finally we decided to 1.8 mm which in theory will increase the stiffnes by 50%.
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Fair enough, lets see how that goes.
Bear in mind I'm working with Japanese tensioners and guides, in which it's possible to trace development across years and models. In every case, the tensioner blade in contact with the camchain has become deeper section and stiffer over time. Where once there was no guide between cams, now everyone uses one there. The length of guides in contact with the chain has become longer too. And of course revs have gone up too.
 
Parcel arrived today from Andre G in Germany, enough lengths of thicker and higher grade spring steel to allow me to make 40 custom cam chain tensioner blades, should see me through a season or two of racing
Will not be finished in time for Phillip Island but may have them done in time for Sydney meeting

Many thanks Andre, cannot thank you enough for taking the time to investigate the original material specification then source new upgraded material, purchase and ship to us in Aussie
Is very much appreciated

Maxene and I spoke tonight about how we first meet you in 2008 at the Bikers Classic and we nicknamed you Andre the Quick you were riding Spa that well
Has been a great friendship over many years now
Cheers
R&M
 

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redax5 said:
Parcel arrived today from Andre G in Germany, enough lengths of thicker and higher grade spring steel to allow me to make 40 custom cam chain tensioner blades, should see me through a season or two of racing
Will not be finished in time for Phillip Island but may have them done in time for Sydney meeting

Many thanks Andre, cannot thank you enough for taking the time to investigate the original material specification then source new upgraded material, purchase and ship to us in Aussie
Is very much appreciated

Maxene and I spoke tonight about how we first meet you in 2008 at the Bikers Classic and we nicknamed you Andre the Quick you were riding Spa that well
Has been a great friendship over many years now
Cheers
R&M
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It was a pleasure for me. I also was racing some years and I know how difficult it can be to get the right material. 😃

Finaly it arrived but it took 4 weeks!

Yours Andre
 
First step complete, we machined all the spring steel strips down from 20mm wide to 18.5mm wide, machined both sides to remove the guillotine marks, removed the sharp edges

Calling in today to talk to a mob close to us who specialize in linings, rubber rollers etc to discuss if they can make the required mouldings for us
They advertise as doing custom kit

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some progress being made, was out and about yesterday in the Chevy truck getting race tyres changed ready for Phillip Island next weekend and called in to see a company that specializes in all form of rubber mouldings etc
Had with me a brand new unused tensioner blade, couple of broken ones and a new length of spring steel

First they cut off a sliver of the mould on the new blade and tested it to see what it is, they said it is just Nitrile Rubber which is a bit surprising
Then said they can do it and gave me a price of around $1,000 for the mould so have decided to go ahead with them, no idea on the cost of each item yet, find out next week
$1k is nothing compared to the engine damage I am getting from breaking these fucking cam chain tensioner blades all the time

Back home and set up and machined 20 lengths of spring steel, is a good thing I have plenty of solid carbide drills and end mills as this spring steel just eats normal cutters but they are all done ready to drop off

Looked at the positioning of the end of a standard blade installed in an empty engine and decided to make these custom blades 65mm longer so the end will be 15mm past the center line of the cam chain sprocket on the crank shaft

To me that makes sense and if it does not work then no issue to shorten them if I have to


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20220825_143505[1] by Red Cawte, on Flickr
 
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