IDLERS

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   Just a question that has been on my mind for a while. Why do some idlers have metal teeth for the chain to run on. In the old days the chain just used to run through tubes. I swapped my Wincheetah idlers for very expensive T-cycle ones and have ended up replacing the metal idlers with metal teeth for plastic non-toothed ones (ICE). I found the metal ones very noisy while the plastic ones are nearly silent. I appreciate they might wear out quicker but as the original plastic ones lasted tens of thousands of miles, I can live with it. I kept the T-cycle bolts and hangers so the idlers slide and self-align which is an improvement on the original Windcheetah but probably slightly heavier.

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mark aldridge Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Visitor (new) Joined: 29 October 2015 Location: surrey Status: Offline Points: 129	Post Options Post Reply Quote mark aldridge Report Post Thanks(1) Quote Reply Topic: IDLERS Posted: 29 October 2023 at 1:05pm
	Just a question that has been on my mind for a while. Why do some idlers have metal teeth for the chain to run on. In the old days the chain just used to run through tubes. I swapped my Wincheetah idlers for very expensive T-cycle ones and have ended up replacing the metal idlers with metal teeth for plastic non-toothed ones (ICE). I found the metal ones very noisy while the plastic ones are nearly silent. I appreciate they might wear out quicker but as the original plastic ones lasted tens of thousands of miles, I can live with it. I kept the T-cycle bolts and hangers so the idlers slide and self-align which is an improvement on the original Windcheetah but probably slightly heavier.

ega Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Visitor (new) Joined: 17 March 2024 Location: Medway, Kent Status: Offline Points: 9	Post Options Post Reply Quote ega Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 18 March 2024 at 3:21pm
	You have incidentally answered the question I raised in another thread about the relative weights of T-cycle and standard idlers - thank you. The sliding idler feature is a nice refinement. The metal T-cycle sprockets are claimed to engage more efficiently with the chain rollers than a plain pulley. The Burrows design called for a central round-topped ridge in the bed of the nylon pulley and I notice that mine are beginning to wear to the shape of a sprocket which suggests that a harder plastics material than the existing Nylatron may be a good idea.

ega Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Visitor (new) Joined: 17 March 2024 Location: Medway, Kent Status: Offline Points: 9	Post Options Post Reply Quote ega Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 18 March 2024 at 3:23pm
	You have incidentally answered the question I raised in another thread about the relative weights of T-cycle and standard idlers - thank you. The sliding idler feature is a nice refinement. The metal T-cycle sprockets are claimed to engage more efficiently with the chain rollers than a plain pulley. The Burrows design called for a central round-topped ridge in the bed of the nylon pulley and I notice that mine are beginning to wear to the shape of a sprocket which suggests that a harder plastics material than the existing Nylatron may be a good idea. PS Apologies if this turns out to be a double post!