Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Morgan Three Wheeler & Super 3 rear sprocket

Charles if you are only wanting a chain tensioner you dont need a chain with lateral flexibility. If using a derailleur for changing ratios or a tensioner how would that work in reverse?

Tim.

Just to add, the chain on two and three speeders is 1/2 inch British Standard chain (American chain is not quite the same).

I hadn't realised it was April fools day yet!!

Why not give the steel pulley a chance before investing cash and effort in these fanciful chain ideas

If you must insist on going down that route however I'm sure there is a wealth of advice available in MTWC.

Remember to build in an armoured bulkhead to replace the aluminium sheet behind the seat back for your first chain breakage.

Why would you expect a chain breakage?
Because of the raw power of the 82bhp?
(Are there still bikes on the market with inferior power?)
And if torque gets too hard the wheel will spin...

I see no problems with a chain drive

I expect chains to snap because they are more prone to snapping than belts. I have witnessed it on race and road bikes, have experienced it on a low mileage, well maintained, correctly adjusted o-ring chain on a road bike with 72hp and have seen a road bike that was written off following a chain breakage despite the rider bringing it safely to a halt without dropping it; the crank cases were destroyed, the barrels damaged, the frame and seat sub-frame badly damaged, the swing arm wrecked and lots of minor damage.
While the belt drive system in the M3W has it's share of issues and failure modes, snapping and coming to visit you in the cockpit isn't one that I consider realistic. With a chain I would not be so sure.

Re: the Austrian

Torque and weight of the thing just might overstress a chain. Not because of the lacking HP, but because torque is king, and when it has to push something as heavy as the 3Wer, it might not be the best choice.

Anyway, I can't see much purpose with a chain until a steel cog has been tried.

Hmm, I've only ever suffered one chain breakage, and that was off road with a knackered bike anyway.

I've got personal experience of at least half a dozen snapped belts on H'D's (one went rolling backwards out of the workshop!!) and the biggest belt breakers of all, Buells.

Chains have a massive safety factor, given good operating conditions. In fact, if one does snap, you're more likely to lock the wheel as opposed to a belt, so maybe the belt option is the one to go for!

I do think that there are good reasons for using a belt rather than a chain in the three wheeler. I also think that there are good reasons for using a chain on a sports bike not the least of which are efficiency, narrow width and unsprung weight - belt sprockets don't come light! I don't think that the belt drive system on the three wheeler is a fully sorted fit and forget arrangement.

eek, just been pointed out to me that's wrong, the chain is 3/4 BS. Think I need my head testing as the correct figure is even on a web page on my own website.