Monday, February 24, 2014

I be damned... will this work? Why do we use a chain instead of a couple gears?

2 comments:

  1. i doubt it could work. if one gear goes out of alignment, it wont work at all. unless there is a way to keep them aligned permanently. it can work, but need to be solid fail proof before it can.

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  2. Hi. Efficiency of a chain drive (new, lubricated and between fixed centres) is around 98%. Efficiency of a pair of spur gears is around 95%, but you lose 5% at every gear pair, so your overall efficiency is around 90% (important when you are the engine). Chains are also cheaper, quieter, lighter and more tolerant of wear and poor lubrication. Regards, Tony

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