Idler sprocket vs. plastic roller - OldMiniBikes.com

I've been wondering, what would be more ideal for a chain tensioner and guide?

The standard type plastic roller you see on doodle bugs.

Or

And idler sprocket.

Not asking for any reason in particular, but just wondered if there would be any real advantage of using one over the other. Thanks The rupp i worked on was supposed to have a nylon roller for the tensioner, which wasn't available (shocking) . I ordered the tensioner gear from OldMiniBikes and it worked great If you are riding in tall grass I could see the sprocket catching the grass and getting clogged up with it. rubber or plastic roller seems best. sprocket is unnessesary and more likely to cause problems. and if its solid mounted its loud and vibrates through the whole frame

Discussion: Chain idler efficiency - roller vs. toothed (too old to reply) TandemFan We have a Rans Screamer tandem and there are a few idler rollers for
the chain. An outfit sells toothed idlers for about $250:
http://www.terracycle.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=T&Product_Code=IdlRansScr&Category_Code=IdlersALL

They have a long blurb on why they are better:

http://www.terracycle.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=T&Category_Code=IdlersALL

What's the scoop? Does it make any difference at all, or are we going
to go faster?

Thanks!
Mark Post by TandemFan
We have a Rans Screamer tandem and there are a few idler rollers for
http://www.terracycle.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=T&Product_Code=IdlRansScr&Category_Code=IdlersALL
http://www.terracycle.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=T&Category_Code=IdlersALL
What's the scoop? Does it make any difference at all, or are we going
to go faster?
Thanks!
May be valuable, I dunno, but this sentence on their site was a red flag
for me:

"Idlers are the bread and butter of TerraCycle"

Judging from the price, I can see that. Do they mean it solely in the
positive way, or is it a Freudian slip?

Mark J.
m***@gmail.com Post by TandemFan
We have a Rans Screamer tandem and there are a few idler rollers for
the chain.  An outfit sells toothed idlers for about $250:http://www.terracycle.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Co...
http://www.terracycle.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Co...
What's the scoop?  Does it make any difference at all, or are we going
to go faster?
Thanks!
I got one of their pulleys for my Burley Django, because the factory
one wore through in the middle. Good material for a long lifetime,
cheap material for more frequent replacements.

I would think high quality bearings in the jockey pulleys in the rear
derailer would make a bit of a difference.
Leo Lichtman "TandemFan" wrote: (clip) Does it make any difference at all, or are we
going
Post by TandemFan
to go faster?
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Take $250 ot of your pocket, and the weight reduction will actually give you
the same speed increase*. A LOT more if you do in in small change.
__________________
*We are talking about a small change, aren't we? '-)
Michael Press In article ,
"***@comcast.net" <***@comcast.net> wrote:


[...]
test
You flunked.
--
Michael Press
Tom Sherman TandemFan wrote:

[cross-posted to ARBR for Perry Butler's amusement]
We have a R[ANS] Screamer tandem and there are a few idler rollers for
http://www.terracycle.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=T&Product_Code=IdlRansScr&Category_Code=IdlersALL
http://www.terracycle.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=T&Category_Code=IdlersALL
What's the scoop? Does it make any difference at all, or are we going
to go faster?
Someone needs to tell Pat Franz that it is "RANS" and not "Rans".

While the manufacturers in question are trying to meet a price point for
their bicycles, they are not going to be putting junk chain idlers on
their bicycles [1]. Therefore, while there is room for improvement, the
gains will likely be small as drive-train friction is a small component
of total non-conservative losses, even on a recumbent with a complicated
chain-line.

If you want to make a RANS Screamer a lot faster than stock, put a front
fairing (Zzipper or Mueller) and a bodysock on the bike.

[1] Unlike some defunct manufacturers of the past.
--
Tom Sherman - Holstein-Friesland Bovinia
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