Anyone every consider a chain drive setup for blowers?
There seems to be a good amount of issues with traditional belts and cog driven applications.... why not use something like a timing belt chain, motor cycle chain, or similar to run the blower off the crank? this would also offer some serious pulley width benefits.... am i crazy? Totally ridiculous idea? Plausable?
Search on this forum or on google, or some other search engine?
Any details? Please share?
I imagine that it could be dangerous if it give way, but bike chains seem to hold well.... I also figured that vibration would end up being a serious issue as well.
pictures would be appreciated.
what was Tony's full combo? a Big Block with an F1 sounds TASTY!
Interesting idea. I've heard alot of horror stories about blower guys breaking the snout off their crankshaft with cogs. A chain would not be very forgiving on the blower internals and crankshaft.
Steve
Last edited by 93VettePilot; 11-01-2009 at 01:50 PM.
I think it would be a great idea. you wouldn't have to run the chain very tight. You would use chain slides insted of a tensioner. just set it up just like a motorcycle
I think it would be a great idea. you wouldn't have to run the chain very tight. You would use chain slides insted of a tensioner. just set it up just like a motorcycle
My thoughts exactly. The chain doesn't have to be tight. just needs "slides" to keep in in check...
the only issue I can think of is vibration? Off throttle load on the blower, etc... but it would allow for a dedicated drive assembly IN-FRONT of the pulley assembly instead of sandwiched between the crank pulley and opti-spark (of course this relates to LT-x cars).
anyone with a chain driven bike that cares to share their opinions on vibrations, etc?
lol... maybe a clutch on the headunit sprocket would allow the blower to "free wheel" (like a bicycle) when off throttle?
My thoughts exactly. The chain doesn't have to be tight. just needs "slides" to keep in in check...
the only issue I can think of is vibration? Off throttle load on the blower, etc... but it would allow for a dedicated drive assembly IN-FRONT of the pulley assembly instead of sandwiched between the crank pulley and opti-spark (of course this relates to LT-x cars).
anyone with a chain driven bike that cares to share their opinions on vibrations, etc?
lol... maybe a clutch on the headunit sprocket would allow the blower to "free wheel" (like a bicycle) when off throttle?
I own and race a bunch of heavily modded L bikes. I will say that when a chain gives way, the only place the chain goes is down and back. So the damage is minimized. The bikes are putting between 190 and 275+ HP to the chain. At this level a 530 o-ring chain doesn't last terribly long. I would be really concerned as to what happens when the chain breaks under the Vette hood. I am not terribly concerned about the vibration, just about breakage.
BTW, late model L bikes use a slipper clutch that is somewhat similar to a "freewheel".
Aaron
I own and race a bunch of heavily modded L bikes. I will say that when a chain gives way, the only place the chain goes is down and back. So the damage is minimized. The bikes are putting between 190 and 275+ HP to the chain. At this level a 530 o-ring chain doesn't last terribly long. I would be really concerned as to what happens when the chain breaks under the Vette hood. I am not terribly concerned about the vibration, just about breakage.
BTW, late model L bikes use a slipper clutch that is somewhat similar to a "freewheel".
Aaron
I'm not concerned about the damage caused by the chain only because a "cage" can be build off the existing blower bracket to minimize damage if the chain gives... i.e. think along the lines of the "old school" bicycles that would have a cover over the chain for debre, but also for safey if the chain gives up. Also along the lines of the the cover that the 03-04 cobra's use to keep the belt from damaging the underside of the hood.
I own and race a bunch of heavily modded L bikes. I will say that when a chain gives way, the only place the chain goes is down and back. So the damage is minimized. The bikes are putting between 190 and 275+ HP to the chain. At this level a 530 o-ring chain doesn't last terribly long. I would be really concerned as to what happens when the chain breaks under the Vette hood. I am not terribly concerned about the vibration, just about breakage.
BTW, late model L bikes use a slipper clutch that is somewhat similar to a "freewheel".
Aaron
275hp? there is no way a blower is needing even close to that. you would just oil the chain and change it when you change your oil or maybe every other time. they aren't that expensive.
It was done about 9 or 10 years ago on the mustang shootout cars. If I remember it started killing the internal blower gears. Called them chainsaw blowers
i think on extreme applications the supercharger takes about 100hp to opperate. Of course, I don't believe this is the case in our application. Typically it's something like 30hp-ish
RRRR- can you provide us with more information? Possibly pictures?
Vibration and sudden off-throttle is my only real concern with this configuration
curious to know if the sprockets can be "zero-balanced", possibly even the chain?
[quote=mnstrlt1;1572026431]i think on extreme applications the supercharger takes about 100hp to opperate. Of course, I don't believe this is the case in our application. Typically it's something like 30hp-ish
RRRR- can you provide us with more information? Possibly pictures?
I will look at my old pictures if i have any. I got rid of all my mustang mags and stuff a few years ago.
I do know that it was a procharger sponsored car in what was Pro 5.0. Used like a 630 prostock drag bike chain.
this seems like a lot of trouble to cure belt slip (some of which is a good thing), considering there are cog, 8-rib, and 12-rib conversions out there that work well on our cars. what is the risk/benefiit factor I'm missing?
this seems like a lot of trouble to cure belt slip (some of which is a good thing), considering there are cog, 8-rib, and 12-rib conversions out there that work well on our cars. what is the risk/benefiit factor I'm missing?
Well, the only benefit I can see is the lack of belt split, with a clutch mechanism on the blower head unit, it would allow the head unit to "free wheel" when you let off the throttle. so it shouldn't be to harsh on the head unit.
It would also save A LOT of precious room in the crank pulley area. The 8-rib (which I run) is relatively close to the opti, the 12-rib (from what i've read) requires shaving the cover of the opti to clear. these are in VERY close proximity.
the chain (which i am picturing a motorcycle chain or timing chain) would be much narrower, possibly allow the user to place it in front of the current crank pulley, rather than sandwiching it behind (like the current belt driven setups do).
It would also be much more durable.
Again, don't know if it's worth it. Just late night ideas I wanted to get out onto the forum. hopefully someone more talented and inclined than I can tackle this concept.
I think with a overrunning clutch on the blower this would be a great idea. The chain on my bike is a 525 and it lasts about 10,000 miles and I am sure the bike sproket turns at least as many rpm's as the Vett engine. I don't understand why this is more popular than it seems to be but I guess there has to be a reason?
I think with a overrunning clutch on the blower this would be a great idea. The chain on my bike is a 525 and it lasts about 10,000 miles and I am sure the bike sproket turns at least as many rpm's as the Vett engine. I don't understand why this is more popular than it seems to be but I guess there has to be a reason?
Finally, someone that has bike experience and can relate the two! lol...
I am sure the bike sproket turns at least as many rpm's as the Vett engine.
Let me start by saying that I have no experience with this, but, in my mind, I find this statement doubtful.
My reasoning in this is as follows. Assuming a car motor used a 7in sprocket on the crankshaft, and a bike used a 3.5 in sprocket off of the transmission going to the rear wheel.
Again assuming the car had a redline of 6,000 rpms, for the chain to travel at the same speed would require the bike to run 12,000 rpm in high gear, assuming a 1 to 1 ratio of the transmission.
Now in the real world, the cars sprocket would probably be closer to 8 in and this is going to make it even worse.
As someone stated earlier, I would be worried about lack of lub, and heat build up.
Again, I dont have any direct experience with this, its just my opinion.
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chain driven blower?
I think it would be a great idea. you wouldn't have to run the chain very tight. You would use chain slides insted of a tensioner. just set it up just like a motorcycle
