why push down with a tensioner?

[caleb1978]

Seems if a tensioner pushed the chain up instead of down it would be less prone to damage, and more out of the way. Most trials setups do not require very much chain slack be taken out, so why would that not be the way?
Just a random question.

[egidio]

some uses up and some down. Sometimes there's not enough space to push chain up, it depends of geometry. And as far as I tried, KMC kool chain works best if it is positioned on teeth one-side-only.

[Cypher Components]

Well, depending on the chain length sometimes it's not possible to push up (even using a half link). It's a combo of chainstay length and gears that you run, then using a half link or not. My setup has to be run downward because if I tried to push up it would push the chain into itself. I have tried using a halflink but it's just a tiny bit too short to make up the connection. I think it would be ideal to push up just slightly, but push down can work fine too. As for the reduced chain wrap, it's a bit of a non issue as long as you have 'enough' wrap. The accelerated wear on the chain and cogs is pretty slight, and won't lead you to replace the drivetrain any sooner that you should anyway, esp if you throw on a new chain every now and then.

[john trials]

I push mine up to get it out of the way, but the chain rubs on the underside of the chainstay. It's not ideal, but I like it better than pushing it down.

[caleb1978]

I push mine up to get it out of the way, but the chain rubs on the underside of the chainstay. It's not ideal, but I like it better than pushing it down.

I am thinking of adding a second fixed gear on the non drive side, so I can swap the wheel around and have a usable gear ratio. I would have to add a tensioner, to work with the smaller cog. My friends Monty came with a hub that is threaded on the non drive side, and I think one like that would work to add the cog. Also would like to have quick-release to make this easy. But then there is the brakes clearing the tire issue.. Any thoughts on this?

[Edge]

I would just get another bike with a different gear. Add a new one to your stable.

[john trials]

http://www.observedtrials.net/otn4/tensioner BT.JPG


It's a home-made version of a Rennen. To make it so I could push up, though, I needed a large diameter idler (larger than a Rennen) otherwise the aluminum arm would hit the chainstay, and the chain would still not be tensioned. I cut up an old skateboard wheel.