C5ALIVE Forum

C5Alive General Category => C5 Gallery => C5 Pimping ! => Topic started by: TRminator on 20, October, 2010 - 21:17:04

Title: Alternative to the Sinclair chain tensioner
Post by: TRminator on 20, October, 2010 - 21:17:04
I've managed to get around my lack of chain tensioner.....

(http://i805.photobucket.com/albums/yy333/TRminator1/DSCF1818.jpg)

(http://i805.photobucket.com/albums/yy333/TRminator1/DSCF1820.jpg)

I broke my front calliper when stripping it down and managed to pick this replacement up on eBay:-

(http://i805.photobucket.com/albums/yy333/TRminator1/DSCF1822.jpg)
Title: Re: Alternative to the Sinclair chain tensioner
Post by: MikeDX on 20, October, 2010 - 21:30:34
Awesome mate. where is that from?
Title: Re: Alternative to the Sinclair chain tensioner
Post by: TRminator on 20, October, 2010 - 21:42:20
I picked the chain tensioner up on eBay.  It's a chain tensioner/converter for converting a bike from gears to single speed.  It cost about £12.  The bracket was something a mechanical engineer where I work had lying around that I adapted to suit this application.  The tensioner is self sprung.
Title: Re: Alternative to the Sinclair chain tensioner
Post by: techytype on 20, October, 2010 - 21:52:35
very neat solution to the chain tensioner, i'd say better than original and even converted versions.

i bought new brake blocks of ebay, listed as 'old school brake blocks' they have 3 blobs on the friction face, i remember these as a kid, being sold then as superior in the wet because of the tread.

think the blocks on my 2 machines are possibly original fit, as both were as hard as cement, so hopefully they will be a bit more effective, just need to get another steel front wheel for the 'yellow peril' now  ;D.

Alan
Title: Re: Alternative to the Sinclair chain tensioner
Post by: Retro Andy on 21, October, 2010 - 06:42:45
Top stuff, just the job  ;)

Retro Andy.
Title: Re: Alternative to the Sinclair chain tensioner
Post by: radiomarty on 21, October, 2010 - 18:50:16
Well done that man a great solution for the chain tensioner !
Title: Re: Alternative to the Sinclair chain tensioner
Post by: marcdonnelly on 21, October, 2010 - 19:43:54
nice idea but i perfer to keeep my c5,s 100% orignal with 100% geniune parts.... ;D
Title: Re: Alternative to the Sinclair chain tensioner
Post by: Karl on 21, October, 2010 - 20:00:11
nice idea but i perfer to keep my c5,s 100% original with 100% genuine parts.... ;D

You'll struggle with the batteries then  ;D .

I agree that there is a place for the "concourse" approach, but if you're using a c5 on the various c5alive meetings and events it makes perfect sense to use a bit of "improvise,adapt and overcome" - especially if you're on a tight budget . A cheaper option that does the job just as well and keeps the c5 running is no bad thing  8).
Title: Re: Alternative to the Sinclair chain tensioner
Post by: TRminator on 21, October, 2010 - 22:16:32
Cheers lads - yeah, I'm pretty happy with it,I must admit.  The original design was less than a work of genius. 
Funnily enough BooBo, it was your "improvise, adapt and overcome" mantra that was in my head when I decided to look at cheaper and possibly better alternatives to the original tensioner.  As for the keeping it 100% original ideology... I too, like BooBoo alludes, can't help thinking that there's a bit of a "Ship of Theseus"/"John Lock's Socks" element involved with classic vehicle ownership that's hard to deny and renders the argument invalid.  Hopefully, thanks to these cobbled together bits, and other genuine second hand spares, I'll end up with a second C5 fullfilling it's Raison d'être rather than sitting rusting in a garage or being broken up for spares.  Fingers crossed. 
Title: Re: Alternative to the Sinclair chain tensioner
Post by: C5 ENTHUSIAST + RESTORER on 22, October, 2010 - 08:07:51
Well done great job ......Chas
Title: Re: Alternative to the Sinclair chain tensioner
Post by: Karl on 22, October, 2010 - 18:28:56
....  Hopefully, thanks to these cobbled together bits, and other genuine second hand spares, I'll end up with a second C5 fullfilling it's Raison d'être rather than sitting rusting in a garage or being broken up for spares.  Fingers crossed. 


Good to hear you're putting another one back on the road  8)
Title: Re: Alternative to the Sinclair chain tensioner
Post by: TRminator on 22, October, 2010 - 19:24:12
Fingers crossed.  She had no control box, but I bought off Marc (eBay), fitted it, connected the batery and the engine spun, slowly and very briefly, and I could hear a relay clicking in the box.  The motor quickly died and soon the relay stopped clicking and.... nothing.  I'm going to drop 'er round to an electrical engineer I work with to see what he can do with 'er"  Yup.  Fingers crossed.  Have you ever come across anything similar
 BooBoo? ???
Title: Re: Alternative to the Sinclair chain tensioner
Post by: marcdonnelly on 22, October, 2010 - 23:37:55
yes i sold you a  100 % tested fully working control box  i no it was  100 % perfect  because it was on my old c5 worked 100% perfect..... with a tested pod bye chas and everything was perfect no clicking at all maybe you have problems elsewhere  ????.
Title: Re: Alternative to the Sinclair chain tensioner
Post by: radiomarty on 23, October, 2010 - 07:23:58
Have you stripped the motor and checked the brushes ?
Title: Re: Alternative to the Sinclair chain tensioner
Post by: Karl on 23, October, 2010 - 11:34:23
You need to go through a process of elimination, to confirm exactly what is working and what is not. 

I'd check the motor out by directly connecting it to the battery, that way you know for certain if it works or not.

Next would be to load test the batteries...?

Then maybe get Marty or Chas could take another look at the pod.

Title: Re: Alternative to the Sinclair chain tensioner
Post by: TRminator on 23, October, 2010 - 11:44:30
Marty - I haven't touched the motor, though it's to it and its connections that the finger will have to point.  As Marc says the control box was "tried and tested" prior to despatch so, unless something happenened in transit, which I doubt as it was well packaged, I think I can pretty much discount it as being the cause.  I've tried two different pods - same result.  So that brings us back to the motor again. 

I'm gonna let my colleague strip the motor.  I'm sure he'd be more comfortable with that than I would, plus he'll be able to take all sorts of readings with his multimeters that will guide him.

Let me state catagorically that I believe that what Marc sent me is exactly as he had described on his eBay listing, in case there is any ambiguity.  I wouldn't want Marc or anyone else to think anything to the contrary but have realised from his response that my last post appears to have made you think that was the case.  It isn't. :-X
Title: Re: Alternative to the Sinclair chain tensioner
Post by: TRminator on 23, October, 2010 - 11:49:04
Thanks lads, I really appreciate all your input and will take on board your suggestions - though I'll leave them to Aidan, my colleague to try.  We already know where to start.  The motor!
-Kyle
Title: Re: Alternative to the Sinclair chain tensioner
Post by: Karl on 23, October, 2010 - 13:14:11
Thanks lads, I really appreciate all your input and will take on board your suggestions - though I'll leave them to Aidan, my colleague to try.  We already know where to start.  The motor!
-Kyle

If you need any help with the motor, all the details are in the unofficial handbook (see the forum guide,or download section ) or on the linked topic;
http://c5alive.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=368.0

...and gearbox removal is covered here;
http://c5alive.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=1217.0

..should get to the root of the problem one way or another  ;)
Title: Re: Alternative to the Sinclair chain tensioner
Post by: marcdonnelly on 23, October, 2010 - 15:00:13
No problem kyle just had a very ackward customer on ebay  lately which name i will keep to myself sorry if i sounded harsh but i promise you the control box is 100 % good i have 2 more to sell soon but as untested only this time, thanks again for buying parts of me and hope you win the rear light once again i will package it well.marc.
Title: Re: Alternative to the Sinclair chain tensioner
Post by: TRminator on 23, October, 2010 - 18:52:38
BooBoo - cheers man.  Ballads should be sang in your honour!  Thanks for that.

Marc - no probs  ;)

I've just realised how small the C5 community is:  From the responses to this post alone I've Bought parts off three responders!