2 bikes into 1... tandem build?

yoothgeye · Apr 30, 2012

Craiggo said:
Hahaha, I didn't think this was an idea that was in many heads. I've been wrong before! I feel like the tensioner would bother me that it would make the noise. I have quite a few unused rear hub sprockets, maybe I could take one of those to make it a smoother tensioner...

My skateboard wheel tensioner didn't make noise, but as you cranked you could feel the chain links bumping over the smooth wheel. If you could groove out the wheel to fit the chain maybe it wouldn't happen, but good luck with the skateboard wheel being the right circumference for a certain number of chain links.

Philphine · Apr 30, 2012

i have skateboard (or really inline) wheels on a couple of my stretches and i don't feel or hear them, but that could be because they're on the slack side without a lot of tension on them. if you get too far out of line on them though, like trying to force the chain to clear the frame or something, you can feel and hear them then.

i put a groove in them too. if you have access to a drill press you can use it like a vertical lathe and put a groove in. i already have a couple made for my tandem.

Meeba · Apr 30, 2012

How about a drive gear for a garage door opener? that might make a good tensioner?

Craiggo · Apr 30, 2012

Oh, wow! I never thought of that. It's a great idea though, I will surely look into it. My dad has at least one door opener I know doesn't work. Otherwise, I found a 2 inch rear sprocket off some hub. The only problem is, I don't know how I would connect it with its center hole being about an inch wide.
Side note: i think I will be able to work on this as I'm working on my build off bike. Who knows

Craig

outskirtscustoms · May 1, 2012

Would it be possible to use two regular sprockets and just run one continuous chain or would the second sprocket slip?

yoothgeye · May 1, 2012

outskirtscustoms said:
Would it be possible to use two regular sprockets and just run one continuous chain or would the second sprocket slip?

I believe the second crank chainring would slip, this would be more trouble than it would be worth to tune, and I bet it's been done or at least tried.