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Anyone put big power through a chain drive setup? I'm talking 800-900hp? Trying to find info and can't find Jack.

Anyone?

I've put major hp thru a chain drive many times but never at the rpm or shock loads that i would anticipate from an automobile. ..
A typical example, 460V 3phase 20 hp (1750 rpm) electric motors thru a (typically) 4/1 chain reduction then a 20/1 gear reduction then an additional (anywhere from 4/1 to 12/1) chain reduction to the drive pulley on BIG conveyor systems such as you would find at a FedEx or UPS distribution center.
Like I said big stuff but they also use a VFD to reduce the start up speed (and fine tune the running speed) which lowers the shock load on the system. Those motors put out 80%+ of rated torque at zero rpm. ......
You're talking some awfully big chain drives, I'd sure hate to have one snap and send it's pieces every which way.
Have you considered a belt drive? Those are used in some pretty high hp race cars and if it has a catastrophic failure it basically turns itself into spaghetti and crumbly bits instead of shrapnel.
Try here for starters http://www.gates.com/brochure.cfm?brochure=7468&location_id=11347


edit>>> Actually I remember reading in some British car mag about a character that put a Merlin engine in his chain drive prewar sports car so yep it's been done.
I disremember what all he had to do to keep it from exploding though.

The story of J.G. Parry-Thomas concerns me. He put 1000 through a chain drive during a world land speed attempt and lost his head, literally.

Never considered belt drive, will definately look into it, thanks. I'll be running the power through an automatic which will take some of the edge off it and the car will only be about 1000lbs so that will help also.

There have been some high-power belt drives on boats, in lieu of a conventional transfer case, but again without shock load.

Don't forget that many (most?) 4x4 transfer cases are chain-drive ...

How about 1400hp?



Check out Double Trouble if you want a successful INSANE High HP chain drive application!

Cheers!

KS

From the web page. ..


From the Gates webpage. ..
http://www.gates.com/brochure.cfm?brochure=7468&location_id=11347



i.e., belt drive.

Well... I wasn't trying to hit between the eyes with a hammer.. but yeah.. Belt Drive!

Cheers!

KS

I think naming their belts "Chain" is just cheatin!!!

Aww heck I sure hope I didn't come off as being snide......
If I did, my apologies, it was unintentional.

Search for "belt drive GT40" for a 1000hp capable belt drive setup. They also used the Gates belts, 5 inch wide on each axle.

Isn't part of the Toronado FWD tranny a chain drive? I seem to remember people using the tranny for some dragsters once upon a time.

Actually, a lot of FWD auto trannies use chains, but I don't know about the strength of any of them. Plus they only see engine torque, not tranny/wheel torque.

Thanks guys. The Gt40 thing looks like the go. I;m building a Sylva Riot with a turbo K24 in the back in an east west configuration. I'm adapting a glide to the motor and need to get the power out of the glide (obviously still in east west configuration) and run it via shaft back to the centre of the car. I was thinking of using, say, a hilux transfer case off the glide and then running a chain in the centre of the car. I was going to use a Supra diff with a chain adaption for the diff.

How is the Gt40 keeping/getting tension on the belts?

Any better ideas on doing what I;m doing??

thanks heaps

Oh... not at all... skin is much thicker than that! I guess that I am at fault as well.. I was playing on the "chain" reference in the name.

But what's in a name!

Cheers and easy feelings!!!

KS

from what I have read belts naturaly quite vibrations and harmonics. Used in automotive engined experimental airplane re-drives for that reason, among others. Not an expert but have read a bit about it.