Chains and gears

[The Great Jashu]

I would like to change the gears in one of my 440 Invaders to 340 Invader gears. I  have the gears and chain. But the chain is pretty stiff and had a little rust on it. I put it into a soak of diesel fuel and ATF to see if it frees up. The gears are different, but are the chains that much different? The gears seem to fit the 440 drive chain well. If that 340 chain doesnt free up, can I use the 440 chain?

[Lloyd (ljm)]

The difference in the chain will be length.

 If the chain will go on and stay the correct tension all will be good.

 Lloyd

[Trucker]

A 440 chain on 340 gears will skip because its too long

[mswyka]

The 340 was set up with a 64 link chain and a pink spring.

[The Great Jashu]

OK, that helps me. I may need a chain and spring then.

[mswyka]

Check your manual for the spring length and wire diameter, you may be able to swap in a different spring if you can't find a pink one.  As far as the chain, i am not sure what you can do other than order a new one or do a lot of counting of teeth.

[The Great Jashu]

Does anyone have a chain and spring they would part with?

I would like to do this instead of having three with the same gearing and performance.

[mswyka]

Does anyone have a chain and spring they would part with?

I would like to do this instead of having three with the same gearing and performance.

You might be able to get a similar ratio with larger gears and then keep the 66 pitch chain.  Take a look at the ratio chart in the manual to see which combinations might be similar yet with a longer chain.

[The Great Jashu]

How about using the larger driven and the larger chain and just switch the drive gear? That would gear it down even more. Could that be done?

I need to re-pay my membership and get access back to the manuals.

[Lloyd (ljm)]

    

 Anything can be done.

 Only problem with trying the unknown is the work of undoing it if you do not get the results you want.

 When changing things from stock, it is a good idea to keep notes of what you did and why.
 
 I know I think "How could I forget this?"  Then 3-4 years latter pull it apart again and think " What did I do that for? "

Lloyd

[Mad Kaw]

11 wide silent chain

http://www.speedsupplies.com/accessorylistingdetailpurch.asp?item=26779 (thanks trucker for the link) 

pretty sure any 11 wide 1" 15 spline upper gear will fit... (i measured an upper gear and it sure looks like a 1" diameter to me)

as far as lower gears go,,, you may be SOL... looks like the shaft is 1 3/16" w/ 18 splines

[mswyka]

Yes, 19 x 39 is essentially the same gearing as the 340 and uses the 66 pitch chain.  There should be plenty of those gears out there.

[The Great Jashu]

Thanks, I am getting a better understanding of what the tooth counts and chain pitches mean now!

It looks like it would be easiest to get my hands on a good 64 pitch chain and a pink spring. The spring was missing from the 340 Invader parts sled I have. And like I said the 64 pitch chain may not be salvageable. The junk yard by me has no other 340's in it.

I have a complete extra set of 21x39, 66 pitch chain and green spring up for trade. A few years ago I pulled them off a sled at the salvage yard that had a SS340 tunnel. So, I figured they were the 340 gears. At the time I did not know what I was looking for.

You guys are so helpful.

[mswyka]

Well, actually if you have Invader gears you already have a 39 and you should  be able to get a 66 pitch chain no problem.  As far as springs, the Red and green springs are the same wire diameter, the red spring is just 3/4 inches smaller than the green spring.  So you can take a green spring and just shorten it to 3"  So the only thing that you have to search for is a 19 tooth top sprocket.  We may have one of those kicking around.

[The Great Jashu]

It looks like there are many ways to accomplish lower gearing with some of the parts I have using the 66 pitch chain. That chart was very helpful MadKaw.

It looks like I could go the other way and make it real fast with gear combos too. This is very interesting!