GY5 - chain tensioner - huge improvement

Frog · 09-28-2008, 01:01 PM

Hi

as other have pointed out the Lifan GY5 needs a lot of chain slack - over 3 inches when on the side stand to make sure the chain does not get tight under suspension compression. 8O
To compensate for this I have just fitted a universal chain tensioner - cost about 15 dollars (Â£10 UK pounds in my case). The one I got is I think called CEMET - and is a pad rather than roller design. This mounts on to the little plate on the swing arm that usually holds the useless white plastic chain guide (that appears to do nothing!) near the rear sprocket..

I mounted the tensioner onto the front hole having drilled and tapped it for an 8mm bolt and mounted a stop for the tensioner spring in the rear hole - these are perfectly placed for the job.

The result is astonishing and disproportionate to the effort and expense involved - bike feels entirely different and has picked up an undefinable air of quality about it - smoother / less vibes and gear change improved. No chain slap - transmission is getting an easier time. Feels tons better.

If anyone wants a pic let me know and I'll post one but basically very easy to do and well worth it.

Frog

chinaguy · 09-28-2008, 01:18 PM

I would really appreciate it if you could post a pic.

Frog · 09-28-2008, 02:44 PM

Picture below - the tape on the swinging arm is nothing to do with the tensioner - it holds my chain oiler!

Cheers

Frog

chinaguy · 09-28-2008, 02:58 PM

Thanks. Now I can see exactly what you mean. Looks like a big improvement over the stock rubber slider.

Frog · 09-28-2008, 03:06 PM

By keeping the chain under tension the difference is like between riding a road bike with a badly adjusted and shot chain and replacing it with a properly adjusted new one! This is, I think, the only way to get that on my bike without major surgery - even with a good chain you need too much slack normally - this absorbs that slack. It actually feels 'right' for the first time since I've had it.

Frog

forchetto · 09-28-2008, 03:34 PM

I could do with one of those on mine.
I've searched for CEMET but found nothing.
I then Googled "universal chain tensioner" and found this:

Is that anything like yours?

They have one here for a mere Â£7.90, they appear to be the same:

http://www.trialsbits.co.uk/product_...roducts_id=498

Frog · 09-28-2008, 03:41 PM

That is almost identical and should work equally as well.

Have a look at this item also 370070105492 - cheaper and in Portugal

regards

Frog

knothead · 09-28-2008, 06:41 PM

I've seen some of the "grey market" Lifans with a setup that mounts below the swingarm near the pivot (towards the front) and uses a polyurethane roller. It's spring loaded like the one you guys found. I've been thinking about making one as it would be pretty easy to do, but if I can find one like your's here in the US it might pay to just buy one. (but then again, with the dollar in the shape it's in....)

DDG1976 · 09-28-2008, 08:05 PM

Heak yea, somebody find and post a link to get one in the US, that looks like a perfect fix for these bikes.

IronFist · 09-28-2008, 08:12 PM

Looks like a teflon cam chain tentioner, cheaper I'd bet

Jim · 09-28-2008, 08:15 PM

That looks good, I've been thinking of finding something like that myself, thanks for sharing

forchetto · 02-20-2009, 04:47 PM

Just completed the fitting of a drive chain tensioner to my Qingqi. I wasn't too happy with the idea of the chain sliding against a plastic pad, so I modified a universal $10 tensioner with a ball bearing roller set-up.

Works a treat. No more chain thrashing noises, no more chain snatch at low revs, and gearchanging is even better and more precise now. Thanks for the idea, Frog.

This is the standard tensioner as bought:

This is the ball-bearing plastic roller or pulley:

This is the tensioner modified:

Here seen attached to one of the existing bolts that hold the lower chain guard. No modifications were made to the bike at all:

Close-up view:

suprf1y · 02-20-2009, 05:14 PM

If anybody is looking for one of these, search ebay for pitbike parts. You'll find the universal ones cheap.

PremierScooters · 02-20-2009, 07:25 PM

I'll have to try that. I sell a 125cc pit bike that has a roller type chain adjuster. I'll have to see if my supplier's parts department has one.

SpeedSouth · 02-20-2009, 08:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by suprf1y

If anybody is looking for one of these, search ebay for pitbike parts. You'll find the universal ones cheap.

Any chance for a link?

A search of ebay for a universal returned 3 total, only one in US for $44

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/_ATV-...1%7C240%3A1318

I searched for pitbike parts and found zero tensioners in 169 parts listed. :(

Can I buy a vowel?

8)

09-28-2008, 01:01 PM	#1
Frog Join Date: May 2008 Location: Hampshire England Posts: 191	GY5 - chain tensioner - huge improvement Hi as other have pointed out the Lifan GY5 needs a lot of chain slack - over 3 inches when on the side stand to make sure the chain does not get tight under suspension compression. 8O To compensate for this I have just fitted a universal chain tensioner - cost about 15 dollars (Â£10 UK pounds in my case). The one I got is I think called CEMET - and is a pad rather than roller design. This mounts on to the little plate on the swing arm that usually holds the useless white plastic chain guide (that appears to do nothing!) near the rear sprocket.. I mounted the tensioner onto the front hole having drilled and tapped it for an 8mm bolt and mounted a stop for the tensioner spring in the rear hole - these are perfectly placed for the job. The result is astonishing and disproportionate to the effort and expense involved - bike feels entirely different and has picked up an undefinable air of quality about it - smoother / less vibes and gear change improved. No chain slap - transmission is getting an easier time. Feels tons better. If anyone wants a pic let me know and I'll post one but basically very easy to do and well worth it. Frog
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09-28-2008, 01:18 PM	#2
chinaguy Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Central Pennsylvania Posts: 125	I would really appreciate it if you could post a pic. __________________ 2008 HSUN GY 200
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09-28-2008, 02:58 PM	#4
chinaguy Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Central Pennsylvania Posts: 125	Thanks. Now I can see exactly what you mean. Looks like a big improvement over the stock rubber slider. __________________ 2008 HSUN GY 200
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09-28-2008, 03:34 PM	#6
forchetto Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Gijon, Asturias,Northern Spain Posts: 396	I could do with one of those on mine. I've searched for CEMET but found nothing. I then Googled "universal chain tensioner" and found this: Is that anything like yours? They have one here for a mere Â£7.90, they appear to be the same: http://www.trialsbits.co.uk/product_...roducts_id=498 __________________ Jincheng Monkey JC50Q-7 (two of them) Skyteam Dax replica ST110-6 (two of them) Zongshen ZS125-43 Qingqi QM200GY-BA Super Motard Yamaha Virago XV1100 Triumph Bonneville SE Qingqi QM110GY PGO Bug rider 250 Buggy
	0

09-28-2008, 08:05 PM	#9
DDG1976 Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Ringgold, Ga. Posts: 410	Heak yea, somebody find and post a link to get one in the US, that looks like a perfect fix for these bikes. __________________ I have all of soberday to satur up!!
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09-28-2008, 02:44 PM	#3
Frog Join Date: May 2008 Location: Hampshire England Posts: 191	Picture below - the tape on the swinging arm is nothing to do with the tensioner - it holds my chain oiler! Cheers Frog
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09-28-2008, 03:06 PM	#5
Frog Join Date: May 2008 Location: Hampshire England Posts: 191	By keeping the chain under tension the difference is like between riding a road bike with a badly adjusted and shot chain and replacing it with a properly adjusted new one! This is, I think, the only way to get that on my bike without major surgery - even with a good chain you need too much slack normally - this absorbs that slack. It actually feels 'right' for the first time since I've had it. Frog
	0

09-28-2008, 03:41 PM	#7
Frog Join Date: May 2008 Location: Hampshire England Posts: 191	That is almost identical and should work equally as well. Have a look at this item also 370070105492 - cheaper and in Portugal regards Frog
	0

09-28-2008, 06:41 PM	#8
knothead Join Date: May 2007 Location: In the land of the busted up ricebowl Posts: 815	I've seen some of the "grey market" Lifans with a setup that mounts below the swingarm near the pivot (towards the front) and uses a polyurethane roller. It's spring loaded like the one you guys found. I've been thinking about making one as it would be pretty easy to do, but if I can find one like your's here in the US it might pay to just buy one. (but then again, with the dollar in the shape it's in....)
	0

09-28-2008, 08:12 PM	#10
IronFist Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Toronto Ontario Canada Posts: 2,585	Looks like a teflon cam chain tentioner, cheaper I'd bet __________________ IronFist ___________________________________ The "chain" of command is used for beating spammers. ___________________________________
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09-28-2008, 08:15 PM	#11
Jim Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Abbotsford, BC, Canada Posts: 4,880	That looks good, I've been thinking of finding something like that myself, thanks for sharing __________________ "Be excellent to each other" "We are all human. Let's start to prove it!"
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02-20-2009, 04:47 PM	#12
forchetto Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Gijon, Asturias,Northern Spain Posts: 396	Chain tensioner Qinqi QM200GY-BA (Qlink XF200) Just completed the fitting of a drive chain tensioner to my Qingqi. I wasn't too happy with the idea of the chain sliding against a plastic pad, so I modified a universal $10 tensioner with a ball bearing roller set-up. Works a treat. No more chain thrashing noises, no more chain snatch at low revs, and gearchanging is even better and more precise now. Thanks for the idea, Frog. This is the standard tensioner as bought: This is the ball-bearing plastic roller or pulley: This is the tensioner modified: Here seen attached to one of the existing bolts that hold the lower chain guard. No modifications were made to the bike at all: Close-up view: __________________ Jincheng Monkey JC50Q-7 (two of them) Skyteam Dax replica ST110-6 (two of them) Zongshen ZS125-43 Qingqi QM200GY-BA Super Motard Yamaha Virago XV1100 Triumph Bonneville SE Qingqi QM110GY PGO Bug rider 250 Buggy
	0

02-20-2009, 05:14 PM	#13
suprf1y Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: SW Ontario Posts: 408	If anybody is looking for one of these, search ebay for pitbike parts. You'll find the universal ones cheap.
	0

02-20-2009, 07:25 PM	#14
PremierScooters Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 25	I'll have to try that. I sell a 125cc pit bike that has a roller type chain adjuster. I'll have to see if my supplier's parts department has one. __________________ Premier Scooters,103 N. Hwy 25 Byp, Greenville, SC 29617 Phone 864-294-0042 Specialzing in Chinese Motorsports, Sales, Service and Parts
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