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FE Power Forums => FE Technical Forum => Topic started by: fekbmax on January 01, 2016, 10:54:05 AM

Title: Dumb Cam/crank gear question.
Post by: fekbmax on January 01, 2016, 10:54:05 AM

Is there any particular reason for the number of teeth on the gears for each application ?
As long as its 2 to 1 ratio ,  would it matter if its 48/24 teeth or 44/22 teeth ?  Proper chain length's  used of course ..

Title: Re: Dumb Cam/crank gear question.
Post by: 57 lima bean on January 01, 2016, 11:18:03 AM

"would it matter if its 48/24 teeth or 44/22 teeth" ?

 I believe this would be fragile.More links with same distance equal smaller chain.

Title: Re: Dumb Cam/crank gear question.
Post by: fekbmax on January 01, 2016, 12:01:37 PM

Sorry, had a typo, fixed it.. Of course the proper length chain would be used.

Title: Re: Dumb Cam/crank gear question.
Post by: WConley on January 01, 2016, 06:14:20 PM

Generally speaking, if you go to a smaller number of teeth on the same pitch (chain pin diameter), the sprocket wheels will get smaller.  This results in a higher tension on the chain for the amount of torque you're transmitting.

Higher chain torque means more wear and stretch over time, along with higher chance of the chain breaking.  Remember the 1990's ZR-1 Corvettes with the Lotus-designed LT-5 DOHC engine?  They had to put teeny chain sprockets on the cams to make the engine narrow enough to loaded up through the frame rails at the Bowling Green assembly plant.  The timing chains see really high loads as a result, and there have been some spectacular failures.

There's no reason to go down in size on the sprocket wheels, unless you just don't have room.  There's plenty of room on our beloved FE's, even SOHC's, for good-sized chain pins and sprocket wheels.