throwing chain in minimax

[angus' dad]

on hard cornering in minimax, we're throwing chain. so much so that i've been having to run the chain too tight. it still throws it. now i think i have a shot crank bearing from running chain so tight. any advise?

[Garry Lobaugh]

Multiple answers here:
Yes, most likely the bottom end should be taken to your service center.
2nd: drivers get excited and over drive the corner. Hire an instructor to coach.
3rd. Take the entire kart to the kart shop, put on the flate plate or the chassis fixture like pictured on the MRP site. Look for tweeked chassis, bent axle, bent sprocket carrier.

Like a doctor, we can help you spend money to find the problem. If you are concerned about the motor I'd start there.

If you want to do a quick fix: new chain, new motor sprocket, new gear carrier.

How deep doyou want to go? In order to win,you must first finish.

[Jody Jernigan]

If your throwing the chain when your running it tight it has to be one of just a few things.
Like Garry said check chain and sprockets and chassis for mis-alignment.
In my opinion it's either an alignment issue or chassis flex is causing it. I personally doubt that and would say that either the motor mount isn't lined true to the frame/axle or the mount to the motor, or the rear sprocket isn't in line with the front. A simple straight edge would be able to tell you that. Is the corner he's throwing the chain on the same one? Right or left hander?
When you inspect the chain is it sitting down in the sprocket fully? How old is the chain and/or sprockets?? I've never thrown a chain but I have ruined a new sprocket by running it with an old chain in just a few laps. Ideally a chain should be mated to new sprockets WHENEVER it's replaced. I understand though in the real world of racing, gear changes are done on a race to race basis and that practice isn't realistic though.
Good luck.

[Jeff Myers]

i echo above comments... have seen cracked frames cause chassi flex to pitch the chain - usually in an older chassis... another cause is the kart bottoming out somewhere on the track - the kart drops a wheel, the gear/sproket hits the track, chain pitches.... look for obvious first - then go to the doctor!

a tight or taut chain is not the way to race - definitely will slow you down... you can feel the difference in the kart between taut and a "free" chain.... a tight spot or "kink" in the chain will also slow you down... (means time to clean it or get a new one)... gears and chain should spin freely on the kart stand...

on replacing chain: we get a new chain for all our big races.... they'll definitely stretch out over time.... watch out for pointy gears (teeth) - time for a new sprocket!

good luck

[Garry Lobaugh]

One follow up on this chain business. Make sure that there are no tight spots on the rotation of the chain vs the gear. If so, then the gear is not centered on the hub.

[Dale Seeley]

Richie,
I've been through the chain throwing stage a B'ville. Advice to replace the sprocket and chain as a pair is very important. The B'ville surface is not exactly premium, and with most of the curbing removed, it's very easy whack the sprocket/chain into the pavement or into the red clay.

Make sure the engine mount is not being slid back on the frame by hits to the butterfly clamps underneath.

Clean the frame rails and engine mount after each outing. The various lubricants will leech under the clamps making it easier for the mount to move when dropping a wheel off Turn One or in the Esses.

Come to 103rd Street with us this weekend.

Dale

[angus' dad]

same corner all the time. thanks for the advise. i'm taking the kart to rick at raceway, and he'll fix it i'm sure.

dale, long time ... wish we could join you but angus has his first legends bandolero race this weekend. wish him luck, ovals are harder than it looks.

you guys need to come out to barnesville regardsless of the personal stuff. sure would like for angus to run with jesse regularly. also, minimax yet?

[Dale Seeley]

you guys need to come out to barnesville regardsless of the personal stuff. sure would like for angus to run with jesse regularly. also, minimax yet?

Too many reasons to not go to Barnesville. Running the larger tracks is worth the cost of travel, otherwise we wouldn't have stood a chance at all in Shawano this year. Besides, the parts costs after a B'ville race isn't worth the experience.

We're going to stay in Micro through FWT to race with Patricio again. Jesse has a lot to learn learn from him, there's no reason to move up to a faster class without learning as much as he can in the slower class. After FWT, I believe we'll have to move up to Mini, Jesse turns 10 in March.

You should commit to FWT and the Grand Nationals in 2009. It's a completely different (better) world than than what you'll get with the local club. Talk to Rick about what he wants to do with his RMax series in 2009. If things work out, Jesse and Angus will be able run together there. Otherwise, we'll be racing in the North Florida (or South Florida) series learning from their MiniMax teams.

[angus' dad]

dale, we're planning on either cadet or minimax FWT, but can't do both as i can't get away that much. also, we're planning for rotax nationals. things are starting to click for angus, and he's passing great. that's why i got him a bandolero car (to practice passing), cause they have 18-20 cars in each race. hope to see you guys soon, richie