THE CORRECT MAINTENANCE OF CHAINS, GEAR WHEELS AND SPROCKETS

The kart’s Transmission Parts consist of a chain, gear wheel and sprocket. Elements that we all know but which, unlike other vehicles, for example, bicycles or motorcycles, are subjected to greater stress due to the forces involved and the absence of flexible couplings. The common mistake is neglecting maintenance and not knowing how to recognize the alarm bells that necessitate the replacement of a worn component. It must be said that a transmission failure, for example, chain breaking, can also affect the engine. In the case of engines without a rev limiter, an overspeed could occur with consequent damage to the connecting rod which would therefore be replaced with certainly higher costs than those that can be incurred to keep the chain-gear wheel-sprocket fully efficient, thus reducing this type of fault and damage.

The majority of bikes on the market today have external drivetrains, which have been refined into simple, lightweight and efficient systems. Gears are changed on the cassette (a set of Sprockets on the rear wheel) by the rear derailleur. This shifts the chain up or down the cassette. As the derailleur moves to change gear it forces the chain against ramps or steps, moving it onto a bigger or smaller sprocket.

The bike may also have a front derailleur, which shifts the chain between chainrings attached to the cranks. The Gears at the front provide large jumps, which effectively change the range of your gears so that they are more suited to high speed, flat terrain or low-speed climbing. The cassette allows you to select your gear more precisely within that range as you modulate your effort.

You will usually find between one and three chainrings (single, double or triple chainset) and up to 11 sprockets (12 exist too in the form of SRAM Eagle and Campagnolo Record, and even 13 with Rotor) on the back wheel. That gives you a huge range of gears to choose from.

What is hub gear on a bike?

Hub gears are a popular option for commuters and those who want a robust and relatively maintenance-free drivetrain. With service intervals ranging between 3,000 to 5,000km, internal hub gears are great for the less maintenance-inclined. There’s also no doubt that derailleurs are relatively exposed and susceptible to damage. Having everything nicely packaged away inside your rear wheel lets you breathe that little bit easier, especially during winter, when keeping gears protected from the elements doesn’t hurt.

There are lots of hub gear options available, but the most common are from Shimano, SRAM, Sturmey Archer and well-known manufacturer Rohloff. With systems ranging from three to 14 gears, there’s a wide range of options for whatever terrain you find yourself on. Both gearboxes and hub gears can also be used with Car Belt drives. This requires even less maintenance than a chain because there are no links to lube, meaning they are also much cleaner than an oily chain.

Chain or belt drive: which is faster?

However, only certain frames are compatible with a belt drive. Because the belt is a continuous loop, the frame requires removable dropouts or a chainstay splitter that lets you thread the belt into the rear triangle.

Gear and Pulley drive systems are common methods of transmitting motion from a source to an end load. Almost everyone can recognize belt and pulley drive systems, even without an engineering background. They are commonly used in everyday devices, but they are also present in industrial machines. Understanding the differences between the two systems can help design the correct repair and maintenance methods to ensure that they remain in service as long as possible.