Penton Owners Group

General Discussion => Penton Talk => Topic started by: rob w on October 01, 2016, 12:28:46 PM

Title: Cranke chain tensioner ?
Post by: rob w on October 01, 2016, 12:28:46 PM
Hi
About the Carl Cranke rear brake stay, that has the spring chain tensioner with idle nylon sprocket.

I've never used one. I would appreciate feedback from anyone that has had experience with them ->

All the parts on mine are new - arm, bolts, sprocket, bushings, etc.
What is the reliability ? Does it work well ? Am I better off with the standard stationary chain guide block ?

Thanks,
Bob
Title: Cranke chain tensioner ?
Post by: G Ellis on October 01, 2016, 04:14:51 PM
Git rid of it.. Send it to me. I like them,but who am I ?For how often we ride it will be ok.
Title: Cranke chain tensioner ?
Post by: Carl Hill on October 02, 2016, 07:11:29 AM
What kind of exhaust are you running on that?
Title: Cranke chain tensioner ?
Post by: skiracer on October 02, 2016, 07:46:03 AM
Rob, I ran one on my 175 XC for a year and a half.  I had the steel sprocket on mine, and loved it until I didn't...  At the Unadilla XC race this year I got a bad start, so, I had a lot of riders to pass which meant I was creating new lines everywhere to pass people.  Somewhere, I hit something that bent the adjuster arm, and that threw the chain alignment out, and the chain starting coming off. I almost spent the same amount of time of riding as I did stopping and putting my chain back on.  So, the setup works great until it doesn't.  I have since removed the adjuster and now just run a guide block on the arm....... Hope that helps!  Nice bike, have fun with it!

1976 MC 5 Original Owner
1982 Suzuki PE 175
1976 Penton 175 XC
1985 20' Hi Point trailer
Title: Cranke chain tensioner ?
Post by: 454MRW on October 02, 2016, 10:24:09 AM
Carl, that looks to me like a 78-early 80 pipe, or a late 80-81 depending on whether it has a removable silencer, which the latter used. I can't tell for sure from the pic. Mike

Michael R. Winter
I enjoy rebuilding and appreciating Pentons!
1974 250 HS Pentons-1978-1979 MX-6 175 & 250 KTM's
1976-78 125-400 RM's & 79 PE250 Suzuki & 2012 DR650
2007 CR125R Honda
1977 MC250 Maico
Title: Cranke chain tensioner ?
Post by: rob w on October 02, 2016, 11:14:29 AM
James, thank you for your insight, that helps me understand the product better.
Carl Hill, MRW, I'm not poistive, I believe a '79 KTM pipe...?
Title: Cranke chain tensioner ?
Post by: 454MRW on October 02, 2016, 01:25:47 PM
Rob, 78 through early 80 have the Integral built-in silencer that is the same size for the length of the pipe, whereas late 80-81 have a separate slip-on silencer that slips on to the small reduced Stinger on the end of the pipe. Mike

Michael R. Winter
I enjoy rebuilding and appreciating Pentons!
1974 250 HS Pentons-1978-1979 MX-6 175 & 250 KTM's
1976-78 125-400 RM's & 79 PE250 Suzuki & 2012 DR650
2007 CR125R Honda
1977 MC250 Maico
Title: Cranke chain tensioner ?
Post by: Carl Hill on October 02, 2016, 08:45:25 PM
Interesting, I have a 78 exhaust. Never occurred to me to see if it would fit my 74. Wonder if extra length helps bottom end power?
Title: Cranke chain tensioner ?
Post by: 454MRW on October 03, 2016, 03:58:29 AM
Definitely a 78-early 80 pipe with a SuperTrapp silencer. These are often referred to as a "torque style" pipe. They offer a broader power band with less of a peaky top end hit like the earlier pipes. Mike

Michael R. Winter
I enjoy rebuilding and appreciating Pentons!
1974 250 HS Pentons-1978-1979 MX-6 175 & 250 KTM's
1976-78 125-400 RM's & 79 PE250 Suzuki & 2012 DR650
2007 CR125R Honda
1977 MC250 Maico
Title: Cranke chain tensioner ?
Post by: G Ellis on October 04, 2016, 10:51:23 PM
Yes Rob your looking on ebay produced the tank.I still wished you would of sold it to me.   :D