someone earlier mentioned the mechanics of the gears and that certain combinations were better than others for a given ratio, can someone elaborate?

It had to do with a 17/45 being better than 16/43 or something like that.

also, look to ebay they have 530 chains in a variety of sizes for relatively cheap.

A larger front sprocket will be less likely to throw a chain, and your chain will run cooler because it will be traveling slower over the larger sprocket than it would over the smaller one. You will also not have as much chain slap, which is the movement of the chai up and down on the bottom of the sprockets. The closer you can equalize the size of the front and rear sprocket the better. You are limited by your preferred final ratio. That is why I am going with the 17/43 first.

Can I help with the sprocket and rear wheel from the 87 that started this thread? I've got the wheel off the bike and the sprocket off the wheel.

Hutch wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:02:


Hutch,
My 50 tooth measures out with a tip diameter of basically 10" so using that ratio a 44 tooth should be 8.8" and a 43 tooth should be 8.6"  add .210" per side for how far the side plates stick past the major od.  It will be quite a bit smaller than the 12" pulley.  

I have to laugh becuase being a chain guy I have always thought the savage pulley looked way way too big.

smokin_blue wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:02:


Thanks smokin_blue, I definately am glad I ordered the 17. Rubber rubbing on case not bad, chain rubbing on case very bad. On decell you always have that chain raising up on the sprocket, unless your chain is as tight as a rubber band.I know what you mean about the back pulley OD, it looks like it belongs on a hill climber, or that you could get a flat and ride home on the pulley.
It looks like I will have to come up with a rework on the guard, or run with out it. Anything over a 17 tooth would definately be treading on the ice. Thanks again!!
   Hutch

I like belt drives.

Savage_Rob wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:02:

LMAO,It seems there always is a price to pay when you want to get what you want, and not take what you are given. That is the exact reason why choppers that are hand built, cost so much.Any one who has reworked a part to MAKE it fit knows. I have built bikes(and other things) out of so many different parts from different manufactures, that I had to make a list of what year this was, what it came off from and so on. That is what they mean by custom, that is for sure. My problem is that I am never satisfied with any thing until I do some custom work or improve something somewhere. Individualality I guess. If everybody was satisfied with what they bought to ride or drive from the factory, we would never be able to find our vehicle in the parking lot. I could just see a world where the only car made was a Puke green VW Bug. Wouldn't that be a drag??? Good greif I just thought of something worse than that. What if all the females in the world looked like Brittany Spears with her head shaved. She looks like UNCLE FESTER on CRACK. YUK!!!!

Savage_Rob wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:02:


I'm simply changing so that my spouse has a spare belt