Belt or chain

I was thinking what would be better for a racing mower a belt or a chain

Depends on how you are setting it up.

...this should be in the drivetrain section of the forum.

Check this out. https://www.atltf.com/t1888p315-92mph-my-new-project-racing-mower-craftsman-jonsered-lt12 He's running a cvt clutch and then a jackshaft with chain going to the transaxle.

A well tensioned belt will work just as well as a chain. Maybe run doubles. Then you dont need to worry about damage in case something gets snagged.

Unless youre going horizontal engine, then id do chain.

Doug Fackler wrote:

A well tensioned belt will work just as well as a chain. Maybe run doubles. Then you dont need to worry about damage in case something gets snagged.

Unless youre going horizontal engine, then id do chain.

Well there isn't a clutch if you don't have a belt

I swear we had this conversation already...

Belt- can slip, especially when wet or contaminated. Can wear out faster than chain Can be used for a cheap clutching setups (like most factory lawn tractors) without having to buy a clutch "unit". Tends to require less regular maintenance than chain. Is less susceptible to drooping on long runs because of greater tension. Is more sensitive to pulley diameters. Has the potential to sideload affected bearings due to increased tension.

Chain- Requires more regular maintenance. Will...not...slip...Period! Even submerged in a bath of the slimiest goo you can muster. Try that with a belt. Can not perform clutching duty by regulating slip/tension so a separate clutch unit must be installed. However- this is GOOD for your crank bearings and tranny input bearings. Will droop on long runs when properly tensioned (a lot of people try to screw this up by over-tensioning drive chains). Will not cause increased bearing sideloading (see above tension comments). Runs cooler than belts, and typically with less friction.

Facts, myth, fallacies, whatever- Adressing previous comments. Like a well tensioned belt running as well as a chain- yes, and no. "Well-Tensioned" is the key phrase here. When a belt and chain are both tensioned to proper specification, the belt WILL start slipping long before the chain offers up and kind of power delivery issues. The key is tension, because overtensioning stuff is a very common mistake. Sure- a belt will grip pretty good if you tighten the crap out of it. Then again, you start getting into adding wild sideloads to bearings, increased friction, and heat.

Snagging stuff- In many years of fooling around with all manner of motorized goodies using belts, chains, gears, shafts... you name it- I think I can count on one finger the number of times I have had an issue with something snagging up in the works and halting my forward motion. Scrub, brush, mud, poop, whatever. Buy the same token, only once or twice have I had debris screw up my belt drive. I'd call it a fair draw, really.

Doc Sproket wrote:

Scrub, brush, mud, poop, whatever.

Poop?

Doc Sprocket wrote:

I swear we had this conversation already...

Spoiler:

Is that in a standalone post? That should be stickied if it isnt.

redlinemotorsportts wrote:

Doc Sproket wrote:

Scrub, brush, mud, poop, whatever.

Poop?

Poop. Got a big dog.

Doug- unsure, I just swear we went over the pros and cons of this somewhere recently.