Author Topic: Chain drive transmission  (Read 1520 times)

Offline ohiorider

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Chain drive transmission
« on: December 10, 2018, 07:32:30 AM »
A few weeks (maybe months) ago, someone posted a thread containing an ad for a Zundapp 601 boxer twin from the mid 1950s.  I recalled seeing an exploded view of the unique chain drive tranny.  Searched and found it on line.





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Offline Sasquatch Jim

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Re: Chain drive transmission
« Reply #1 on: December 10, 2018, 10:07:59 AM »
 Possibly the only multi speed transmission that can be rebuilt on the side of the road.
 Back in the eighties I had a chance to buy one of those in good rideable condition for 600 dollars
and I didn't have enough money to do so.
« Last Edit: December 10, 2018, 10:11:31 AM by Sasquatch Jim »
Sasquatch Jim        Humanoid, sort of.

Online pehayes

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Re: Chain drive transmission
« Reply #2 on: December 10, 2018, 12:16:54 PM »
Many years back I was on a Guzzi tour in Switzerland and met up with another local moto club.  This was on the bench.



Patrick Hayes
Fremont CA
« Last Edit: December 10, 2018, 12:44:08 PM by pehayes »

Offline F-22

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Re: Chain drive transmission
« Reply #3 on: December 10, 2018, 12:25:12 PM »
I think the advantage was that the chain is more tolerant to any misalignment, which might happen with fast high volume production on pre war bikes (and until Zündapp made them...).

Overall, it's probably as reliable as a common transmission. Lots of bikes have chain primary drive. Zündapp just (kind of) had 4.

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Re: Chain drive transmission
« Reply #3 on: December 10, 2018, 12:25:12 PM »

Offline ohiorider

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Re: Chain drive transmission
« Reply #4 on: December 10, 2018, 05:41:00 PM »
Curious,
There is nothing unique about a chain driven transmission, quite common..

I must be missing something.

Ha!

:-)
Nooooo!  Not chain driven, but internal chains instead of meshing gears.  Kirby, you are pulling my chain, for sure!

Bob
Main ride:  2008 Guzzi 1200 Sport (sold July 2020)
2012 Griso 8v SE (sold Sept '15)
Reliable standby: 1991 BMW R100GS
2014 Honda CB1100 (Traded Nov 2019)
New:  2016 Triumph T120 (Traded Dec 2021)
New:  2021 Kawasaki W800

Offline ohiorider

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Re: Chain drive transmission
« Reply #5 on: December 10, 2018, 05:42:32 PM »
Possibly the only multi speed transmission that can be rebuilt on the side of the road.
 Back in the eighties I had a chance to buy one of those in good rideable condition for 600 dollars
and I didn't have enough money to do so.
Love your description of it's rebuild-ability!

Bob
Main ride:  2008 Guzzi 1200 Sport (sold July 2020)
2012 Griso 8v SE (sold Sept '15)
Reliable standby: 1991 BMW R100GS
2014 Honda CB1100 (Traded Nov 2019)
New:  2016 Triumph T120 (Traded Dec 2021)
New:  2021 Kawasaki W800

Offline ohiorider

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Re: Chain drive transmission
« Reply #6 on: December 10, 2018, 05:43:34 PM »
Many years back I was on a Guzzi tour in Switzerland and met up with another local moto club.  This was on the bench.



Patrick Hayes
Fremont CA
Patrick, great pic of how it really looks!

Bob
Main ride:  2008 Guzzi 1200 Sport (sold July 2020)
2012 Griso 8v SE (sold Sept '15)
Reliable standby: 1991 BMW R100GS
2014 Honda CB1100 (Traded Nov 2019)
New:  2016 Triumph T120 (Traded Dec 2021)
New:  2021 Kawasaki W800

Offline ohiorider

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Re: Chain drive transmission
« Reply #7 on: December 10, 2018, 05:45:15 PM »
I think the advantage was that the chain is more tolerant to any misalignment, which might happen with fast high volume production on pre war bikes (and until Zündapp made them...).

Overall, it's probably as reliable as a common transmission. Lots of bikes have chain primary drive. Zündapp just (kind of) had 4.
Like your summation ..... 'lots of bikes have primary chain drive .... Zundapp just had 4.'
Main ride:  2008 Guzzi 1200 Sport (sold July 2020)
2012 Griso 8v SE (sold Sept '15)
Reliable standby: 1991 BMW R100GS
2014 Honda CB1100 (Traded Nov 2019)
New:  2016 Triumph T120 (Traded Dec 2021)
New:  2021 Kawasaki W800

Offline EldoMike

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Re: Chain drive transmission
« Reply #8 on: December 10, 2018, 05:47:36 PM »
I picked this one up at Barber's in October...

https://mikeskaggs.smugmug.com/1954-Zundapp-KS601-/

Offline n3303j

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Re: Chain drive transmission
« Reply #9 on: December 10, 2018, 09:27:41 PM »
On a two shaft geared transmission the input and output shafts rotate in opposite directions. On a two shaft chain drive setup both shafts rotate in the same direction. So I guess all you need to do to make a two shaft transmission with reverse would be to set up all but one speed selection with chains, or all but one speed selection with gears. The oddball would be the reverse.
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Offline giusto

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Re: Chain drive transmission
« Reply #10 on: December 10, 2018, 09:37:14 PM »
On a two shaft geared transmission the input and output shafts rotate in opposite directions. On a two shaft chain drive setup both shafts rotate in the same direction. So I guess all you need to do to make a two shaft transmission with reverse would be to set up all but one speed selection with chains, or all but one speed selection with gears. The oddball would be the reverse.

uhg did you say oddball? woof woof woof...that's my other dog imitation.

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