Chain vs. belt drive forces?

[kitabel]

I'm a complete novice with drive methods. I'm attempting to drive an Eaton supercharger at about 3X speed off the clutch shell of a motorcycle. The original Eaton drive is serpentine multi-groove pulley/belt, but I have no source for a pulley larger enough to fit around the clutch (min. ID: 7.25").
My thought was chain, since a sprocket is fairly easy to attach to both and figure the speed ratios.
However: I'm getting mixed comments from people familiar with blowers (but not engineers) regarding the bending load on the 2 shafts.
I thought that the chain would load the shafts less, since tooth engagement doesn't require pre-load. The sprocket sizes would be about 24/72, #35 chain.
Is single-row #35 chain enough? I chose this pitch to increase the number of teeth engaged. Is going to 428 preferred?
What am I missing?
Alternatives?
Yes, this is a limited budget project.

 

[Heckler]

I would do some research on belt and chain drives. I can send you some data that will allow you to do some calculations on this problem. What is the orientation of the two pulleys or gears? center distance?, belt speed?, effective tension? Te = T1- WV^2/g

Best Regards,

Heckler
Sr. Mechanical Engineer
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Never argue with an idiot. They'll bring you down to their level and beat you with experience every time.

 

[diskullman]

I'd stick with the serpentine belt. The grooves are not difficult to have a local machine shop make up a custom pulley. It most likey has the "k" pitch used in automotive applications. You may be able to find a pulley in the aftermarket that can be bored to fit the clutch

Russell Giuliano

 

[Tmoose]

At high rpm (feet per minute of the belt or chain, actually)
the tension goes up a lot, due to the belt chain having to take turn. The belt is likely to have a much higher fpm limit. Shock loads during shifting will kill a chain without some hub cushioning. A belt just slips a bit.

 

[jasongreat1]

kitabel,
Where are you located? I have a lathe. Wouldn't take to long to build.

 

[Warpspeed]

Agree with diskullman and Tmoose, much better to stick with the multigroove belt.

The very light weight and flexibility of the belt will work very well at the high belt speeds you are going to have.

In the end it will probably be best to get something machined up, a fairly simple lathe job.