r/recumbent • u/EvadingDoom • 12h ago
Return idlers on my TerraTrike
I have a TerraTrike Tour 2. With each pair of idlers, the wheels go side by side on a single bolt.
The trike came (used) with 13-tooth idlers for power and return. I found that the rear pair had kind of a grindy sound in the easiest gears. Online sources said that it's proper for the return idlers to be smooth, so I ordered two TerraTrike standard idlers. They have no dampening features, so they are actually noisier than the toothed ones, although in theory less damage is being done. Even when the chain is touching only the bottom of the groove and not the walls, I hear the chain sliding across the idler, and it bugs me.
Another search revealed that there are more expensive return idlers that are dampened. I'm wondering whether I should get one of those for just the rear return, get them for both returns, or just stick with my original 13T idlers or my new standard idlers on both returns. Or are there other options?
I'm a casual rider and a beginner -- currently less than 30 miles a week and at a pretty slow pace, but gradually increasing the frequency of my rides and the distance per ride.
Advice appreciated!