I made a chain tensioner - will it work?

[rrgunslinger]

That looks like a 48 tooth sprocket on the back?  Put a smaller sprocket on the back and the chain may clear the frame.

http://cyclexchange.net/Chain%20Sprocket%20Page.htm

[shinyribs]

You got some good eyes there GunslingerIt is a 48 tooth. I'm real happy with the 18-48 gearing on my other bike so I set this one up the same. You are probably spot-on that a smaller sprocket would help. But I have a brand new 48 toother floating some where in Fed-Ex's matrix. Eh,it's only been two weeks since it was flagged as ''delivered''

[Lucky 1]

I have used one of those idler sprockets too and it wore out very fast and made even more noise that the idler wheel with no teeth.

Also with the idler wheel sprocket when you let off of the gas it makes noise and because the tension on the sprocket is going on and off it causes problems.
I will see if I can find a photo of the experiment that went bad.

[rich]

Have you thought of just adding a rubbing block to the frame like they do on dirt bikes? You can cut up a plastic cutting board, they're made of the same material, and attach it to the frame. You'll get dozens of blocks out of one board.

[shinyribs]

Rich,That was plan ''A''.I got too fancy. Shoulda kept it simple. I'm back on plan ''A'' now.