What Is an Idler Wheel?

An idler gear is a gear that acts as a transmission between two non-contacting transmission gears, and meshes with these two gears at the same time to change the direction of rotation of the passive gear to make it the same as the driving gear. Its function is to change the steering but not the transmission ratio, which is called idler.

Wheels that mainly use their inertia in mechanical equipment are collectively called idlers. In a gear train, if a gear is both a driven gear driven by the previous stage and a driven gear driven by the next stage, this gear is called an idler gear. ^[1]

The main functions of the idler wheel are to change the steering of the driven wheel, increase the transmission distance, and adjust the pressure angle. The idler gear is a part of the gear train that plays a role of transition. It does not change the transmission relationship. It is to make the force of the gear train more reasonable or to meet the layout of the entire transmission system. Its role is only to change the steering, not to change the transmission ratio. The idler can extend the wheelbase. The number of teeth has no effect on the value of the transmission ratio, but it will affect the steering of the final wheel. It is a wheel that does not perform work and has a certain energy storage effect, which is helpful to the stability of the system.

The idler wheel is a wheel that does not perform work, and has a certain energy storage effect, which is helpful to the stability of the system. Idler wheels are very common in machinery and it helps to connect shafts in the distance. It just changes the steering and does not change the gear train transmission ratio.

The arrangement of the idler wheels must ensure the correct steering relationship, as shown in Figure (a).

An idler gear is a gear that is sandwiched between two gears and meshes with both gears. Its role is only to change the relationship between the rotation direction of the two gears before and after it, without changing the transmission ratio. The position cannot be changed.

Timing set is a complete component package for car engine maintenance. It contains the tensioning wheels, tensioners, idlers and timing belts required for the timing transmission system. It also includes bolts and nuts, gaskets and other hardware that should be replaced regularly. To ensure that the timing drive system and engine can be in an ideal state after maintenance.

The role of the idler in the timing set is mainly to assist the tensioner and the belt, change the direction of the belt, and increase the tolerance of the belt and the pulley. The idler wheel in the engine timing transmission system can also be called a guide wheel.